Legislative Update

March 28, 2025

FROM WASHINGTON, D.C.

Marc Molinaro appeared before the Senate Banking Committee on March 27 for his confirmation hearing as Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration. A former U.S. Representative and county executive, Molinaro emphasized bipartisan cooperation, accountability in federal transit funding, and improving access and safety in public transportation systems. He will face a committee vote next to move his nomination forward.

On March 26, 2025, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Transit held a hearing focusing on the American trucking sector. The hearing highlighted the trucking industry’s role in the U.S. economy and addressed pressing challenges such as workforce retention, regulatory burdens, and aging infrastructure. Witnesses included representatives from major trucking associations, independent operators, and logistics firms. Both members of Congress and witnesses stressed the urgent need for a new highway authorization bill, one that prioritizes the needs of truckers through investments in freight corridors, truck parking, and regulatory flexibility to support a safer and more efficient industry.

FROM AUSTIN

The Senate Transportation Committee met on March 26 at 8 am to review several bills of interest. SB 546 (Menéndez), addressing seat belts on school buses, had a committee substitute removing the two-point seatbelt option and requiring school districts to report bus inventory and costs for three-point seatbelt compliance over four years; the bill remains pending. SB 744 (Campbell) aims to reinstate automated enforcement of school bus passing violations, allowing citations to be issued by school districts or law enforcement without requiring a vendor, and also awaits further action. SB 1365 (Nichols), a broad vehicle registration and fraud prevention measure that includes changes to EV registration fees and dealership database access, is still under consideration. SB 1394 (Hall), aligning Texas law with federal axle weight standards for ready-mix concrete trucks without increasing weight limits, remains pending. In contrast, SB 1366 (Nichols), which mandates the inclusion of work zone safety in driver education courses, received committee approval. SB 1729 (Miles), a cleanup bill resolving conflicts in vehicle registration and inspection statutes following the elimination of safety inspections, advanced with a favorable vote. Finally, SB 1841 (Johnson), enhancing privacy protections for personal data collected by municipal and airport entities to prevent public disclosure of travel and transaction information, also secured committee approval.

The House Transportation Committee met on March 27 at 8 am to review several bills of interest. HB 2041 (King) seeks to add animal control officers and their vehicles to the list of those covered under the "Move Over, Slow Down.” HB 2270 (Turner) generated significant discussion among Representatives. The bill aims to protect train operators' personal information following collisions, similar to privacy protections afforded to law enforcement. Some Representatives expressed concerns about limiting public access to records, particularly in cases where fault is unclear, while others questioned whether the bill could hinder investigations or litigation. HB 3034 (Craddick) would allow the enforcement of school bus passing violations using images and video from school bus infraction detection systems, rather than requiring an officer to witness the violation in real time. Chair Craddick emphasized that this technology could be lifesaving and would only be used when children are present. Finally, HB 2455 (Canales) addresses the maximum allowable weight for vehicles operating at ports of entry and certain nearby roads. All bills were left pending.

March Texas Transportation Commission (TTC) Hearing
The Texas Transportation Commission met on March 27. Routine information was presented for their approval, including highway letting contracts, rejection of building maintenance bids, State Infrastructure Bank loans, Federal and State aviation awards, and rule adoptions.

MONITORED BILLS LIST

If you need information on the bills being tracked, please contact Jackie Nolasco at jnolasco@nctcog.org.

• Texas Legislature

• US Congress

HIGHLIGHTED BILLS WITH ACTION

• SB 1 Huffman, General Appropriations Bill. Passed the full Senate, Received in the House, and referred to House Appropriations Committee.
• SB 1555 Nichols, Relating to a grant program to fund certain railroad grade separation projects. Passed the full Senate, Received in the House.

