The Senate Committee on Transportation met to take up several bills on the agenda. This report focuses on SB 28 (Creighton) that relates to the financing of ports in the state which was voted favorably out committee as substituted and will now move to the Senate floor for further consideration.
SB 28 (Creighton) Relating to the financing of ports in the state.
- Committee substitute laid out by Sen. Creighton
- The bill would create a ship channel improvement revolving fund account in the GR fund for navigation districts to secure loans for projects to widen for ship channels
- To qualify for a loan, a project must be authorized by the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRDA), as well as meet any other standards required by the commission
- The bill would also would make the commission responsible for adopting the rules to establish a revolving loan program, which TxDOT would be responsible for administering, as well as the sources of the funds
- Bill also defines "port access improvement project" as an outside the gate public road project, meaning that Texas mobility funds would be able to be used
- The substitute provides the addition of two members to the Port Authority Advisory Committee and the specifics mentioned before concerning the revolving fund
- Kolkhorst – mentioned many things going on, would this help augment local funding
- Yes
- Kolkhorst – does it only apply to navigation districts and not port authorities or are they the same
- Made strides last session – this bill has many components that will enhance what is needed for the waterways
- Resource witness from navigation districts are here to discuss how it would impact
- Kolkhorst – believes there will be money set outside of the gate
- Nichols – $40 million (could use mobility funds or if outside the gate could access SHF)
- Hinojosa – this bill is going in the right direction to help ports
- Phyllis Saathoff, Port Freeport – state ports facilitates movement of products to the world marketplace; loan revolving fund will be important tool as they move forward and appreciated
- Keith Strama, Sabine-Neches Navigation District – need for a well-functioning port system, they can access funding but don’t necessary have tax based to pay immediately so this bill is a good solution
- Roger Guenther, Port of Houston and President of Texas Port Association (TPA) – thanks the legislature for developing this bill to help assist ports meet needs
- Creighton – addresses the witnesses saying he appreciates the leadership of ports
- Nichols reads over 9 cards that of people registered but not testifying for the bill
- Voted out favorably as substituted (8-0)