BILL ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 2455 By: Canales Transportation Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The Pharr International Bridge is one of the most vital border crossings at the Texas-Mexico border, playing a crucial role in the economic trade relationship between the two nations. The bill author has informed the committee that the bridge, which is situated in the Rio Grande Valley, serves as a key gateway for over $46 billion in global trade between the U.S. and Mexico and that its strategic location near the booming industrial city of Pharr makes it indispensable for trade flows, with over 6,000 trucks crossing each day during peak months. Recognized as one of the fastest-growing border crossings, the Pharr International Bridge has gained prominence due to its ability to accommodate high volumes of commercial traffic efficiently. One of the reasons the Pharr International Bridge is so critical to cross-border trade is its infrastructure, which has been consistently upgraded to handle the rising demand. In November 2025, the Pharr "twin bridge expansion" is expected to be completed, doubling its capacity from four to eight lanes, moving both north and southbound traffic. C.S.H.B. 2455 seeks to further maintain the efficiency of the region by clarifying certain weight restrictions for vehicles or combinations of vehicles operating at certain ports of entry. 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 C.S.H.B. 2455 amends the Transportation Code to exempt a vehicle or combination of vehicles that is authorized to operate under a regional mobility authority permit in Hidalgo County while the vehicle or combination is operating at a port of entry that is located in a municipality with a population of 75,000 or more from the weight limits for a vehicle or combination of vehicles operating over or on a public highway or at a port of entry between Texas and the United Mexican States. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025. COMPARISON OF INTRODUCED AND SUBSTITUTE While C.S.H.B. 2455 may differ from the introduced in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill. The substitute omits provisions from the introduced that did the following: removed a provision that subjected a vehicle or combination of vehicles operating over or on a public highway or at a port of entry between Texas and the United Mexican States to the same weight limits as a vehicle operating over or on a public highway; and revised the exemption from certain weight limits for a vehicle or combination of vehicles that operates exclusively at a private port of entry and on certain roads associated with or near the port of entry by removing the reference to operation at a private port of entry and making the remaining exemption for operation on related roads applicable with respect to any port of entry. Instead, the substitute exempts a vehicle or combination of vehicles that is authorized to operate under a regional mobility authority permit in Hidalgo County while operating at a port of entry located in a municipality with a population of 75,000 or more from the weight limits for a vehicle or combination of vehicles operating over or on a public highway or at a port of entry between Texas and the United Mexican States. The substitute changes the bill's effective date to provide for its possible immediate effect, contingent on receiving the requisite constitutional vote, whereas the introduced provided only for the bill to take effect September 1, 2025, with no possibility for immediate effect.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
C.S.H.B. 2455
By: Canales
Transportation
Committee Report (Substituted)
C.S.H.B. 2455
By: Canales
Transportation
Committee Report (Substituted)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The Pharr International Bridge is one of the most vital border crossings at the Texas-Mexico border, playing a crucial role in the economic trade relationship between the two nations. The bill author has informed the committee that the bridge, which is situated in the Rio Grande Valley, serves as a key gateway for over $46 billion in global trade between the U.S. and Mexico and that its strategic location near the booming industrial city of Pharr makes it indispensable for trade flows, with over 6,000 trucks crossing each day during peak months. Recognized as one of the fastest-growing border crossings, the Pharr International Bridge has gained prominence due to its ability to accommodate high volumes of commercial traffic efficiently. One of the reasons the Pharr International Bridge is so critical to cross-border trade is its infrastructure, which has been consistently upgraded to handle the rising demand. In November 2025, the Pharr "twin bridge expansion" is expected to be completed, doubling its capacity from four to eight lanes, moving both north and southbound traffic. C.S.H.B. 2455 seeks to further maintain the efficiency of the region by clarifying certain weight restrictions for vehicles or combinations of vehicles operating at certain ports of entry.