RECENT HEARINGS

TEXAS HOUSE

• Subcommittee on Defense and Veterans (March 24)
  • HB 2337 Relating to the concurrent jurisdiction of this state over United States military installations with respect to certain subject matters (Pending)
  • HB 2564 Relating to the evaluation of Defense Economic Adjustment Assistance Grant Applications (Pending)
• Ways and Means (March 24)
  • HJR 138 Proposing a constitutional amendment prohibiting the imposition of a carbon tax (Pending)
• Intergovernmental Affairs (March 25)
  • HB 1080 Relating to the publication of required notice by a political subdivision by alternative media (Pending)
• State Affairs (March 26)
  • HB 1846 Relating to the establishment of the Electric Truck Advisory Council (Pending)
  • HB 3228 Relating to the inclusion of recycling or disposal provisions in certain lease agreements of wind or solar power facilities (Pending)
• Trade, Workforce, Economic Development (March 26)
  • HB 431 Relating to the regulation by a property owners' association of the installation of solar roof tiles (Pending)
• Homeland, Public Safety, Veterans (March 26)
  • HB 2029 Relating to vehicle safety inspections of certain travel trailers (Pending)
• Delivery of Government Efficiency (March 26)
  • HB 149 Relating to the regulation of the use of artificial intelligence systems in this state (Pending)
  • HB 1893 Relating to the disclosure under the public information law of a motor vehicle license plate number captured in a video recording obtained or maintained by a law enforcement agency (Pending)
  • HB 2028 Relating to the governmental bodies required to post on the Internet notices and agendas for meetings under the open meetings law (Pending)
  • HB 2818 Relating to the artificial intelligence division within the Department of Information Resources (Pending)
• Land and Resource Management (March 27)
  • HB 24 Relating to procedures for changes to a zoning regulation or district boundary (Pending)
  • HB 2149 Relating to nonconforming land uses after the adoption of or change to a zoning regulation or boundary (Pending)
  • HB 2559 Relating to the imposition by a municipality of a moratorium on property development in certain circumstances (Pending)
• Transportation (March 27)
  • HB 408 Relating to the awarding of contracts by the Texas Department of Transportation for certain materials used in road construction projects (Heard last meeting, approved today)
  • HB 1607 Relating to license plates and license plate windshield insignia issued for and displayed on a vehicle; authorizing a fee; creating a criminal offense (Heard last meeting, approved today)
  • HB 2041 Relating to the criminal offense of passing certain vehicles on a highway (Pending)
  • HB 2270 Relating to the disclosure of certain information regarding a record of a collision or violation involving a person operating a railroad locomotive or train (Pending)
  • HB 3034 Relating to the enforcement of the prohibition on passing a school bus using images and video from a school bus infraction detection system (Pending)
  • HB 2455 Relating to the maximum weight of a vehicle or combination of vehicles operating at a port of entry or on certain roads associated with or near a port of entry (Pending)
• Environmental Regulation (March 27)
  • HB 205 Relating to the eligibility for grants for alternative fueling facilities (Pending)
  • HB 464 Relating to the establishment of a grant program to support the elimination of illegally disposed of scrap tires (Pending)
  • HB 1361 Relating to the distribution of funds designated for the low-income vehicle repair assistance, retrofit, and accelerated vehicle retirement program (Pending)
  • HB 2546 Relating to vehicles eligible for replacement under the clean school bus program (Pending)
  • HB 3229 Relating to recycling of certain renewable energy components (Pending)

