April 21, 2023

LEGISLATIVE HEADLINES

Big week for transit at the legislature. Be sure you scroll through the bills.

...and scroll to the bottom for transit headlines.



Texas Senate Passes $308 Billion Budget Plan, Kicking Off High-Stakes Negotiations with the House


texastribune.org


The Texas Senate on Monday gave final approval to a $308 billion spending plan for the next two years, sending budget leaders into high-stakes negotiations with their counterparts in the House over property taxes and other divisive issues — with just weeks to go before the legislative session ends.


Senators voted 31-0 to spend $141.2 billion in general revenue on major investments in property tax cuts, juvenile justice, mental health, higher education, state parks, historical sites, and pay raises for teachers and state employees.


State Rep. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, which oversaw the budget-writing process for the chamber, said “smart fiscal policy” over the last several sessions allowed budget writers to make historic investments thanks to an unprecedented surplus in state coffers. Comptroller Glenn Hegar has said the surplus is from a record amount of sales tax and oil and gas taxes collected from Texans for the past two years.


Read More

A Little Birdy Told Me...

Session Statistics:

The first significant deadline is the House's deadline for House bills and resolutions to be filed with the Committee Coordinator. Once a bill is voted from the committee, the next step in the process is to file the bill with the Committee Coordinator-"reported from committee". The bill tracking service, TELICON, is reporting that with 16 Days until the House Deadline: 619 House bills and resolutions voted from the committee but not yet filed, and 323 bills and resolutions voted as substituted but not yet filed. Essentially, all the paperwork still has to get done. This can be slow because of the number of bills coming out of a committee or because of a clerk that is running behind. Without this paperwork being completed, bills cannot move forward, making time the main killer of legislation.

TRANSIT RELATED BILLS



HB 366 Bell, Cecil (R)

Relating to the filing of a bond by a private high-speed rail operator with the Texas Department of Transportation.

General Remarks: This legislation requires a private high speed rail operator to file a bond with TxDOT in an amount that would be sufficient to restore property used for the service to its original condition, should the service cease operation.

Companions: HB 1054 Bell, Cecil (Refiled from 87R Session)

Bill History: 02-23-23 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Transportation


HB 485 Gervin-Hawkins, Barbara(D)

Relating to increasing the criminal penalty for certain offenses committed in a vehicle operated by a public transportation system.

Companions: HB 435 Gervin-Hawkins, Barbara (Refiled from 87R Session)

Bill History: 04-25-23 H Meeting set for 10:30 A.M. OR ADJ., E2.016 - House Criminal Jurisprudence


HB 820 King, Ken(R)

Relating to imposing an additional fee for the registration of electric and hybrid vehicles.

General Remarks: This bill imposes an additional registration fee of $200 on electric vehicles, and $100 on hybrids. The funds collected go to the State Highway Fund, except 10% flows to a fund managed by TCEQ to cover the costs of disposal of electric vehicle batteries.

Bill History: 04-05-23 H Committee action pending House Transportation


HB 960 Jetton, Jacey(R)

Relating to imposing a road maintenance fee for the registration of an electric vehicle.

General Remarks: This bill adds an additional vehicle registration fee for electric vehicles of $100.

Bill History: 03-02-23 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Transportation


HB 1187 Jones, Jolanda (F)(D)

Relating to the inclusion of affordable housing as a qualifying project for public-private partnerships.

Companions: HB 2317 Coleman, Garnet (Refiled from 87R Session) and SB 610 Alvarado, Carol (Refiled from 87R Session)

Bill History: 04-19-23 H Committee action pending House County Affairs


HB 1343 Rosenthal, Jon(D)

Relating to prohibiting carrying a firearm while intoxicated.

Bill History: 03-03-23 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Select on Community Safety


HB 1379 Ortega, Lina(D)

Relating to the development and operation by a regional mobility authority of an urban green space or aesthetic enhancement located above, adjacent to, or connected to an interstate highway.

Bill History: 04-04-23 H Reported favorably from committee on House Transportation

Statistical probability that this bill becomes a law at this step-46%


HB 2190 Canales, Terry(D)

Relating to the terminology used to describe transportation-related accidents.

Bill History: 04-04-23 H Reported from committee as substituted House Transportation

Statistical probability that this bill becomes a law at this step-44%


HB 2199 Canales, Terry(D)

Relating to imposing an additional fee for the registration of an electric vehicle.

Companions: SB 505 Nichols, Robert (Identical) 3-30-23 H Received in the House

Bill History: 04-26-23 H Set on the House Calendar

Statistical probability that this bill becomes a law at this step-50%


HB 2290 Cortez, Philip(D)

Relating to the eligibility for grants for alternative fueling facilities.

