Passed 84th Regular Session:
- SJR 5 Proposing a constitutional amendment dedicating certain revenue derived from the tax imposed on the sale of motor vehicles to the state highway fund.
Synopsis: This resolution amends Article VIII of the Texas Constitution to add new Section 7-c to provide for the dedication to the State Highway Fund (SHF) of a portion of revenues derived from state sales and use tax and the tax imposed on the sale, use, or rental of a motor vehicle.
- SB 724Relating to the motor vehicle sales tax applicable to motor vehicles used by transportation companies for certain purposes.
Synopsis: SB 724 exempt from the motor vehicle sales and use tax the sale of a vehicle with an exemption under Transportation Code, sec 502.451 for use by:
- a public agency; or
- a commercial transportation company to provide transportation services under a contract with a board of county school trustees, a school district board of trustees, or the governing body of an open enrollment charter school.
- SB 1512Relating to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles fund.
Synopsis: SB 1512 re-creates the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles fund as a special fund in the state treasury outside the general revenue fund to support the operations and duties of Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. The fund would be supported under the terms established by HB 2202 by Pickett, enacted by the 83rd Legislature, and all revenue dedicated for deposit to the credit of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles fund by that bill would be rededicated for that purpose by CSSB 1512. On September 1, 2016, the comptroller would be required to transfer $23 million from the general revenue fund to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles fund.
- HB 122 Relating to the Texas Mobility Fund.
Synopsis: HB 122 ends the ability of the Texas Mobility Fund to issue bonds and places conditions on the future use of money within the fund. The Texas Transportation Commission is required to use money in the fund not committed to servicing existing debt for the following purposes:
- to pay for the construction and maintenance of state highways,
- other than toll roads, that have an expected life of at least 10 years
- without material repair;
- to create debt service accounts;
- to pay interest on bonds for not longer than two years; and
- to refund or cancel outstanding obligations.
- HB 991Relating to requiring notice of federal and state tax rates for motor fuel sold at retail; providing a civil penalty.
Synopsis: HB 991 requires the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) to display a notice of the current rates of the federal and state motor fuel taxes on every motor fuel pump that sold motor fuel. The notice would:
- display the current rate of each tax, in cents per gallon, for each type of motor fuel;
- be displayed on each face of the pump on which the price of the motor fuel sold from the pump was displayed; and
- be displayed in a clear, conspicuous, and prominent manner.
- HB 2521Relating to transferring from the state to a county the revenue derived from oil and gas leases of land owned by the county to be used by the county for road maintenance purposes
Synopsis: The county road oil and gas fund is a state trust fund outside the state treasury held and administered by the Comptroller as trustee. Interest or income from investment of the fund will be deposited to the fund. The General Land Office will deposit lease payments to the fund. The Comptroller will disburse money in the fund at least twice each fiscal year, without appropriation, to the appropriate county for deposit to the county’s road and bridge fund. Money deposited to the county road oil and gas fund will be used only for road maintenance purposes.
Transportation Finance Legislation vetoed by the Governor, 84th Regular Session
- HB 4025Relating to funding to counties for transportation infrastructure projects located in areas of the state affected by increased oil and gas production, including money from county energy transportation reinvestment zones.
Synopsis: The bill has amended Subchapter C, Chapter 256, of the Transportation Code, relating to the Transportation Infrastructure Fund (TIF), to change the formula by which the grants from the TIF are allocated among counties.