TEXAS SENATE

• State Affairs (March 24)
  • SB 291 Relating to the failure to disclose certain appraisal reports by an entity with eminent domain authority in connection with an offer to acquire real property (Pending)
  • SB 292 Relating to certain requirements in connection with the acquisition of real property for public use by an entity with eminent domain authority (Pending)
• Economic Development (March 24)
  • SB 209 Relating to the creation of the Texas technology and innovation program (Pending)
• Local Government (March 24)
  • SB 1277 Relating to the expiration of the municipal sales and use tax for street maintenance in certain municipalities (Pending)
• Transportation (March 26)
  • SB 546 Relating to seat belts on buses that transport children (Pending)
  • SB 744 Relating to the enforcement of the prohibition on passing a school bus using images and video from a school bus infraction detection system (Pending)
  • SB 1365 Relating to vehicle registration, license plates, and inspection reports (Pending)
  • SB 1366 Relating to the inclusion of information about construction or maintenance work zones in the curriculum of driver education and driving safety courses (Approved)
  • SB 1394 Relating to weight and tire load restrictions for the operation of a vehicle transporting ready-mixed concrete on a public highway (Pending)
  • SB 1729 Relating to the registration and inspection of vehicles (Approved)
  • SB 1841 Relating to the confidentiality of certain information collected by certain local governments and airport governing boards (Approved)
• Business and Commerce (March 27)
  • SB 819 Relating to renewable energy generation facilities (Pending)

US HOUSE

• The House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Transit met on March 26, to discuss the American trucking sector and its impacts on communities.

UPCOMING COMMITTEE HEARINGS

TEXAS SENATE

• The Senate Transportation Committee will meet on Wednesday, April 2, at 8 am. The Committee will meet to consider the following bills of interest:
  • SB 1493 Relating to lighting equipment requirements for motor vehicles
  • SB 1919 Relating to the authority of the Texas Department of Transportation to settle certain claims
  • SB 2039 Relating to the applicability of certain pedestrian laws to certain sidewalk users
  • SB 2226 Relating to requirements for loans or grants provided by the Texas Transportation Commission to aviation facilities located in economically disadvantaged counties
  • SB 2425 Relating to the regulation of automated motor vehicles

TEXAS HOUSE

• The House Transportation Funding Subcommittee will meet on Monday, March 31, at 10 am. The Subcommittee will meet to consider the following bills of interest:
  • HJR 58 Proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing the use of money in the state highway fund for transit-oriented projects
  • HJR 63 Proposing a constitutional amendment to permit additional uses of certain dedicated general revenue transferred each fiscal year to the state highway fund
  • HB 542 Relating to the use of certain money transferred to and deposited in the state highway fund as required by the Texas Constitution
  • HB 1288 Relating to discretionary funding decisions of the Texas Transportation Commission
  • HB 1402 Relating to a prohibition on the use of public money to pay for the alteration of a roadway related to high-speed rail construction
  • HB 2262 Relating to the installation and maintenance of dynamic message signs for certain tolled lanes operated by a toll project entity
  • HB 3019 Relating to the authority of certain metropolitan rapid transit authorities and related entities to request and receive federal funds

US SENATE

• On April 2, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will hold a hearing detailing the construction of the new surface authorization bill. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy will be in attendance offering clarification and guidance from DOT.

Texas Legislature - 89th Session January 14, 2025 - June 2, 2025

- Regional Transportation Council Legislative Program for the 89th Texas Legislature 

Texas Legislature - 88th Session January 10, 2023 - May 29, 2023 

- Regional Transportation Council Legislative Program for the 88th Texas Legislature 

- 88th Texas Legislature Summary of Bills (2023)

Other Resources

- Texas House of Representatives 

- Texas Senate
 

Congressional Updates important to our region

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.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), signed into law by President Biden on November 15, 2021, is a five-year bill that authorizes $567.5 billion for surface transportation, including roads and bridges, and an additional $550 billion for water, broadband, cybersecurity, and energy infrastructure. With a total funding amount of $1.2 trillion, the act aims to modernize infrastructure across the nation and is set to expire on September 30, 2026.


2019 RTC Principles for Federal Surface Transportation Authorization

Resources

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs (IIJA) Act

• IIJA Act Summary Presentation [PDF]
• IIJA Act Text

FAST Act

• NCTCOG FAST Act Summary [PDF]
• FAST Act Summary Presentation [PDF]
• FAST Act Text

MAP-21

• NCTCOG MAP-21 Summary [PDF]
• MAP-21 Text

SAFETEA-LU

• NCTCOG SAFETEA-LU Summary [PDF]
• SAFETEA-LU Text