BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 2977 By: Harris, Caroline Transportation Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE During a meeting with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) regarding road projects for House District 52, the cost of certain road materials was addressed as a cause of project delays and ongoing road maintenance. H.B. 2977 seeks to address the affordability of road materials used for highway projects by prohibiting TxDOT, in comparing bids for materials for certain highway projects, from giving preference to bids that propose using materials based on environmental, social, and governance criteria if the proposed materials are less cost-effective or durable than alternative materials for the same project. CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS H.B. 2977 amends the Transportation Code to prohibit the Texas Department of Transportation, in comparing bids for materials to be used in certain highway projects, from giving a preference to a bid that proposes using certain materials based on environmental, social, and governance criteria, including carbon emission criteria, if the proposed materials are less cost effective or durable than alternative materials for the same project. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2023.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
H.B. 2977
By: Harris, Caroline
Transportation
Committee Report (Unamended)
H.B. 2977
By: Harris, Caroline
Transportation
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE During a meeting with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) regarding road projects for House District 52, the cost of certain road materials was addressed as a cause of project delays and ongoing road maintenance. H.B. 2977 seeks to address the affordability of road materials used for highway projects by prohibiting TxDOT, in comparing bids for materials for certain highway projects, from giving preference to bids that propose using materials based on environmental, social, and governance criteria if the proposed materials are less cost-effective or durable than alternative materials for the same project.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS H.B. 2977 amends the Transportation Code to prohibit the Texas Department of Transportation, in comparing bids for materials to be used in certain highway projects, from giving a preference to a bid that proposes using certain materials based on environmental, social, and governance criteria, including carbon emission criteria, if the proposed materials are less cost effective or durable than alternative materials for the same project.
EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2023.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
During a meeting with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) regarding road projects for House District 52, the cost of certain road materials was addressed as a cause of project delays and ongoing road maintenance. H.B. 2977 seeks to address the affordability of road materials used for highway projects by prohibiting TxDOT, in comparing bids for materials for certain highway projects, from giving preference to bids that propose using materials based on environmental, social, and governance criteria if the proposed materials are less cost-effective or durable than alternative materials for the same project.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
H.B. 2977 amends the Transportation Code to prohibit the Texas Department of Transportation, in comparing bids for materials to be used in certain highway projects, from giving a preference to a bid that proposes using certain materials based on environmental, social, and governance criteria, including carbon emission criteria, if the proposed materials are less cost effective or durable than alternative materials for the same project.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2023.