7/12/01-SB220, signed into law in mid June, allows any county with a population of 2 million or more to set up its own inspection stations and any city of 25,000 within that county can do the same. Several cities and counties are gearing up for the new law, which takes effect Sept. 1. One of the most active is Dallas County, which plans to open two stations along Interstate 45. Under the new law, inspectors must be trained by the Department of Public Safety.

6/25/01 - HB299 was recently amended to exclude tractor-trailers from being able to travel 75 mph on rural interstate highways. All other vehicles are permitted to travel at the new speed. The bill was signed into law by Gov. Rick Perry on June 16. The state's Department of Transportation will conduct studies to determine where speed limits can safely be raised.

6/25/01 - The Texas Motor Transportation Association (TMTA) has reached a settlement with the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission that will keep the state from adopting a cleaner diesel fuel similar to that in use in California. TMTA believes using a boutique fuel not used in other states would be problematic, echoing calls from trucking organizations nationwide to adopt a single fuel standard.
Gov. Rick Perry signed HB2912 into law in mid June, prohibiting the state from requiring the fuel in Texas before 2005. As part of the settlement, the commission agreed to withdraw its objection to the bill, and TMTA agreed to drop a lawsuit it filed earlier this year. The suit sought to prevent the commission from requiring the use of the boutique fuel known as CARB diesel.
CARB diesel is formulated to burn cleaner, with reduced levels of NOx and particulate emissions. TMTA claimed requiring the use of CARB diesel would lead to price increases throughout the state.
"The Texas trucking industry certainly supports cleaning our air," Bill Webb, president of TMTA, told news reporters. "Unfortunately, we were caught between environmental idealism and economic reality. The refiners have made clear they would not be ready to produce the fuel by 2002 and we would have likely been facing fuel prices of 15 to 40 cents more per gallon because of supply problems. On top of already high fuel prices, our industry simply could not have absorbed that additional burden."
Webb also said, "If every state adopts its own fuel formulation, we will have a patchwork of fuels that will be unrealistic from both a production and a consumption standpoint. The federal diesel standard due for 2006 is the fuel we should all be striving for, and that will move us in the direction of a unified and consistent cleaner burning diesel."

6/01/2001 - The bill proposing to increase the maximum speed limit on rural interstate highways to 75 mph for all vehicles passed. The Governor has until June 17 to sign the bill. HB299, introduced by Rep. Pete Gallego, will allow the state Transportation Department to conduct studies to determine where speed limits can safely be raised.

6/01/01 - Legislators in Texas who proposed measures to increase fuel taxes on truckers and other motorists saw their bill die before the session adjourned May 28. HB3106, sponsored by Rep. Clyde Alexander, would have increased the fuel tax by a nickel. A similar bill, SJR27, sponsored by Sen. John Lindsay, would have established a special motor fuel tax met the same fate.

6/01/01 - SB220, introduced by Sen. Florence Shapiro of Plano, passed and the governor has until June 17 to sign it. This bill gives law enforcement officials in Dallas County and along the Texas-Mexico border will have more authority to take trucks off the road. The new law will allow police departments in Dallas County and sheriff's departments in counties along the border to enforce commercial vehicle regulations.Currently, the Texas Department of Public Safety and large cities, as well as similar ones near ports and along the border, may conduct inspections.

5/14/2001 - At press time and only weeks away from the end of the session (May 28), a bill proposing to increase the maximum speed limit on rural interstate highways to 75 mph for all vehicles is still alive. HB299, introduced by Rep. Pete Gallego, would allow the state Transportation Department to conduct studies to determine where speed limits can safely be raised. The bill status number is (512) 463-2182.

4/24/01 - Legislators in Texas are proposing measures to increase fuel taxes on truckers and other motorists. HB3106, sponsored by Rep. Clyde Alexander, would increase the fuel tax by a nickel. Some of the funds created from the tax increase would leave the state DOT to pay for group health benefits for employees of school districts. The bill is in the House Ways and Means committee.
A similar bill, SJR27, sponsored by Sen. John Lindsay, would establish a special motor fuel tax. A portion of the four-cent tax on motor fuels also would go toward the funding of group health benefits for employees of school districts. If passed, the bill will go before voters in November 2001. SJR27 is in the Senate Finance Committee. The bill status number for the Texas Legislature is (512) 463-2182.

3/9/01 - If SB220, introduced by Sen. Florence Shapiro of Plano, passes the House, law enforcement officials in Dallas County and along the Texas-Mexico border will have more authority to take trucks off the road. The measure would allow police departments in Dallas County and sheriff's departments in counties along the border to enforce commercial vehicle regulations.
Currently, the Texas Department of Public Safety and large cities, as well as similar ones near ports and along the border, may conduct inspections. Supporters of the bill argued that's not enough to cover the state adequately.
Opponents of the bill fear that small municipalities and county governments will use their new-found ability to generate revenue, rather than focusing on safety. "We are not against the enforcement of safety, but we want to make sure we're enforcing safety for safety's sake, not revenue," Les Findeisen, director of information for the Texas Motor Transportation Association, told The Houston Chronicle.
The bill is headed to the House Transportation Committee for further readings.
The House has not yet voted on a similar bill (HB503) sponsored by Rep. Joe Pickett. According to the newspaper, the issue recently was on the table during a House Public Safety Committee hearing. The House measure allows cities with populations of 25,000 or more in counties of 450,000 or more to conduct commercial vehicle safety inspections. Sheriff's departments in those large counties and along the border would also be allowed to conduct inspections.
The general information for the Texas Legislature is (512) 463-4630.

2/12/01 - HB299, authored by Rep. Pete Gallego, proposes maximum speed limits on rural interstate highways of 75 mph for all vehicles. The state's Department of Transportation will conduct studies to determine where speed limits can safely be raised if this bill becomes law. A public hearing was held Feb. 13. The bill status number for the Texas Legislature is 1-877-824-7038.