Legislative Update: March 22, 2019
FROM WASHINGTON D.C.
There’s not much news to report this week, since Congress is on recess until Monday, March 25. However, after weeks of speculation, President Trump has formally nominated a new administrator for the Federal Aviation Administration; the position has been vacant since late 2017. Steve Dickson is a former Delta Air Lines executive who previously led opposition to Trump’s plan to separate air traffic control operations from the FAA. Dickson’s nomination comes amid a swirl of questions about the FAA’s role in certifying the Boeing 737 MAX, the aircraft involved in two recent crashes.
In other Trump nominee news, the Senate Banking Committee last week approved Thelma Drake's nomination to lead the Federal Transit Administration by a vote of 24-1. This is the second time the committee has advanced Drake’s nomination to the full Senate. In December, Drake was one of several Trump nominees the Senate failed to vote on before the end of the 115th Congress.
FROM AUSTIN
The House Committee on Appropriations approved their version of the budget this week. The Committee Substitute for HB 1 is scheduled for discussion on the House floor Wednesday, March 27, and debate is expected to last all day and into the evening. CSHB 1 still contains funding for LIRAP / LIP under Article VI. The Senate Finance is scheduled to approve their subcommittee recommendations next week but and final approval by the Finance Committee is tentatively scheduled for April 4. SB 1 did not contain LIRAP / LIP funding provisions and work groups did not add any funding related to the program.
Observers still have not seen sweeping consensus among policymakers regarding supplemental budget decisions. In the supplemental budget, House members wish to spend $6.6 billion dollars from the Economic Stabilization Fund (Rainy Day Fund) to cover the costs from Hurricane Harvey in 2019 and 2020. This would contrast with Senate members who wish to utilize $4.4 billion in Rainy Day funds for withdrawal later this year only. Most of that funding would go to Hurricane Harvey and other disaster preparation projects. Historically, the largest withdrawal from the ESF came in 2011 when policymakers withdrew $3.2 billion to combat economic downturn. The Economic Stabilization Fund currently holds about $11 billion.
MONITORED BILL LIST
- US Congress – Bill list will be provided next week.
- A table of bills related to the RTC Legislative Program can be found here.
HIGHLIGHTED BILLS WITH ACTION - TEXAS LEGISLATURE
HB 2319 (Parker-R) / SB 1066 (Nelson-R) This proposed legislation outlines the process for selecting a board of directors for DCTA. The House version of the bill is set to be heard by the House Transportation committee on Tuesday, March 26. The Senate version will be heard in Senate Transportation on Wednesday, March 27.
HB 803 (Patterson-R) / SB 1733 (Paxton-R)- Directs toll project entities to publish the entity’s annual financial data including revenues, expenses, and debts on the entity’s website. This applies to each toll project acquired, designed, constructed, operated, or maintained by the entity. The House version of the bill is set to be heard by the House Transportation committee on Tuesday, March 26.
HB 1971 (King-R)- Amends Transportation Code to define and distinguish the terms “electric vehicle” and “hybrid vehicle.” This bill would mandate an additional fee of $200 for electric vehicles and $100 for hybrid vehicles at the time of registration or renewal of registration. This bill is set to be heard by the House Transportation committee on Tuesday, March 26.
HB 1631 (Stickland-R) / SB 653 (Hall-R) These bills prohibit local authorities from implementing or operating a photographic traffic signal enforcement system for a highway or street under its jurisdiction. The bills also prohibit local authorities from using the images captured in civil or criminal proceedings. SB 653 was heard Wednesday, March 20
th in the Senate Transportation Committee. HB 1631 is set to be heard during House Transportation on Tuesday, March 26.
HB 2830 (Canales-D) Under current statute, TxDOT may enter into 3 design-build contracts each state fiscal biennium. HB 2830 would increase that limit to 6 design-build contracts per biennium. This bill is set to be heard by the House Transportation committee on Tuesday, March 26.
