BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 4473

By: Canales

Transportation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The bill author has informed the committee that the construction and maintenance of county roads are governed by disparate administrative systems that differ in their approaches and efficiencies. H.B. 4473 requires the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), in consultation with the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, to conduct a study of the construction and maintenance of county roads and bridges under the five county road administration systems. The bill requires TxDOT to submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house, and each legislative committee with jurisdiction over transportation issues a written report that includes the results of the study and any associated recommendations.

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. 4473 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), in consultation with the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, to conduct a study of the construction and maintenance of county roads and bridges under the following five systems of county road administration:

· the road supervisor system under statutory provisions regarding general county authority relating to roads and bridges;

· the ex officio road commissioner system;

· the road commissioner system;

· the road superintendent system; and

· the county road department system.

The bill requires the study to do the following:

· provide an inventory of what system of county road administration each county in Texas has adopted and the date on which it was adopted;

· provide, for the 20 most populous counties in each of the five systems and after adjusting for inflation:

o the average and median cost of construction and maintenance of county roads during the most recent 25-year period or the period since adoption of the county's current system; and

o an average per-mile cost comparison of completed road projects among the five systems during the most recent 25-year period or the period since adoption of the county's current system; and

· rank from most to least economical for taxpayers the systems of county road administration for construction and maintenance of county roads and describe the reasoning behind each rank placement.

H.B. 4473 requires TxDOT, not later than December 1, 2026, to submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house, and each legislative committee with jurisdiction over transportation issues a written report that includes the results of the study and any associated recommendations.

H.B. 4473 expires January 1, 2027.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.