Senate Transportation met on March 15 to take up a number of bills. This report covers discussions concerning: SB 904 (Springer), SB 190 (Miles), SB 323 (Huffman), SB 1021 (Nichols), and SB 1023 (Nichols). An archive of this hearing can be found here.

 

This report is intended to give you an overview and highlight the various topics taken up. It is not a verbatim transcript of the discussions but is based upon what was audible or understandable to the observer and the desire to get details out as quickly as possible with few errors or omissions.

 

Vote Outs

SB 190 (5-0) to local and uncontested

SB 247 (5-0) to local and uncontested

SB 323 (5-0) to local and uncontested

SB 347 (5-0 to local and uncontested

SB 507 (5-0) to local and uncontested

SB 508 (5-0) to local and uncontested

CSSB 656 (5-0) to local and uncontested

SB 904 (5-0) to local and uncontested

SB 1021 (5-0) to local and uncontested

SB 1023 (5-0) to local and uncontested

 

Opening Comments

  • Chair Nichols – Transportation’s meetings will begin at 8:00 AM moving forward

 

SB 904 (Springer) Relating to presumption for an offense to accessible parking.

  • Springer – Bill seeks to clarify HB 3163 86(R) that handicapped spots both meeting/not meeting international standards can be enforced
  • Nichols – Great bill

 

Chase Bearden, Coalition of Texans with Disabilities – For

  • Thanks Springer for this legislation; have been dealing with this issue for years

 

SB 904 voted out (5-0) to local and uncontested

 

SB 190 (Miles) Relating to the civil penalty for certain signs placed on the right-of-way of a public road.

  • Similar to SB 355 87(R) that died on House Calendars
  • Raises the civil penalty and includes scaling penalties; clarifies liability is for both those who have placed it and the one advertising

 

Andrea French, Scenic Houston and Scenic Texas – For

  • Support this bill as these signs block public walkways/roads, are visual blights, and are predatory
  • Current penalty structure is not a deterrent for repeat/one-time offenders

 

TaKasha Francis, Director of the City of Houston Department of Neighborhoods – For

  • Signs obstruct roadways, clog drains, and cost the city $282k annually
  • Support the increase of penalties

 

SB 190 voted out (5-0) to local and uncontested

 

SB 323 (Huffman) Relating to the enforcement of commercial motor vehicle safety standards in certain counties.

  • Parker – Extends ability to enforce commercial vehicle safety standards to Waller County

 

SB 323 voted out (5-0) to local and uncontested

 

SB 1021 (Nichols) Relating to the handling of bids on certain contracts for highway projects.

  • Nichols – Allows bids on contracts estimated to be under $1m to be filed with the district engineers; is currently those under $300k

 

SB 1021 voted out (5-0) to local and uncontested

 

SB 1023 (Nichols) Relating to the establishment and posting of the maximum loads permitted on certain bridges.

  • Nichols – Allows TxDOT to provide signs/installation of these in compliance with federal law

 

SB 1023 voted out (5-0) to local and uncontested