Companions: HB 286 Cortez, Philip (Refiled from 87R Session)

Bill History: 04-18-23 H Voted favorably from committee on House Environmental Regulation


HB 2313 Thompson, Senfronia(D)

Relating to training materials for certain transportation network company drivers regarding human trafficking awareness and prevention.

Companions: SB 1369 Paxton, Angela (Identical) 3-16-23 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate Business and Commerce

Bill History: 04-13-23 H Reported favorably from committee on Licensing and Administrative Procedures

Statistical probability that this bill becomes a law at this step-46%


HB 2341 Guillen, Ryan(R)

Relating to procedures governing a regional mobility authority in relation to certain federal public transportation funding.

Companions: HB 2503 Guillen, Ryan (Refiled from 87R Session)

Bill History: 04-20-23 H Passed on local calendar (Vote: Y:146/N: 0)

Statistical probability that this bill becomes a law at this step-71%


HB 2357 Harris, Cody(R)

Relating to provision to the Texas Department of Transportation of information regarding certain high-speed rail projects.

Bill History: 03-09-23 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Transportation


HB 2449 Anchia, Rafael(D)

Relating to the creation of the Dallas Municipal Management District.

Bill History: 03-13-23 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Urban Affairs


HB 2518 Bell, Keith(R)

Relating to public work contracts, including contracts on public property leased to a nongovernmental entity.

Bill History: 04-26-23 H Set on the House Calendar

Statistical probability that this bill becomes a law at this step-50%


HB 2745 Thompson, Ed(R)

Relating to the appointment of members to policy boards of certain metropolitan planning organizations.

Bill History: 03-13-23 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Transportation


HB 2763 Guillen, Ryan(R)

Relating to an exemption from motor fuel taxes for certain fuel used by a rural transit district to provide public transportation.

Bill History: 03-31-23 H Reported favorably from committee on House Ways and Means

Statistical probability that this bill becomes a law at this step-46%


HB 2832 Reynolds, Ron(D)

Relating to the funding of multimodal transportation projects.

Bill History: 03-14-23 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Transportation


HB 3017 Harrison, Brian(R)

Relating to the required posting by governmental entities of employee contracts and compensation on entity Internet websites.

Bill History: 03-14-23 H Introduced and referred to committee on House State Affairs


HB 3081 Harrison, Brian(R) Relating to the deregulation of certain activities and occupations.

General Remarks: This legislation changes Chapter 460's competitive bidding language and strikes the words licensed auctioneer.

Bill History: 03-14-23 H Introduced and referred to committee on Licensing and Administrative Procedures


HB 3100 Landgraf, Brooks(R)

Relating to the creation of a hydrogen infrastructure and vehicle grant program under the Texas emissions reduction plan.

Bill History: 03-30-23 H Committee action pending House Environmental Regulation


****HB 3146 Shaheen, Matt(R)****

Relating to information contained in the annual financial audit of certain regional transportation authorities.

Companions: HB 3867 Shaheen, Matt (Refiled from 87R Session) SB 1370 Paxton, Angela (Identical) 3- 1-23 S Filed

General Remarks: This bill requires DART to separate out expenditures by city in their annual financial audit.

Bill History: 04-05-23 H Left Pending in Committee

Committee Hearing: House Transportation Committee Video, Minute Marker: 32:48


HB 3234 Troxclair, Ellen (F)(R)

Relating to the withdrawal of a unit of election from certain metropolitan rapid transit authorities.

General Remarks: This bill would make it easier for cities that are current members of Capital Metro to withdraw.

Bill History: 03-15-23 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Transportation


HB 3281 Leo-Wilson, Terri (F)(R)

Relating to a prohibition on certain roadway projects and to the distribution of affordable housing funds to local governmental entities that violate that prohibition.

Companions: SB 1293 Hall, Bob (Identical) 2-28-23 S Filed

Bill History: 03-15-23 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Transportation


HB 3323 Goodwin, Vikki(D)

Relating to food system security and resiliency planning.

Companions: SB 758 West, Royce (Identical) 3- 1-23 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Bill History: 04-12-23 H Voted favorably from committee on House Agriculture and Livestock


HB 3418 Canales, Terry(D)

Relating to the implementation by the Texas Department of Transportation of a vehicle mileage user fee pilot program and a task force to assist in developing and evaluating the program.

General Remarks: This bill creates a vehicle mileage user fee pilot program. It requires TxDOT to develop the program in conjunction with DMV and TTI. The pilot program would be focused on commercial vehicles and require the participants to have on-board vehicle mileage counting equipment. One of the requirements for the pilot program is to test variable pricing based on a number of factors, including proximity to transit.

Bill History: 04-17-23 H Reported from committee as substituted House Transportation

Statistical probability that this bill becomes a law at this step-44%


HB 3599 Thierry, Shawn(D)

Relating to an exemption from certain motor fuel taxes for, and registration fees for motor vehicles owned by, certain nonprofit food banks.

