Bill: SJR 62, 84(R) - 2015
Committee
Senate Transportation
Vote Recommendation
| Vote Recommendation |
Economic Freedom |
Property Rights |
Personal Responsibility |
Limited Government |
Individual Liberty |
| Yes |
Neutral |
Neutral |
Neutral |
Positive |
Neutral |
Author(s)
Robert Nichols
Bill Caption
Proposing a constitutional amendment dedicating certain revenue sources to be used for the acquisition of rights-of-way for and the construction and maintenance of public roadways.
Fiscal Notes
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SJR 62, Committee
Report 1st House, Substituted: a negative impact of ($300,540,681) through the biennium ending
August 31, 2017; the Resolution would also create a revenue gain of $153,608,000 to a new
General Revenue Dedicated account to be used for the purposes specified in the legislation.
Bill Analysis
This resolution would add an amendment to Article VIII of the Texas Constitution that would constitutionally dedicate certain transportation-related revenue sources to be used only for the acquisition of right-of way
and the construction and maintenance of public, non-tolled roads. Revenue sources include:
- overweight / oversize permit fees;
- payments received under a Comprehensive Development Agreement;
- sales or transfers of highway right-of-way or real property;
- the sale of surplus vehicles.
Vote Recommendation Notes
We support this resolution for its commitment to limiting government spending of certain fees collected from transportation-related issues, to be used to reinvest into transportation. Currently, these revenue sources are constantly being reallocated to other programs or accounts that grow government in different areas of the state, instead of reinvesting the revenue received from transportation fees back into the transportation system for revitalization and construction. We support this legislation, as it keeps revenue received from transportation fees, within the transportation system, instead of funding additional programs that aren't germane to where the revenue was originally received.
