| 1 | 1 | | 89R44 JRR-F |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Guillen H.B. No. 597 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | |
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| 6 | 6 | | |
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| 7 | 7 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 8 | 8 | | AN ACT |
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| 9 | 9 | | relating to the issuance of an excess gross weight permit for |
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| 10 | 10 | | certain farm tractors on county, farm-to-market, and |
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| 11 | 11 | | ranch-to-market roads; authorizing a fee. |
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| 12 | 12 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 13 | 13 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 623, Transportation Code, |
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| 14 | 14 | | is amended by adding Section 623.0173 to read as follows: |
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| 15 | 15 | | Sec. 623.0173. EXCESS GROSS WEIGHT PERMIT FOR CERTAIN FARM |
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| 16 | 16 | | TRACTORS. (a) In this section: |
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| 17 | 17 | | (1) "Accessory" means any additional attachment being |
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| 18 | 18 | | pulled or carried by a farm tractor that contributes to the farm |
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| 19 | 19 | | tractor's gross weight. |
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| 20 | 20 | | (2) "Farm tractor" has the meaning assigned by Section |
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| 21 | 21 | | 541.201. |
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| 22 | 22 | | (b) The department shall issue an annual permit that |
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| 23 | 23 | | authorizes the operation of a farm tractor, including any |
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| 24 | 24 | | accessories that are used for agricultural production, on county, |
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| 25 | 25 | | farm-to-market, and ranch-to-market roads at a gross weight that is |
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| 26 | 26 | | not heavier than the weight equal to the maximum allowable gross |
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| 27 | 27 | | weight for the tractor plus a tolerance allowance of 10 percent. |
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| 28 | 28 | | (c) To qualify for a permit under this section: |
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| 29 | 29 | | (1) the farm tractor must be registered as a farm |
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| 30 | 30 | | vehicle under Chapter 502; and |
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| 31 | 31 | | (2) the applicant must: |
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| 32 | 32 | | (A) designate in the permit application each |
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| 33 | 33 | | county in which the farm tractor will be operated; and |
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| 34 | 34 | | (B) pay an annual permit fee of $90. |
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| 35 | 35 | | (d) A permit issued under this section must be carried in |
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| 36 | 36 | | the farm tractor for which it is issued. |
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| 37 | 37 | | (e) A permit issued under this section does not authorize |
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| 38 | 38 | | the operation of a farm tractor on a bridge for which a maximum |
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| 39 | 39 | | weight and load limit has been established and posted by the Texas |
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| 40 | 40 | | Department of Transportation under Section 621.102 or the |
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| 41 | 41 | | commissioners court of a county under Section 621.301, if the gross |
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| 42 | 42 | | weight of the farm tractor and load or the axles and wheel loads are |
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| 43 | 43 | | greater than the limits established and posted under those |
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| 44 | 44 | | sections. |
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| 45 | 45 | | (f) Unless otherwise provided by state or federal law, a |
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| 46 | 46 | | county may not require a permit, fee, or license for the operation |
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| 47 | 47 | | of a farm tractor in addition to a permit, fee, or license required |
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| 48 | 48 | | by state law. |
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| 49 | 49 | | (g) The fee collected for a permit under this section shall |
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| 50 | 50 | | be divided equally among and distributed to the counties designated |
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| 51 | 51 | | in the permit application for deposit to the credit of the county |
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| 52 | 52 | | road and bridge fund of those counties. |
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| 53 | 53 | | (h) The department may adopt rules necessary to administer |
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| 54 | 54 | | this section, including rules governing the application for a |
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| 55 | 55 | | permit under this section. |
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| 56 | 56 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
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