HB 1370 (Harris- R) This bill would create an interim committee on high speed rail. If passed into law, it would allow for the Lt. Governor and Speaker of the House to designate members for service on a joint interim high-speed rail committee. The purpose of this committee would be to evaluate the feasibility of creating a statewide high-speed rail initiative through a public-private partnership and to work with TxDOT to develop a comprehensive statewide strategy for the development of high-speed rail in this state. This bill is scheduled for hearing in the House Administration committee on Monday 3/25.
RECENT COMMITTEE HEARINGS
TEXAS LEGISLATURE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
House Appropriations MONDAY - 3/18/19 10:00 A.M., E1.030
- VOTED FAVORABLY AS SUBSTITUTED: HB 1 Zerwas, John- General Appropriations Bill.
- VOTED FAVORABLY AS SUBSTITUTED: SB 500 Nelson, Jane- Relating to making supplemental appropriations and reductions in appropriations and prescribing limitations regarding appropriations.
- VOTED FAVORABLY AS SUBSTITUTED: HB 1 Zerwas, John- General Appropriations Bill.
- VOTED FAVORABLY AS SUBSTITUTED: SB 500 Nelson, Jane- Relating to making supplemental appropriations and reductions in appropriations and prescribing limitations regarding appropriations.
Defense and Veterans affairs MONDAY -3/18/19 2:00 P.M., E1.016
- LEFT PENDING: HB 166 Moody, Joe- Relating to waiver programs for recipients of the Purple Heart provided by toll project entities.
- LEFT PENDING: HB 584 White, James- Relating to a program to facilitate, through the issuance and use of electronic toll collection transponders, free or discounted toll project use available to certain military personnel.
Transportation: WEDNESDAY -3/20/19 2:00 P.M., E2.030
- LEFT PENDING: HB 113 Minjarez, Ina- Relating to the registration, operation, and inspection of automated motor vehicles.
- LEFT PENDING: HB 642 Raney, John- Relating to authorizing an optional county fee on vehicle registration in certain counties to be used for transportation projects.
- LEFT PENDING: HB 771 Davis, Sarah- Relating to the placement of warning signs in areas where the use of a wireless communication device is prohibited.
- LEFT PENDING: HB 1548 Springer, Drew- Relating to the operation of golf carts, neighborhood electric vehicles, and off-highway vehicles.
- LEFT PENDING: HB 899 Israel, Celia- Relating to bonds issued by certain metropolitan rapid transit authorities.
- LEFT PENDING: HB 1666 Martinez, Armando- Relating to the authorization by referendum on an optional county fee on vehicle registration in certain counties. (South Texas)
- LEFT PENDING: HB 1755 Thompson, Ed- Relating to the titling, registration, and inspection of assembled vehicles.
- LEFT PENDING: HB 1770 Martinez, Armando- Relating to the offense of passing certain vehicles on a highway.
- LEFT PENDING: HB 2188 Frullo, John- Relating to the operation of electric and non-electric bicycles.
- LEFT PENDING: HB 2775 Krause, Matt- Relating to the movement of pedestrians in front of, under, between, or through rail cars at a railroad grade crossing.
Environmental Regulation WEDNESDAY -3/20/19 10:30 P.M., E1.026
- LEFT PENDING: HB 2661 Blanco, Cesar- Relating to requiring school districts to adopt a policy regarding the idling of the engine of a school bus.
SENATE
Transportation WEDNESDAY - 3/20/19 10:55 A.M., E1.016
- VOTED FAVORABLY: SB 636 Kolkhorst, Lois- Relating to the enforcement of commercial motor vehicle safety standards in certain municipalities.
- LEFT PENDING: SB 653 Hall, Bob- Relating to prohibiting the use of photographic traffic signal enforcement systems.
- VOTED FAVORABLY AS SUBSTITUTED: SB 1091 Nichols, Robert- Relating to vehicles eligible for veteran toll discount programs.
- VOTED FAVORABLY: SB 1092 Nichols, Robert- Relating to certain contracts requiring competitive bidding by the Texas Department of Transportation.