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 C.S.H.B. 2455 amends the Transportation Code to exempt a vehicle or combination of vehicles that is authorized to operate under a regional mobility authority permit in Hidalgo County while the vehicle or combination is operating at a port of entry that is located in a municipality with a population of 75,000 or more from the weight limits for a vehicle or combination of vehicles operating over or on a public highway or at a port of entry between Texas and the United Mexican States.
EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.
COMPARISON OF INTRODUCED AND SUBSTITUTE While C.S.H.B. 2455 may differ from the introduced in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill. The substitute omits provisions from the introduced that did the following: removed a provision that subjected a vehicle or combination of vehicles operating over or on a public highway or at a port of entry between Texas and the United Mexican States to the same weight limits as a vehicle operating over or on a public highway; and revised the exemption from certain weight limits for a vehicle or combination of vehicles that operates exclusively at a private port of entry and on certain roads associated with or near the port of entry by removing the reference to operation at a private port of entry and making the remaining exemption for operation on related roads applicable with respect to any port of entry. Instead, the substitute exempts a vehicle or combination of vehicles that is authorized to operate under a regional mobility authority permit in Hidalgo County while operating at a port of entry located in a municipality with a population of 75,000 or more from the weight limits for a vehicle or combination of vehicles operating over or on a public highway or at a port of entry between Texas and the United Mexican States. The substitute changes the bill's effective date to provide for its possible immediate effect, contingent on receiving the requisite constitutional vote, whereas the introduced provided only for the bill to take effect September 1, 2025, with no possibility for immediate effect.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
The Pharr International Bridge is one of the most vital border crossings at the Texas-Mexico border, playing a crucial role in the economic trade relationship between the two nations. The bill author has informed the committee that the bridge, which is situated in the Rio Grande Valley, serves as a key gateway for over $46 billion in global trade between the U.S. and Mexico and that its strategic location near the booming industrial city of Pharr makes it indispensable for trade flows, with over 6,000 trucks crossing each day during peak months. Recognized as one of the fastest-growing border crossings, the Pharr International Bridge has gained prominence due to its ability to accommodate high volumes of commercial traffic efficiently. One of the reasons the Pharr International Bridge is so critical to cross-border trade is its infrastructure, which has been consistently upgraded to handle the rising demand. In November 2025, the Pharr "twin bridge expansion" is expected to be completed, doubling its capacity from four to eight lanes, moving both north and southbound traffic. C.S.H.B. 2455 seeks to further maintain the efficiency of the region by clarifying certain weight restrictions for vehicles or combinations of vehicles operating at certain ports of entry.
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
C.S.H.B. 2455 amends the Transportation Code to exempt a vehicle or combination of vehicles that is authorized to operate under a regional mobility authority permit in Hidalgo County while the vehicle or combination is operating at a port of entry that is located in a municipality with a population of 75,000 or more from the weight limits for a vehicle or combination of vehicles operating over or on a public highway or at a port of entry between Texas and the United Mexican States.
EFFECTIVE DATE
On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.
COMPARISON OF INTRODUCED AND SUBSTITUTE
While C.S.H.B. 2455 may differ from the introduced in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.
The substitute omits provisions from the introduced that did the following:
removed a provision that subjected a vehicle or combination of vehicles operating over or on a public highway or at a port of entry between Texas and the United Mexican States to the same weight limits as a vehicle operating over or on a public highway; and
revised the exemption from certain weight limits for a vehicle or combination of vehicles that operates exclusively at a private port of entry and on certain roads associated with or near the port of entry by removing the reference to operation at a private port of entry and making the remaining exemption for operation on related roads applicable with respect to any port of entry.
Instead, the substitute exempts a vehicle or combination of vehicles that is authorized to operate under a regional mobility authority permit in Hidalgo County while operating at a port of entry located in a municipality with a population of 75,000 or more from the weight limits for a vehicle or combination of vehicles operating over or on a public highway or at a port of entry between Texas and the United Mexican States.
The substitute changes the bill's effective date to provide for its possible immediate effect, contingent on receiving the requisite constitutional vote, whereas the introduced provided only for the bill to take effect September 1, 2025, with no possibility for immediate effect.