BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3114

By: Geren

State Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Under current law, Capitol view corridors are in place in Austin to preserve views of the Texas State Capitol. The bill author has informed the committee that several of these view corridors reference landmarks that no longer exist or will be significantly impacted by the ongoing expansion of I-35 and that several of these view corridors would impact the construction of The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) Medical Center, which will include a new, state-of-the-art hospital and a new world-renowned MD Anderson Cancer Center. Additionally, current law restricts the height of the Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, preventing the university from modernizing the north end of the stadium, as reported by the bill author. H.B. 3114 seeks to provide for the ability for UT Austin to execute certain construction projects by eliminating specified view corridors and by revising height restrictions applicable to the Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.

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. 3114 amends the Government Code to remove the following corridors from the definition of "Capitol view corridor" as applicable to statutory provisions relating to the preservation of the view of the State Capitol:

· the south-bound lanes of the upper deck of Interstate Highway 35 between Concordia College and the Martin Luther King Boulevard Overpass Corridor;

· the Robert Mueller Airport Corridor;

· the Martin Luther King Boulevard at IH-35 Corridor; and

· the Oakwood Cemetery Corridor.

The bill raises the cap on the height of the Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, or a related stadium improvement, for purposes of those provisions from 666 feet above sea level to 670 feet above sea level and exempts the north end of the stadium or a related improvement to the north end of the stadium from the height cap.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2025.