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The Senate Committee on Transportation met on March 6, 2019 to take up SB 83 (Hall), SB 198 (Schwertner), SB 215 (Seliger), SB 225 (Flores), SB 228 (Hinojosa), SB 240 (Nelson), SB 282 (Buckingham et al.), SB 356 (Nichols), SB 357 (Nichols), SB 497 (Zaffirini), and SB 537 (Kolkhorst). This report covers only SB 198 (Schwertner), SB 282 (Buckingham et al.), SB 356 (Nichols), and SB 357 (Nichols).

This report is intended to give you an overview and highlight of the discussions on the various topics the committee took up. It is not a verbatim transcript of the hearing 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.

 

SB 282 (Buckingham) – Relating to the allocation of money associated with delays of transportation projects.

  • Provide relief to communities impacted by transportation delays.
  • Makes sure communities impacted by delays benefit from funds which are recouped.
  • Passed unanimously out of Senate last session.

 

Public Testimony

Skip Blancett, Mayor of Salado – Support

  • Salado’s “spirit” has been broken.
  • Salado is still on way to recovery.

 

SB 282 passed 6-0.

Certified local and uncontested.

 

SB 198 (Schwertner) –   Relating to payment for the use of a highway toll project.

  • Refile from last session, passed unanimously out of Senate last session.
  • Under the bill, customers will not be required to pay administrative fees if they have a working and active transponder.
  • Drivers will be notified when their equipment is not working.
  • West – Question about collection fees
    • Schwertner – Last session there was such a large problem with billing that there was an appropriation with TxDOT concerning how they had overcharged some of the fees and penalties.

 

Public testimony

Terry Hall, Texans for Toll Free Highways – Support

  • Support the bill, would like it to go further.
  • Fines and fees for drivers are excessive.

 

James Bass, TxDOT

  • Failure to pay late payment fee is $4/month.
  • Had concerns new fee regime would create customer confusion.
  • West – This only applies to TxDOT or all toll roads?
    • Bass – What I just spoke about only applies to TxDOT.
    • Schwertner – The bill applies to all tolling entities.
    • West – It is $4 for TxDOT and is there a collection fee on top of that?
    • Bass – There is a $1.50 mailing fee.

SB 198 left pending.

 

SB 356 (Nichols) – Relating to the enforcement of commercial motor vehicle safety standards in certain municipalities.

  • Allows police officers in Jacksonville, TX, to be certified for commercial vehicle safety.
  • Kolkhorst – I think I have a similar issue in Katy, where trucks will avoid I-10 and go through the middle of town.
    • Nichols – These cities have to have their officers trained and get the proper equipment from DPS.
    • Kolkhorst – Support this, I understand the problems it has.

 

Public testimony

John Esparza, Texas Trucking Association – On

  • TTA works closely with law enforcement partners, has built a reputation of safety.
  • Safety through education is effective.
  • As additional agencies are added, get complaints from members that are getting stopped multiple times a day in certain jurisdictions.
    • Leads to questions that some jurisdictions are more interested in revenue than safety.
    • This is only in pockets, but complaints are on the rise.
  • Authority should be passed based on objective criteria such as traffic accident counts.
  • Nichols – If you have some of those pockets where you feel like they are harassing and not concerned about safety, let the Senator from that are know and we can remove that authority,
    • Esperanza – There are some cases where the city gives up the program or the number is reduced.

SB 356 passed 6-0.

Certified local and uncontested.

 

SB 357 (Nichols) (Committee sub) – Relating to the height of outdoor advertising signs regulated by the Texas Department of Transportation.

  • Interpretation of current statute has allowed billboards to effectively have no height limit.
  • SB 357 makes it clear that the height limit is 42.5ft.
  • It was very clear last session on the floor what the legislative intent was, the intent was that the limit should be 42.5ft. Despite that the height limit was raised to an indeterminate amount.

Public testimony

Margaret Lloyd, Scenic Texas – Support

  • If this bill does not pass we will see billboards of any height.
  • Rule for billboards has been 42.5ft for decades, we hope that will continue.
  • Concerned that a step backwards will be taken if the bill does not pass.
  • Billboards are all visible at 42.5ft, there is no reason to change that height limit.

SB 357 (Committee sub) passed 6-0.

Certified local and uncontested.