HBA-EVB S.B. 349 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 349
By: Nixon
Transportation
5/11/1999
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, Texas law requires vehicles that tow trailers, semitrailers, and
towable recreational vehicles that are less than 20 feet in length to
travel at slower speeds than certain other vehicles with trailers, and
passenger cars.  This bill allows passenger cars or light trucks towing
trailers under 20 feet in length to travel at the same speeds as passenger
cars and other vehicles. 

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 provide that
lawful speeds include the following:  70 miles per hour in daytime and 65
miles per hour in nighttime on a highway numbered by this state or the
United States outside an urban district, including a farm-to-market or
ranch-to-market road, if the vehicle is, among others, a passenger car or
light truck towing a trailer, semitrailer, or towable recreational vehicle
less than 20 feet in length.  Makes conforming changes. 

SECTION 2. Prohibits the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) from
replacing a sign to reflect the change made to Section 545.352(b),
Transportation Code, by this Act until replacement would have occurred in
the course of regular maintenance by TxDOT. 

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 4. Emergency clause.