By: Canales H.B. No. 2427
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the issuance of permits for the movement of oversize and
overweight vehicles in certain counties; authorizing a fee.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 623.363(a), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) The commission may authorize a regional mobility
authority to issue permits for the movement of oversize or
overweight vehicles carrying cargo in Hidalgo County on:
(1) the following roads:
(A) U.S. Highway 281 between its intersection
with the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge and its intersection
with State Highway 336;
(B) State Highway 336 between its intersection
with U.S. Highway 281 and its intersection with Farm-to-Market Road
1016;
(C) Farm-to-Market Road 1016 between its
intersection with State Highway 336 and its intersection with
Trinity Road;
(D) Trinity Road between its intersection with
Farm-to-Market Road 1016 and its intersection with Farm-to-Market
Road 396;
(E) Farm-to-Market Road 396 between its
intersection with Trinity Road and its intersection with the
Anzalduas International Bridge;
(F) Farm-to-Market Road 2061 between its
intersection with Farm-to-Market Road 3072 and its intersection
with U.S. Highway 281;
(G) U.S. Highway 281 between its intersection
with the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge and its intersection
with Spur 29;
(H) Spur 29 between its intersection with U.S.
Highway 281 and its intersection with West Doffing [Doffin Canal]
Road;
(I) Doffin Canal Road between its intersection
with the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge and its intersection
with Spur 29;
(I-1) West Doffing Road between its intersection
with Spur 29 and its eastern intersection with Doffin Canal Road;
(J) Farm-to-Market Road 1015 between its
intersection with U.S. Highway 281 and its intersection with U.S.
Highway 83 Business;
(K) U.S. Highway 83 Business between its
intersection with Farm-to-Market Road 1015 and its intersection
with South Pleasantview Drive;
(L) Farm-to-Market Road 1015 between its
intersection with U.S. Highway 83 Business and its intersection
with Mile 9 Road North; [and]
(M) Mile 9 Road North between its intersection
with Farm-to-Market Road 1015 and its intersection with Joe
Stephens Avenue; and
(N) State Highway 365 between its intersection
with Farm-to-Market Road 396 and its intersection with West
Military Highway at San Juan Road; or
(2) another route designated by the commission in
consultation with the authority, including any designated
off-system overweight corridor route the authority agrees to
maintain or pay to maintain in a maintenance agreement with the
Texas Department of Transportation.
SECTION 2. Chapter 623, Transportation Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter W to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER W. STARR COUNTY PERMITS
Sec. 623.451. OPTIONAL PROCEDURE. This subchapter provides
an optional procedure for the issuance of a permit by the City of
Roma for the movement of oversize or overweight vehicles carrying
cargo on certain roadways located in Starr County.
Sec. 623.452. ISSUANCE OF PERMITS. The commission may
authorize the City of Roma to issue permits for the movement of
oversize or overweight vehicles carrying cargo in Starr County on
the following roadways:
(1) Farm-to-Market Road 650 between its intersection
with River Road in Fronton and its intersection with U.S. Highway 83
in the city of Roma;
(2) U.S. Highway 83 between its intersection with
Farm-to-Market Road 650 and its intersection with Franklin Avenue
in the city of Roma;
(3) Bravo Boulevard in the city of Roma between its
easternmost intersection with U.S. Highway 83 and the Roma-Ciudad
Miguel Aleman International Bridge; and
(4) Franklin Avenue in the city of Roma between the
Roma-Ciudad Miguel Aleman International Bridge and its easternmost
intersection with U.S. Highway 83.
Sec. 623.453. SURETY BOND. The commission may require the
City of Roma to execute, at its own expense, a surety bond payable
to the Texas Department of Transportation in an amount of not less
than $500,000 for costs of maintenance for the roadways described
by Section 623.452.
Sec. 623.454. PERMIT FEES. (a) The City of Roma may
collect a fee for permits issued under this subchapter. Except as
otherwise provided by this subsection, the maximum amount of the
fee may not exceed $200 per trip. On September 1 of each year, the
city may adjust the maximum fee amount as necessary to reflect the
percentage change during the preceding year in the Consumer Price
Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), U.S. City Average, published
monthly by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics or its
successor in function.
(b) Fees collected under Subsection (a) may be used only for
the operation and maintenance of the roadways described by or
designated under Section 623.452 and for the City of Roma's
administrative costs, which may not exceed 15 percent of the fees
collected.
(c) The distribution of the fees collected under Subsection
(a) less the City of Roma's administrative costs must be
distributed between the state and the city based on lane mile
calculations between on and off system roadways subject to this
subchapter. Lane mile calculations must be adjusted on a biannual
basis.
(d) The City of Roma shall send the state's portion of the
fees collected under Subsection (a) to the comptroller for deposit
to the credit of the state highway fund. Fees deposited in the
state highway fund under this section are exempt from the
application of Section 403.095, Government Code.
Sec. 623.455. PERMIT REQUIREMENTS. (a) A permit issued
under this subchapter must include:
(1) the name of the applicant;
(2) the date of issuance;
(3) the signature of the designated agent for the City
of Roma;
(4) a statement of the kind of cargo being
transported, the maximum weight and dimensions of the equipment,
and the kind and weight of each commodity to be transported;
(5) a statement:
(A) that the gross weight of the vehicle for
which a permit is issued may not exceed 125,000 pounds; and
(B) of any other condition on which the permit is
issued;
(6) a statement that the cargo may be transported in
Starr County only over the roadways described by or designated
under Section 623.452;
(7) a statement that the permit does not authorize the
transportation of the cargo on an interstate highway; and
(8) the location where the cargo was loaded.
(b) The City of Roma shall report to the Texas Department of
Transportation all permits issued under this subchapter.
Sec. 623.456. TIME OF MOVEMENT. A permit issued under this
subchapter must specify the time during which movement authorized
by the permit is allowed.
Sec. 623.457. SPEED LIMIT. Movement authorized by a permit
issued under this subchapter may not exceed the posted speed limit
or 55 miles per hour, whichever is less. A violation of this
provision constitutes a moving violation.
Sec. 623.458. ENFORCEMENT. The Department of Public Safety
has authority to enforce this subchapter.
Sec. 623.459. PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT PLAN. The Texas
Department of Transportation shall create a pavement management
plan for the roadways described by Section 623.452.
Sec. 623.460. RULES. The commission may adopt rules
necessary to implement this subchapter.
Sec. 623.461. CONTINGENCY. This subchapter is contingent
upon:
(1) the termination of designation of U.S. Highway 83
in Starr County as part of the Federal Strategic Highway Network
system; or
(2) the authorization of overweight vehicles to
operate on the Federal Strategic Highway Network system.
SECTION 3. The City of Roma may adjust the maximum fee
amount as provided by Section 623.454, Transportation Code, as
added by this Act, beginning September 1, 2026.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.