Bill History: 04-24-23 H Meeting set for 10:00 a.m., JHR 140 - House Ways and Means


HB 3812 Jetton, Jacey(R)

Relating to the establishment and use of the Texas Infrastructure Fund.

General Remarks: This bill establishes the Texas Infrastructure Fund, which creates a fund outside the treasury that can be used for water, ports, broadband, highways, aviation, rail and transit projects. It would require appropriations into the fund, but then could be leveraged as matching grants for eligible projects around the state.

Bill History: 03-20-23 H Introduced and referred to committee on House State Affairs


HB 3870 Harris, Cody(R)

Relating to the disposition of real property acquired for high-speed rail projects.

Companions: HB 3312 Harris, Cody (Refiled from 87R Session)

Bill History: 03-20-23 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Land and Resource Management


HB 3899 Troxclair, Ellen (F)(R)

Relating to the issuance of bonds by certain local government corporations.

Companions: SB 1791 Bettencourt, Paul (Identical) 3- 7-23 S Filed

Bill History: 04-17-23 H Voted favorably from committee as substituted House Pensions/ Investments/ Financial Services


HB 4015 Thompson, Ed(R)

Relating to the disposition of certain fees collected for the rail safety program.

Bill History: 04-19-23 S Received in the Senate

Statistical probability that this bill becomes a law at this step-67%


HB 4123 Guillen, Ryan(R)

Relating to the dissemination of criminal history record information by the Department of Public Safety.

Companions: SB 1785 Zaffirini, Judith (Identical) 3- 7-23 S Filed

Bill History: 04-11-23 H Committee action pending House Homeland Security and Public Safety


HB 4313 Raymond, Richard(D)

Relating to the safety standards of certain rail employees.

Companions: HB 3954 Raymond, Richard (Refiled from 87R Session)

Bill History: 03-21-23 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Transportation


HB 4551 Kacal, Kyle(R)

Relating to a required water quality permit for construction of a high-speed rail project.

Bill History: 04-04-23 H Committee action pending House Natural Resources


HB 4559 Darby, Drew(R)

Relating to the application of statutes that classify political subdivisions according to population.

Bill History: 04-21-23 House Calendar rule for consideration adopted

Statistical probability that this bill becomes a law at this step-67%


HB 4846 Davis, Yvonne(D)

Relating to transportation planning by metropolitan planning organizations.

Bill History: 03-23-23 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Transportation


HB 4941 Tinderholt, Tony(R)

Relating to the regulation of private security.

Bill History: 03-23-23 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Homeland Security and Public Safety


HB 5140 Cain, Briscoe(R)

Relating to a prohibition against the consideration of race or ethnicity as a factor in governmental employment or contracting, in other governmental functions, and in higher education admissions.

Bill History: 03-24-23 H Introduced and referred to committee on House State Affairs


HB 5171 Wilson, Terry(R)

Relating to the authority of a special district to exercise a right or power outside the district's boundaries.

Companions: SB 1546 Bettencourt, Paul(Identical) 4-11-23 S Removed from hearing 04/12/23, Senate Local Government

Bill History: 03-24-23 H Introduced and referred to committee on House County Affairs


HB 5287 Guillen, Ryan(R)

Relating to the offense of terrorism.

Bill History: 03-24-23 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Criminal Jurisprudence


***HJR 77 Walle, Armando(D)***

Proposing a constitutional amendment to permit additional uses of certain dedicated general revenue transferred each fiscal year to the state highway fund.

General Remarks: This constitutional amendment adds public transportation, public bicycle paths, and public sidewalks to the uses in the constitution that Proposition 1 for which the funds can be used.

Companions: HJR 109 Walle, Armando (Refiled from 87R Session) SJR 40 Miles, Borris (Refiled from 87R Session)

Bill History: 04-12-23 H Committee action pending House Transportation


HJR 190 Morales, Eddie(D)

Proposing a constitutional amendment to authorize the creation of a regional mobility authority by local law.

Companions: HB 4976 Morales, Eddie (Enabling) 3-10-23 H Filed

Bill History: 03-23-23 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Transportation


HJR 204 Bucy, John(D)

Proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing the use of money in the state highway fund for transit-oriented projects.

Companions: HB 5215 Bucy, John (Enabling) 3-10-23 H Filed

Bill History: 03-24-23 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Transportation


SB 225 Nichols, Robert(R)

Relating to the determination of the sufficient balance of the economic stabilization fund for the purpose of allocating certain constitutional transfers of money to that fund and the state highway fund.

Companions: HB 2230 Canales, Terry (Identical) 3- 9-23 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Appropriations

General Remarks: This bill eliminates the expiration date for Proposition 1 in statute. Prop 1 currently expires in 2034, and this bill makes the Proposition 1 funding stream permanent.

Bill History: 02-15-23 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate Finance


SB 505 Nichols, Robert(R)

Relating to imposing an additional fee for the registration of an electric vehicle.

