05.07.09

TxDOT Sunset bill (HB 300) is on today’s calendar

Posted in 81st Legislature, Around The State, Commentary, Privatization, Road Issues, The Lege, Transportation, Uncategorized at 8:02 am by wcnews

Whether the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) should be continued, and in what manner, is scheduled for debate in the Texas House today, HB 300.  There are around 150 pre-filed amendments to the bill and Texas TURF has a rundown of the good and the bad.

Here’s some of what the DMN’s Transportation Blog has had to say about the bill.

House transportation chairman Joe Pickett told me two Fridays ago that the bill is going to take a lot of time, and that he was trying to give Speaker Joe Straus enough time to schedule an adequate debate on the floor. Apparently, Straus has had the time he needed to schedule the bill. Some insiders have predicted the bill will change significantly as the final weeks of the session wind down.

Already, what is proposed in HB 300 is much different than the recommendations by the sunset advisory commission, which among other things wanted to abolish the Texas Transportation Commission, with some North Texas leaders, including Rep. Linda Harper-Brown insisting that the commission should be replaced by a single elected commissioner.

Instead, the bill calls for keeping all five commissioners, but allow the governor to appoint only three, subject to confirmation of the Senate. A fourth would also be appointed by the governor, also subject to senate confirmation, but would have to be chosen by a list of candidates presented by the House speaker. The fifth would be named by the lieutenant governor — apparently with no advice and consent role by the Senate.

There’s also a rundown of other provisions and a section of text from the bill regarding the creation of the Transportation Legislative Oversight Committee (TLOC) which we will surely being hearing quite a bit about during this debate. Should be a fun debate if they get to it today. Happy motoring!!

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