By: Cook S.B. No. 2732
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to public involvement procedures for the statewide
transportation improvement program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter J, Chapter 201, Transportation Code,
is amended by adding Section 201.8115 to read as follows:
Sec. 201.8115. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT PROCEDURES FOR STATEWIDE
TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. (a) During the development of
the statewide transportation improvement program, the department
shall hold a quarterly public meeting in each department district
regarding the adoption of the proposed program.
(b) The department shall:
(1) publish notice of each meeting under Subsection
(a) in the Texas Register not later than the 15th day before the
date of the meeting;
(2) accept verbal public comments and questions during
each meeting held under Subsection (a);
(3) prepare a written debriefing assessment of:
(A) each meeting held under Subsection (a) that
summarizes the highlights or major accomplishments from the
meeting; and
(B) public verbal comments and questions
received under Subdivision (2) that summarizes the comments and
questions received and key points or issues raised in the comments;
(4) make the debriefing assessments required under
Subdivision (3) available to the public on the department's
Internet website or through e-mail distribution;
(5) develop a response mechanism that informs
stakeholders of ideas received from the public during the meeting
held under Subsection (a) or though verbal comments received under
Subdivision (2) that the department is incorporating into the
program and clearly communicates why alternate decisions are
required for ideas that the department does not incorporate into
the program;
(6) demonstrate explicit consideration and response
to public input during the development of the statewide
transportation improvement program; and
(7) inform the public of how the statewide
transportation improvement program interacts with local
transportation improvement planning, the timeline for that
planning, and how to obtain more information on that process.
(c) Before the department may consider project designs for
any transportation project included in the statewide
transportation improvement program, the department must hold a
meeting under Subsection (a) to discuss the project.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2025.