Texas House Bill HB9

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

• Out of House Committee: 5/11/09

Caption

Relating to transportation funding in this state.

Impact

The enactment of HB9 is expected to enhance local governments' ability to directly address transportation needs specific to their communities. By allowing counties to impose funding mechanisms like local mobility improvement fees and taxes on motor vehicle fuel, it potentially opens new revenue streams to support the development and maintenance of roads, transit facilities, and other infrastructure projects. However, it also emphasizes the necessity of transparency and public involvement, as funding methods can only be imposed following a majority approval by voters in elections called by the county commissioners.

Summary

House Bill 9, entitled the Texas Local Option Transportation Act, is significant in providing counties in Texas with improved options for funding transportation and mobility projects. The bill introduces a framework for counties to impose local option funding methods to finance various infrastructure projects. It is applicable primarily to counties that are part of metropolitan planning organizations with specific population criteria, allowing them to collect various fees, taxes, and charges related to transportation improvements.

Contention

Notably, the bill includes provisions that prevent counties from losing traditional state transportation funding as a result of adopting local funding methods. This safeguard has been a point of concern for critics who fear it could lead to inequities in funding. Moreover, the bill's mechanisms for project selection and funding allocation must satisfy the criteria set by metropolitan planning organizations, ensuring that all projects receive proper justification and regional planning oversight. These elements together indicate a push towards more localized control of transportation funding but require careful balancing to guarantee equitable outcomes.