- VOTED FAVORABLY: SB 1311 Bettencourt, Paul- Relating to the electronic transmission of an invoice or notice of toll nonpayment by a toll project entity.
UPCOMING COMMITTEE HEARINGS
TEXAS LEGISLATURE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
State Affairs MONDAY - 3/25/19 10:30 A.M. or ADJ, JHR 140
- HB 3592 Zwiener, Erin- Relating to qualifying projects for public-private partnerships.
Administration MONDAY - 3/25/19 10:30 A.M. or ADJ, E1.010
- HB 1370 Harris, Cody- Relating to the creation of a joint interim committee on high-speed rail development.
- HCR 24 VanDeaver, Gary- Requesting the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the House of Representatives to direct the appropriate house and senate committees to conduct an interim study.
Transportation TUESDAY - 3/26/19 2:00 A.M. or ADJ, JHR 120
- HB 11 Thompson, Ed- Relating to transfer of the driver licensing program from the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.
- HB 803 Patterson, Jared- Relating to financial reporting requirements for toll projects.
- HB 901 Hefner, Cole- Relating to registration of a motor vehicle alleged to have been involved in a violation detected by a photographic traffic signal enforcement system.
- HB 1542 Martinez, Armando- Relating to changes made by certain design-build contractors to the design-build team for transportation projects.
- HB 1631 Stickland, Jonathan- Relating to prohibiting the use of photographic traffic signal enforcement systems.
- HB 1971 King, Ken- Relating to imposing an additional fee for the registration of electric and hybrid vehicles.
- HB 2262 Thompson, Ed- Relating to the use of traffic surveillance systems.
- HB 2319 Parker, Tan- Relating to certain coordinated county transportation authorities.
- HB 2814 Goodwin Vicki- Relating to the designation of highway safety corridors.
- HB 2830 Canales, Terry- Relating to certain requirements for and limitations on design-build contracts for highway projects of the Texas Department of Transportation.
- HB 3059 Holland, Justin- Relating to the requirement that motor vehicle dealers apply for the registration of and title for certain vehicles sold by the dealer.
SENATE
Transportation WEDNESDAY - 3/27/19 11:48 A.M., E1.016
- SB 604 Buckingham, Dawn- Relating to the continuation and functions of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles and to the operations of certain other entities performing functions associated with the department.
- SB 892 Menendez, Jose- Relating to the exhaust emission systems of diesel-powered motor vehicles.
- SB 1066 Nelson, Jane- Relating to certain coordinated county transportation authorities.
Business and Commerce WEDNESDAY - 3/26/19 9:41 A.M., E1.012
- SB 943 Watson, Kirk- Relating to the disclosure of certain contracting information under the public information law.
- SB 944 Watson, Kirk- Relating to the public information law.
To view Committee Hearings for the Texas Senate click here:
http://www.senate.texas.gov/av-live.php
To view Committee Hearings for the Texas House click here:
http://www.house.state.tx.us/video-audio/
In 2005 Congress passed the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) . This legislation guided surface transportation policy and funding through 2009. Nine short-term extensions passed since SAFETEA-LU expired in 2009. The final short-term extension of SAFETEA-LU extended surface transportation authorization through June 30, 2012.
On July 6, 2012, President Obama signed into law a two-year $105 billion surface transportation authorization, titled Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21). MAP-21 reauthorized the federal-aid highway, highway safety and transit programs that were last authorized by SAFETEA-LU. New programs and funding levels began on October 1, 2012, and continued through September 30, 2014. The final short-term extension of MAP-21 expired on December 4, 2015.
On December 4, 2015, President Obama signed the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act into law, which authorizes Federal highway, transit, safety and rail programs for five years at $305 billion. The FAST Act is effective October 1, 2015 through September 30, 2020.
2019 RTC Principles for Federal Surface Transportation Authorization
Resources
FAST Act
MAP-21
SAFETEA-LU