HBA-NRS H.B. 299 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 299
By: Gallego
Transportation
7/18/2001
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Prior to the 77th Legislature, state law provided for a maximum lawful
speed of 70 miles per hour in daytime for a vehicle on a Texas or United
States highway outside an urban district. Ten western states with
landscapes and population densities similar to the western part of Texas,
including New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Arizona, allow for a maximum speed
limit of 75 miles per hour. House Bill 299 allows the Texas Transportation
Commission to establish a speed limit of 75 miles per hour in daytime on a
part of the highway system located in a county with a population density of
less than 10 persons per square mile. 

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. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 299 amends the Transportation Code to authorize the Texas
Transportation Commission (commission) to establish a speed limit of 75
miles per hour in daytime on a part of the highway system located in a
county with a population density of less than 10 persons per square mile.
The bill provides that the 75 mile per hour speed limit does not apply to
trucks, other than light trucks and light trucks pulling a trailer, and
truck tractors, trailers, and semitrailers. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

June 17, 2001.