7/14/03-Gov. Rick Perry has signed legislation to help bring the state into federal clean air compliance.
The new law, combined with current funding, is expected to raise about $640 million over the next four years for the Texas Emissions Reduction Program, which targets diesel emissions.
HB1365 awards grants to speed up business’ voluntary retirement of older, higher-polluting diesel equipment, and it also pays for research into clean-air technologies.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has required the Lone Star State to reduce its emissions by 16.3 tons a day in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and 18.9 tons a day in the Houston area by 2007.
If those areas fail to meet the emissions standards, the state could lose millions of dollars in federal highway funds.
The new law raises the current $13 vehicle title transfer fee to $33 in areas of the state that don’t meet clean-air standards or those that barely avoid the cut. The fee would increase to $28 for the rest of the state.
It also increases the surcharge on the sale or lease of off-road diesel equipment from 1 percent to 2 percent.

6/4/03-A committee of House and Senate members reached an agreement May 31 on legislation to help bring the state into federal clean air compliance.
The measure’s final version, combined with current funding, would raise about $640 million over the next four years for the Texas Emissions Reduction Program, which would target diesel emissions.
Lawmakers say the proposal awards grants to speed up business’ voluntary retirement of older, higher-polluting diesel equipment, and it also pays for research into clean-air technologies.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has required the Lone Star State to reduce its emissions by 16.3 tons a day in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and 18.9 tons a day in the Houston area by 2007.
If those areas fail to meet the emissions standards, the state could lose millions of dollars in federal highway funds.
The bill would raise the current $13 vehicle title transfer fee to $33 in areas of the state that don’t meet clean-air standards or those that barely avoid the cut. The fee would increase to $28 for the rest of the state.
HB1365 also would increase the surcharge on the sale or lease of off-road diesel equipment from 1 percent to 2 percent.
A Senate proposal to lower the surcharge on the sale or lease of on-road diesel equipment from 2.5 percent to 2 percent, but expand it to newer vehicles, was rejected by House lawmakers.
A proposed 3-cent-a-gallon tax hike on diesel fuel was also dropped from the final version.
The bill now heads to the governor.

5/6/03-The Senate passed a bill May 5 to help bring the state into federal clean air compliance.
The proposal by Sen. Chris Harris, R-Arlington, combined with current funding, would raise about $640 million over the next four years for the Texas Emissions Reduction Program, which would target diesel emissions.
HB1365 would raise the current $13 vehicle title transfer fee to $33 in areas of the state that don’t meet clean-air standards or those that barely avoid the cut. The fee would increase to $28 for the rest of the state.
The bill also would increase the surcharge on the sale or lease of off-road diesel equipment from 1 percent to 2 percent.
It would lower the surcharge on the sale or lease of on-road diesel equipment from 2.5 percent to 2 percent, but the surcharge would be expanded to newer vehicles.
The House of Representatives has already approved the measure, but its funding sources were different. In the House version, money would have been raised through a 3-cent-a-gallon tax hike on diesel fuel.
If the House fails to concur with the Senate changes to the bill, a committee of House and Senate members will be assigned to work out the differences.

4/22/03-A senator has proposed a $15 vehicle title transfer fee for a program to help bring the state into federal clean air compliance.
The proposal, by Sen. Chris Harris, R-Arlington, replaces a bill approved by the House earlier this month that would tack a 3-cent-a-gallon tax on diesel fuel.
HB1365 also would increase the tax on the sale or lease of diesel equipment from 1 percent to 2 percent.
The proposal awards grants to speed up business’ voluntary retirement of older, higher-polluting diesel equipment, and it also pays for research into clean-air technologies.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has required the Lone Star State to reduce its emissions by 16.3 tons a day in Dallas-Fort Worth and 18.9 tons a day in the Houston area by 2007.
If they fail to meet the emissions standards, the state could lose millions of dollars in federal highway funds.
The bill would also bar the state from future actions on lower speed limits for clean air.
It is in the Senate Committee on Natural Resources. For bill status, call (512) 463-2182.

4/16/03-The House has approved legislation that would tack 3-cents-a-gallon on diesel fuel and could help bring the state into federal clean air compliance.
HB1365, sponsored by Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, also would increase the tax on the sale, rental or lease of diesel equipment by 2 percent.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has required the Lone Star State to reduce its emissions by 16.3 tons a day in Dallas-Fort Worth and 18.9 tons a day in the Houston area by 2007.
The bill, which has been forwarded to the Senate for consideration, also would bar the state from future actions on lower speed limits for clean air. For bill status, call (512) 463-2182.