HOUSE TRANSPORTATION UPDATE

  

 

The committee heard and voted out Sen. Bob Hall's bill, SB 714, to ban red light cameras. The full senate also passed Sen. Lois Kolkhorst's eminent domain bill, SB 474, to have landowners recoup their legal costs if the condemner low-balled their offer and was off by more than 20% from what the court ultimately settled on, as well as Bob Hall's SB 444 to strip the private toll corporations of eminent domain authority. The senate also passed SB 1237 by Sen. Van Taylor to make MPOs have to broadcast their meetings over the internet and archive them so the public can more easily watchdog what they're doing.

After the Lt Gov. Dan Patrick asked his Senate Transportation Committee Chair Robert Nichols to set our KEY reform bill for a hearing this week, SB 485, by Sen. Lois Kolkhorst to take the toll off the road when it's paid for, Nichols posted the meeting notice WITHOUT SB 485 on it. Most of the senate bills up this week have little consequence. However, one bill we need to oppose.

Fill out a card at the back of the room to OPPOSE SB 1919 by Sen. Kirk Watson which would give TxDOT the authority to impose variable speed limits.

Turn-in your Witness Registration Form to the clerk at the front of the room. Even if you don't want to testify, registering for or against a bill greatly helps. Unfortunately, we cannot get our support for or opposition to a bill on the official record unless you're physically present in Austin when public testimony is open on the bill.

HOUSE BILL ALERT: HB 3634, HB 3593, HB 2619, HB 527, HB 1889
Register for House bills at the iPad kiosks outside the committee rooms. Be sure you press 'ok' to finish at the end to ensure your positions are indeed registered.

HB 3593 (Burkett) - To require all toll entities and transportation boards like MPOs to broadcast their meetings on the internet and archive them so citizens can more easily watchdog what they're doing.

HB 2619 (Burkett) - Companion to Kolkhorst's bill to allow landowners to repurchase their property from a toll entity if they do not use it within a certain timeframe.

HB 527 (Larson) - To require a countywide public vote on any light rail/street car proposals by the transit authority in Bexar County.

HB 1889 (Metcalf) - To prohibit any high speed rail in Texas.

Even if you don't want to testify, registering for or against a bill greatly helps. Unfortunately, we cannot get our support or opposition to a bill on the official record unless you're physically present in Austin when public testimony is open on the bill.