2023 Texas Legislative Session – Transportation Update

Bill Number	Description	Outcome	Ramifications
HB 3899	Impacts use of funds by local agencies	Did not pass	This bill would require elections to be held for projects with specific plans and budgets. This would mean that tax revenues would still be collected for Project Connect, but that it could not have been spent on the project without going back to local voters for approval.
SB 505	New fee on electric vehicles	Passed	EV owners now have to pay a $200 fee during annual registration renew, or $400 for the registration of a new vehicle, as a means to make up for lost gas tax revenue. In a number of ways this may decentivize ownership of electric vehicles. There is also a concern that there is tax already being paid due to charging, it just doesn't go to roads.
HB 3418	Pilot Vehicle Miles Travelled Fee	Did not pass, but saw some support	This bill would have put into place a pilot program of approximately 300 commercial vehicles. It was described as a potential means of testing an alternative to the current motor vehicle fuel tax (or gas tax).
HB 1885	Allowing for variable speed limits	Passed	This change allows for TxDOT engineers to approve of variable speed limits, which can be useful for construction zones and for inclement weather. Evidence suggests that allowing for variable speeds can help improve safety.
HB 2190	Language change from accident to collision/crash	Passed	Although this may seem like a small change to legal language of vehicle crashes, it reflects a growing recognition in the transportation field that the design and operations of streets has substantial impact on their safety.
88(3) HB 190	Reimburses transportation fees for students	Proposed	The Texas Education Agency would have to reimburse school districts that take on transportation costs associated with an out-of-district student. This would provide additional funding for school districts to provide transportation costs, rather than provide those funds to transit providers or incentivize collaboration between districts and existing transit providers. This could lead to doubling up of routes between agencies. Could be proposed again during a future session.
88(3) HB 103	Rollback rate for Cities / Counties	Proposed	As acknowledgement that inflation exceeded 3.5%, proposed an alternative calculation for the rollback rate. This affects public project funding, including transportation and could be proposed again during a future session.

HB 3899

Impacts use of funds by local agencies

Did not pass

This bill would require elections to be held for projects with specific plans and budgets. This would mean that tax revenues would still be collected for Project Connect, but that it could not have been spent on the project without going back to local voters for approval.

SB 505

New fee on electric vehicles

Passed

EV owners now have to pay a $200 fee during annual registration renew, or $400 for the registration of a new vehicle, as a means to make up for lost gas tax revenue. In a number of ways this may decentivize ownership of electric vehicles. There is also a concern that there is tax already being paid due to charging, it just doesn't go to roads.

HB 3418

Pilot Vehicle Miles Travelled Fee

Did not pass, but saw some support

This bill would have put into place a pilot program of approximately 300 commercial vehicles. It was described as a potential means of testing an alternative to the current motor vehicle fuel tax (or gas tax).

HB 1885

Allowing for variable speed limits

Passed

This change allows for TxDOT engineers to approve of variable speed limits, which can be useful for construction zones and for inclement weather. Evidence suggests that allowing for variable speeds can help improve safety.

HB 2190

Language change from accident to collision/crash

Passed

Although this may seem like a small change to legal language of vehicle crashes, it reflects a growing recognition in the transportation field that the design and operations of streets has substantial impact on their safety.

88(3) HB 190

Reimburses transportation fees for students

Proposed

The Texas Education Agency would have to reimburse school districts that take on transportation costs associated with an out-of-district student. This would provide additional funding for school districts to provide transportation costs, rather than provide those funds to transit providers or incentivize collaboration between districts and existing transit providers. This could lead to doubling up of routes between agencies. Could be proposed again during a future session.

88(3) HB 103

Rollback rate for Cities / Counties

Proposed

As acknowledgement that inflation exceeded 3.5%, proposed an alternative calculation for the rollback rate. This affects public project funding, including transportation and could be proposed again during a future session.

Legislation Affecting Transportation (important highlights, but not comprehensive)