LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 89TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION March 11, 2025 TO: Honorable Robert Nichols, Chair, Senate Committee on Transportation FROM: Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: SB1555 by Nichols (Relating to a grant program to fund certain railroad grade separation projects.), As Introduced The fiscal impact to the state cannot be determined because the amount and timing of legislative appropriations and amounts of gifts and grants that would be received by the Department of Transportation to fund rail-roadway grade separation project grant awards is unknown.The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill. The bill would amend the Transportation Code to require the Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to establish and administer a program to award grants to Texas political subdivisions or railroad companies to fund rail-roadway grade separation projects at rail-roadway intersections that are not part of the state highway system and rail-pedestrian grade separation projects. The bill would stipulate that TxDOT may fund the grant program only from money appropriated by the legislature for that purpose and from gifts and grants. The bill would require the Texas Transportation Commission to adopt rules to implement the grant program. The bill would take effect immediately upon receiving a vote of two-thirds of all members elected to each house or, otherwise, on September 1, 2025.Based on information provided by TxDOT, it is assumed any costs or duties associated with administering the grant program could be absorbed within existing resources. Because the amount and timing of legislative appropriations and amounts of gifts and grants that would be received by TxDOT to fund rail-roadway grade separation grant awards is unknown, the fiscal impact to the State cannot be determined. Local Government ImpactThe fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined at this time. Source Agencies: b > td > 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 601 Department of Transportation LBB Staff: b > td > JMc, AAL, GDZ, TG LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 89TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION March 11, 2025 TO: Honorable Robert Nichols, Chair, Senate Committee on Transportation FROM: Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: SB1555 by Nichols (Relating to a grant program to fund certain railroad grade separation projects.), As Introduced TO: Honorable Robert Nichols, Chair, Senate Committee on Transportation FROM: Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: SB1555 by Nichols (Relating to a grant program to fund certain railroad grade separation projects.), As Introduced Honorable Robert Nichols, Chair, Senate Committee on Transportation Honorable Robert Nichols, Chair, Senate Committee on Transportation Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board SB1555 by Nichols (Relating to a grant program to fund certain railroad grade separation projects.), As Introduced SB1555 by Nichols (Relating to a grant program to fund certain railroad grade separation projects.), As Introduced The fiscal impact to the state cannot be determined because the amount and timing of legislative appropriations and amounts of gifts and grants that would be received by the Department of Transportation to fund rail-roadway grade separation project grant awards is unknown.The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill. The fiscal impact to the state cannot be determined because the amount and timing of legislative appropriations and amounts of gifts and grants that would be received by the Department of Transportation to fund rail-roadway grade separation project grant awards is unknown.The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill. The bill would amend the Transportation Code to require the Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to establish and administer a program to award grants to Texas political subdivisions or railroad companies to fund rail-roadway grade separation projects at rail-roadway intersections that are not part of the state highway system and rail-pedestrian grade separation projects. The bill would stipulate that TxDOT may fund the grant program only from money appropriated by the legislature for that purpose and from gifts and grants. The bill would require the Texas Transportation Commission to adopt rules to implement the grant program. The bill would take effect immediately upon receiving a vote of two-thirds of all members elected to each house or, otherwise, on September 1, 2025.Based on information provided by TxDOT, it is assumed any costs or duties associated with administering the grant program could be absorbed within existing resources. Because the amount and timing of legislative appropriations and amounts of gifts and grants that would be received by TxDOT to fund rail-roadway grade separation grant awards is unknown, the fiscal impact to the State cannot be determined. Based on information provided by TxDOT, it is assumed any costs or duties associated with administering the grant program could be absorbed within existing resources. Because the amount and timing of legislative appropriations and amounts of gifts and grants that would be received by TxDOT to fund rail-roadway grade separation grant awards is unknown, the fiscal impact to the State cannot be determined. Local Government Impact The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined at this time. Source Agencies: b > td > 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 601 Department of Transportation 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 601 Department of Transportation LBB Staff: b > td > JMc, AAL, GDZ, TG JMc, AAL, GDZ, TG