BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1624

By: Vasut

Transportation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The bill author has informed the committee it would serve to make government more effective and accountable if a local authority were able to place and maintain a temporary traffic-control device on a highway under the jurisdiction of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) without the permission of TxDOT under certain conditions. H.B. 1624 seeks to provide that authorization.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 1624 amends the Transportation Code to authorize a local authority to place and maintain a temporary traffic-control device on a highway under the jurisdiction of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) without the permission of TxDOT if:

· an existing traffic-control device on the highway becomes inoperable;

· the local authority notifies TxDOT of the placement of the temporary traffic-control device; and

· the local authority removes the temporary traffic-control device as soon as practicable after the existing traffic-control device becomes operable again.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2025.