Bill History: 04-03-23 H Referred to House Committee on House Transportation

Statistical probability that this bill becomes a law at this step-58%


SB 848 Blanco, Cesar(D)

Relating to the development and operation by a regional mobility authority of an urban green space or aesthetic enhancement located above, adjacent to, or connected to an interstate highway.

Companions: HB 1379 Ortega, Lina (Identical) 1-17-23 H Filed

Bill History: 03-01-23 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate Transportation


SB 936 Hancock, Kelly(R)

Relating to certain agreements with collective bargaining organizations related to certain publicly funded public work contracts.

Bill History: 04-12-23 H Referred to House Committee on House State Affairs

Statistical probability that this bill becomes a law at this step-58%


SB 1293 Hall, Bob(R)

Relating to a prohibition on certain roadway projects and to the distribution of affordable housing funds to local governmental entities that violate that prohibition.

Companions: HB 3281Leo-Wilson, Terri (F)(Identical) 3-15-23 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Transportation

Bill History: 03-09-23 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate Transportation


****SB 1370 Paxton, Angela(R)****

Relating to information contained in the annual financial audit of certain regional transportation authorities.

Companions: HB 3867 Shaheen, Matt (Refiled from 87R Session) HB 3146 Shaheen, Matt (Identical) 3- 1-23 H Filed

General Remarks: This bill requires DART to separate out expenditures by city in their annual financial audit.

Bill History: 04-05-23 S Committee action pending Senate Transportation

Committee Hearing: Senate Transportation Committee Minute Marker: 4:53



SB 1546 Bettencourt, Paul(R)

Relating to the authority of a special district to exercise a right or power outside the district's boundaries.

Companions: HB 5171 Wilson, Terry(Identical) 3-24-23 H Introduced and referred to committee on House County Affairs

Bill History: 04-11-23 S Removed from hearing 04/12/23 - Senate Local Government


SB 1791 Bettencourt, Paul(R)

Relating to the issuance of bonds by certain local government corporations.

Companions: HB 3899Troxclair, Ellen (F)(Identical) 3- 7-23 H Filed

Bill History: 03-20-23 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate Local Government


SB 1984 Alvarado, Carol(D)

Relating to public-private partnerships for public and private facilities and infrastructure.

Bill History: 04-13-23 S Committee action pending Senate Business and Commerce


SB 2330 Bettencourt, Paul(R)

Relating to the authorization and reporting of expenditures for lobbying activities by certain political subdivisions and other public entities.

General Remarks: This is the compromise bill on taxpayer funded lobbying. It requires a governmental entity to approve a lobbying contract in a public meeting, post the contract on their website, publish membership dues to any association that lobbies on their website. It also allows any citizen to seek injunctive relief if a governmental entity violates this section.

Bill History: 03-23-23 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate Local Government


SCR 2 Nichols, Robert(R)

Extending the duty of the comptroller of public accounts under Section 7-c, Article VIII, Texas Constitution, to deposit certain tax revenue to the state highway fund.

Companions: HCR 47 Canales, Terry(Identical) 3- 2-23 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Appropriations

General Remarks: This continuing resolution extends the expiration dates for Proposition 7 to 2042 for the $5B per biennium that comes from general sales tax, and to 2039 for the portion of Proposition 7 that comes from motor vehicle sales and rental taxes.

Bill History: 04-20-23 H Voted favorably from committee on House Appropriations

Statistical probability that this bill becomes a law at this step-84%


SJR 37 Miles, Borris(D)

Proposing a constitutional amendment to permit additional uses of certain dedicated general revenue transferred each fiscal year to the state highway fund.

Companions: HJR 109 Walle, Armando (Refiled from 87R Session) SJR 40 Miles, Borris (Refiled from 87R Session) HJR 77 Walle, Armando (Identical) 1-17-23 H Filed

Bill History: 02-17-23 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate Transportation

Back at the Ranch...


From Forth Worth Report: Will Streetcars Return to Fort Worth? With Growth Comes a Renewed Interest in Project

From KERA: What to Expect at the Fort Worth Art Fair and Main Street Arts Festival

From Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Here are Free Parking Options Downtown for Dueling Fort Worth Art Festivals This Weekend

From CBS 11: Trinity Metro is Offering Free Rides to the Polls for Fort Worth Residents

From Dallas Morning News: Plano Requests More Transparency

From Community Impact Newspaper: Dallas Area Rapid Transit Seeking Applicants for Bus Drivers, Police Officers, More

From D Magazine: The City Adopted a New Housing Policy. But it May Require a Gut Check From Everyone.

From Denton Record-Chronicle: Grassroots Group Builds Benches to Fill Need at DCTA Bus Stops

From Richardson Today: DART Studies Fare Structure, Offers Public Survey