Texas Senate Bill SB1078

Texas 2019 - 86th Regular

Caption

Relating to authorizing an optional county fee on vehicle registration in certain counties to be used for transportation projects.

Impact

If enacted, SB 1078 will impact state transport regulations by providing specific counties with additional funding avenues to address their transportation needs. This could lead to improved roadways and public transport systems within these areas, responding to the demands of increased population and traffic. The bill mandates that any increase to the fee must be approved through a referendum, enabling county voters to have a direct say on the imposition of these additional charges.

Summary

Senate Bill 1078 proposes an optional county fee on vehicle registration specifically for certain Texas counties that meet specific criteria. The bill allows counties that border the United Mexican States and have populations over 250,000, as well as counties with populations exceeding 1.5 million that are coterminous with a regional mobility authority, to levy this additional fee. The intent behind this measure is to raise funds that can be directed towards transportation projects, facilitating infrastructure improvements critical for these rapidly growing areas.

Contention

The bill may face contention primarily regarding the fairness of implementing such a fee in certain regions while not others. Critics could argue that this could create disparities in transportation funding between counties, particularly as the fee would be optional and could lead to unequal investment in necessary infrastructure based on voters' decisions in various counties. Proponents, however, see this as a necessary tool for local governments to generate the funds required to cater to their specific transportation challenges.