Ben Herr Executive Director, Texas Transit Association Transit-Related Legislation

Ben HerrBen Herr

Executive Director, Executive Director,

Texas Transit AssociationTexas Transit Association

Transit-Related Transit-Related LegislationLegislation

Legislative SessionLegislative Session

8080thth Legislature Legislature Regular SessionRegular Session

January 9 – May January 9 – May 28, 200728, 2007

Legislative SessionLegislative Session

Total Number of Bills Filed:Total Number of Bills Filed:– In the House: In the House: 41054105– In the Senate: In the Senate: 20232023

Transit-related bills we have been Transit-related bills we have been tracking: tracking: 6868

Key Transit Bills Key Transit Bills To Watch…To Watch…

The Money The Money Bill…Bill…

HB 1 and SB 1HB 1 and SB 1

Funds for public transportationFunds for public transportation

Increase funding to the Department of Increase funding to the Department of Transportation by:Transportation by:

– $40 million each year$40 million each year ($80 million per ($80 million per biennium) out of the State Highway Fundbiennium) out of the State Highway Fund

– $5 million each year$5 million each year ($10 million per ($10 million per biennium) out of the General Revenue Fundbiennium) out of the General Revenue Fund

– Total of Total of $45 million each year$45 million each year ($90 million ($90 million per biennium)per biennium)

– Senate Version ApprovedSenate Version Approved: $4.9 million per : $4.9 million per

bienniumbiennium

Commuter Rail District Commuter Rail District In The ValleyIn The Valley

HB 2510 MartinezHB 2510 Martinez


Relating to the Relating to the creation of commuter creation of commuter rail districtsrail districts

the creation, the creation, administration, powers, administration, powers, duties, operations, and duties, operations, and financing of a commuter financing of a commuter rail districtrail district

granting the authority to granting the authority to issue bonds; granting issue bonds; granting the power of eminent the power of eminent domaindomain

Representative Martinez (Hidalgo)


SB 1088 ShapiroSB 1088 Shapiro

Texas Mobility FundTexas Mobility Fund


Relating to the use of the money in Relating to the use of the money in the Texas Mobility Fund for mass the Texas Mobility Fund for mass transit projectstransit projects

Companion: HB 2987 HillCompanion: HB 2987 Hill

(1)(1) Requires that the comptroller use the Requires that the comptroller use the money dedicated to mass transit projects money dedicated to mass transit projects to make grants to municipalities to finance to make grants to municipalities to finance mass transit projects that the comptroller mass transit projects that the comptroller determines will be best for the statedetermines will be best for the state

(2)(2) A municipality receiving a grant may A municipality receiving a grant may use the money directly or deliver the use the money directly or deliver the money to another governmental entitymoney to another governmental entity

Senator Shapiro (Plano)

(3)(3) Money from a grant may be used Money from a grant may be used only to finance capital costs of a only to finance capital costs of a project, including debt service for project, including debt service for debt financing of capital costs, and debt financing of capital costs, and may not be used to pay operating may not be used to pay operating costs or to finance a project of a costs or to finance a project of a regional mobility authorityregional mobility authority

(4)(4) To be eligible to receive a grant, To be eligible to receive a grant, municipalities must match the municipalities must match the amount sought amount sought

(5)(5) The comptroller shall administer The comptroller shall administer the grant program, including the grant program, including determination of grant recipients, the determination of grant recipients, the amount and the manner of delivery of amount and the manner of delivery of a grant, conditions on use of the a grant, conditions on use of the grant, and other matters necessary to grant, and other matters necessary to the operation of the grant programthe operation of the grant program



Funds for Funds for

Pedestrian and Bicycle SafetyPedestrian and Bicycle Safety

HB 3962 CastroHB 3962 Castro

HB 3962 CastroHB 3962 Castro

Relating to an optional Relating to an optional county fee on county fee on registration of a vehicle registration of a vehicle to fund facilities to fund facilities enhancing pedestrian enhancing pedestrian and bicycle safetyand bicycle safety

The commissioners court of The commissioners court of a county by order may a county by order may impose an additional fee, impose an additional fee, not to exceed $10, for not to exceed $10, for registering a vehicle in the registering a vehicle in the county.county.Representative Castro

(San Antonio)

SB 132 WentworthSB 132 Wentworth

Bus-only Lane ProgramBus-only Lane Program


A motor bus-only lane A motor bus-only lane programprogram

Shoulders would be used as Shoulders would be used as low-speed passing lanes low-speed passing lanes during peak traffic timesduring peak traffic times

Senator Wentworth (San Antonio)


Established and Established and operated on state operated on state highways with highways with sufficient shoulder sufficient shoulder widths widths

Max. speed limit 55 Max. speed limit 55 mphmph

SB 257 SB 257 CaronaCarona

Removing The Tax CapRemoving The Tax Cap

SB 257 CaronaSB 257 Carona

Relating to limitations on the Relating to limitations on the combined rates of transit and other combined rates of transit and other local sales and use taxeslocal sales and use taxes

All municipalities would now qualify to be All municipalities would now qualify to be able to adopt/repeal a sales taxable to adopt/repeal a sales tax

Currently, combined rate of all sales & use Currently, combined rate of all sales & use taxes cannot exceed 2%; taxes cannot exceed 2%;

With this bill transit sales and use taxes With this bill transit sales and use taxes would not be included in that 2% capwould not be included in that 2% capSenator Carona

(Dallas)

Spending Tax Revenue On Spending Tax Revenue On

Mass Transit FacilitiesMass Transit Facilities



Relating to the authority of Relating to the authority of certain development certain development corporations to spend tax corporations to spend tax revenue on certain mass revenue on certain mass transit-related facilitiestransit-related facilities

A corporation created under A corporation created under Section 4A or 4B of The Section 4A or 4B of The Development Corporation Act of Development Corporation Act of 1979 (Article 5190.6, Vernon's 1979 (Article 5190.6, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes) may, as Texas Civil Statutes) may, as authorized by the corporation's authorized by the corporation's board of directors, spend tax board of directors, spend tax revenue received under this Act revenue received under this Act for the development, for the development, improvement, expansion, or improvement, expansion, or maintenance of facilities relating maintenance of facilities relating to the operation of commuter rail, to the operation of commuter rail, light rail, or motor buses. light rail, or motor buses.


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Ben Herr Executive Director, Texas Transit Association Transit-Related Legislation