BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 2707

By: Hagenbuch

Transportation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The bill sponsor has informed the committee that it has been a common practice for the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) by rule to exempt governmental entities from fees and sureties for oversize/overweight vehicle permits since the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) did so years ago and that the main governmental entities using these permits are the U.S. military and TxDOT. S.B. 2707 seeks to clarify that certain governmental entities are exempted from certain oversize or overweight vehicle permit fees and surety requirements.

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 rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles in SECTIONS 1, 2, and 4 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 2707 amends the Transportation Code to authorize the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) by rule to exempt a vehicle owned by a governmental entity other than a municipality or county from a requirement for the owner of a vehicle covered by provisions relating to certain vehicles transporting recyclable materials with a tandem axle weight heavier than 34,000 pounds to file with TxDMV, before operating the vehicle on a Texas public highway, a surety bond subject to the approval of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) in the principal amount set by TxDOT not to exceed $15,000.

S.B. 2707 authorizes TxDMV by rule to waive the fee and any surety requirements, including a requirement for a bond or letter of credit, for a permit issued by TxDMV under provisions relating to vehicle size and weight to a governmental entity. The bill authorizes TxDMV by rule to exempt a vehicle owned by any other governmental entity from requirements relating to surety bonds for vehicles transporting solid waste.

S.B. 2707 exempts an applicant for an annual permit that allows a motor carrier to operate on a state highway two or more vehicles for the movement of certain superheavy or oversize equipment from the requirement to pay a highway maintenance fee in a certain amount determined by vehicle weight.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2025.