HBA-MPA H.B. 676 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 676 By: Isett Transportation 3/29/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, Texas law sets different speed limits for trucks and automobiles. Automobiles can travel at speeds up to 70 miles per hour (mph) during the day and 65 mph at night, but trucks are limited to speeds of 60 mph during the day and 55 mph at night. The U.S. Department of Transportation reported that crash involvement rates are almost six times greater for vehicles traveling 10 mph below or above the average speed limit. The findings of the 1994 report also show that the proportion of car-truck, rear-end collisions was 26 percent greater when compared to uniform speed limit states, and collisions were more likely to involve cars striking trucks. The surrounding states of Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, do not have differential speed limits. H.B. 676 makes the speed limit the same for automobiles and trucks. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 545.352(b), Transportation Code, to delete, in a provision addressing vehicles that may travel at 70 miles per hour (mph) during daylight and 65 mph at night, reference to a passenger car, motorcycle, passenger car or light truck towing a trailer, or trailer bearing a vessel less than 26 feet long, or semitrailer used to transport livestock. Deletes reference to a passenger car or motorcycle in a provision that for unnumbered highways outside an urban district it is lawful to travel at 60 mph during daylight or 55 mph at night. Deletes a provision that outside an urban district it is lawful to travel at 60 mph during daylight or 55 mph at night, if a vehicle is a truck, other than a light truck, a truck tractor, trailer, semitrailer, or a vehicle towing such, or a towable recreational vehicle. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.