The legislative session began with a request from TxDOT for $4 billion in additional revenue – $3 billion for new capacity and $1 billion for maintenance. The Legislature settled on $850 million by swapping $400 million from general revenue for State Highway Fund revenue (Fund 6) to finance the Department of Public Safety partially addressing the issue of diversions and $450 million of general revenue in HB 1025 to repair roads in energy producing areas of the state.

The Chamber actively supported HB 3664 by Representative Drew Darby (R-San Angelo) which when amended on the House floor would have increased vehicle registration fees by $15 a year (approximately 4¢ per day) and dedicated some growth of vehicle sales tax revenue that currently goes to the General Revenue Fund to transportation. Throughout session, the Governor public stated that he would not support new taxes or fees and in the end, Representative Darby postponed the bill on the House floor without a final vote on second reading. Senate leadership refused to take up any legislation related to new transportation revenue without the House passing it first.

Click here and forward the video to 3:26:48 to see the Chamber testify in Subcommittee in favor of HB 3664.

Rail Relocation: Numerous bills were filed related to funding the Rail Relocation and Improvement Fund that Texas voters approved in November of 2005. HB 1878 passed the House, but did not receive a hearing in the Senate's Transportation Committee.

Central Texas Specific Transportation Legislation:

•Local Government Corporations – Capital Metro and other metropolitan transit providers now have the authority to form local government corporations. Having a seat at the table is imperative when doing long-term transportation planning. This bill gives local governments outside the Capital Metro Service the ability to actively participate in that discussion and financially participate in achieving our region's transit vision. The Governor signed SB 276 on May 18. We thank Senator Kirk Watson for authoring this bill with Senator Jane Nelson. Our entire five-county Central Texas delegation voted for the bill.

•Comprehensive Development Agreements – SB 1730 extends the authority to develop the Bergstrom Expressway (183 S.) as a comprehensive development agreement. This will allow the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority to pursue this critical transportation project. A majority of our five-county Central Texas delegation voted for the bill with the exceptions of Representative Tim Kleinschmidt and Senator Donna Campbell.

Transportation Special Session Buzz: A few pieces of legislation have already been filed in case the Governor adds transportation to the call and we hope he does!