Bill

HB 2701

84(R) - 2015
House Transportation
House Transportation
Transportation & Infrastructure

Vote Recommendation

Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral

Author(s)

Joe Pickett

Bill Caption

Relating to the regulation of motor vehicles by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles; creating a criminal offense; providing a penalty; authorizing fees.

Fiscal Notes

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB2701, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted: a negative impact of ($250,969,691) through the biennium ending August 31, 2017. 

Bill Analysis

This legislation would do the following:

  • Change the $10 registration fee for commercial fleet vehicles from annual to a one-time fee.
  • Change the annual $15 registration fee for certain semitrailers to a one-time fee of $105.
  • Amend  the Transportation Code to provide for the titling and registration of an autocycle, and treat it as a motorcycle for the purpose of vehicle titling and registration. 
  • Authorize the issuance of annual ready-mixed concrete truck permits to volumetric ready-mixed concrete trucks for operation on public roadways under certain conditions.
  • Authorize the DMV to issue permits on behalf of overweight corridors and authorize DMV to charge a fee to cover the cost of issuance.
  • Authorize the DMV to issue a 24-hour permit for the operation of certain vehicles with excess axle or gross weight with a fee of $50.
  • Authorize a motor carrier whose registration has been suspended or revoked to apply for a re-registration from the DMV by paying a fee of $10 for each vehicle requiring re-registration.

This bill would also re-enact the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) Fund created by Section 1001.151, Transportation Code,and all revenue dedicated for deposit to the credit of that fund. The fund would be established as a special fund in the state treasury outside the General Revenue Fund.

Vote Recommendation Notes

We remain neutral on this bill. While most of this legislation consists of clerical modifications and some beneficial changes such as creating one-time fees in lieu of annual fees, we oppose the re-engagement of the TxDMV fund  as a special fund that is outside the treasury. Balancing these things against one another, we remain neutral.