Relating to the operation of vehicles transporting steel; authorizing a fee.

89(R) HB 3331 - Introduced version - Bill Text

89R11919 JRR-F

By: Perez of Harris

H.B. No. 3331

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the operation of vehicles transporting steel;

authorizing a fee.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Sections 621.508(a) and (a-1), Transportation

Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) Except as provided by Subsection (a-1), it is an

affirmative defense to prosecution of, or an action under

Subchapter F for, the offense of operating a vehicle with a single

axle weight or tandem axle weight heavier than the axle weight

authorized by law that at the time of the offense the vehicle:

(1) had a single axle weight or tandem axle weight that

was not heavier than the axle weight authorized by law plus 12

percent;

(2) was loaded with
:

(A)
timber, pulp wood, wood chips, or cotton,

livestock, or other agricultural products that are:

(i)
[
(A)
] in their natural state; and

(ii)
[
(B)
] being transported from the place

of production to the place of first marketing or first processing;

or

(B)

steel that is being transported from the

place of production to the place of first marketing;
and

(3) was not being operated on a portion of the national

system of interstate and defense highways.

(a-1) The affirmative defense provided by Subsection (a)

does not apply to the excess weights authorized under Section

623.421(b)
or 623.451(b)
.

SECTION 2. Chapter 623, Transportation Code, is amended by

adding Subchapter W to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER W. VEHICLES TRANSPORTING STEEL

Sec.

623.451.

PERMIT FOR VEHICLES TRANSPORTING STEEL. (a)

The department may issue a permit authorizing the movement of steel

by a truck-tractor and semitrailer combination that has six total

axles and is equipped with a roll stability support safety system

and truck blind spot systems:

(1)

at a gross weight that is not heavier than 90,000

pounds; and

(2)

with axle weights that comply with the

requirements of Section 621.101(a), except as authorized by

Subsection (b).

(b)

A vehicle combination operating under a permit issued

under Subsection (a) may exceed the axle weights listed in Section

621.101(a) for the following axle groups if the overall distance

between the first axle of the truck-tractor and the first axle of

the first consecutive set of tandem axles is 15 feet or more, the

overall distance between the first and last axles of two

consecutive sets of tandem axles is 36 feet or more, the distance

between each individual axle in each axle group, measured from the

center of the axle, is between 48 inches and 54 inches, and:

(1)

a two-axle group does not exceed 36,500 pounds;

and

(2) a three-axle group does not exceed 42,500 pounds.

(c)

To qualify for a permit under this subchapter, a permit

fee of $1,200 must be paid.

(d) A permit issued under this subchapter:

(1) is valid for one year; and

(2)

must be carried in the truck-tractor for which it

is issued.

Sec.

623.452.

PERMIT STICKER.

(a)

When the department

issues a permit under this subchapter, the department shall issue a

sticker to be placed on the front windshield of the truck-tractor.

The department shall design the form of the sticker to aid in the

enforcement of weight limits for vehicles.

(b) The sticker must:

(1) indicate the expiration date of the permit; and

(2) be removed from the truck-tractor when:

(A)

the permit for operation of the vehicle

combination expires;

(B) a lease of the truck-tractor expires; or

(C) the truck-tractor is sold.

Sec.

623.453.

COUNTY DESIGNATION; DISTRIBUTION OF FEE. (a)

An applicant for a permit under this subchapter must designate in

the permit application the counties in which the applicant intends

to operate.

A permit issued under this subchapter is not valid in a

county that is not designated in the permit application.

(b) Of the fee collected under this subchapter for a permit:

(1)

75 percent of the amount collected shall be

deposited to the credit of the state highway fund;

(2)

15 percent of the amount collected shall be

divided equally among and distributed to the counties designated in

the permit application; and

(3)

10 percent of the amount collected shall be

deposited to the credit of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles

fund.

(c)

At least once each fiscal year, the comptroller shall

send the amount due each county under Subsection (b) to the county

treasurer or officer performing the function of that office for

deposit to the credit of the county road and bridge fund.

Sec.

623.454.

PERMIT CONDITIONS.

(a)

Except as provided by

Subsections (b) and (c), a vehicle combination operating under a

permit under this subchapter may operate on a federal interstate

highway or a state, county, or municipal road, including a frontage

road adjacent to a federal interstate highway, if the truck-tractor

displays a sticker required by Section 623.452 and the vehicle

combination does not exceed the maximum axle or gross weight

applicable to the combination under the terms of the permit.

(b)

A permit issued under this subchapter authorizes the

operation of a truck-tractor and semitrailer combination only on

highways and roads approved by the Texas Department of

Transportation.

(c)

A permit issued under this subchapter does not authorize

the operation of a truck-tractor and semitrailer combination on a

county road or bridge for which a maximum weight and load limit has

been established and posted under Section 621.301.

Sec.

623.455.

CERTAIN COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL ACTIONS

PROHIBITED.

Unless otherwise provided by state or federal law, a

county or municipality may not require a permit, fee, or license for

the operation of a vehicle combination described by Section

623.451(a) or (b) in addition to a permit, fee, or license required

by state law.

Sec.

623.456.

EXCLUSIVE PERMIT. A permit issued under this

subchapter is the only permit issued by the department under this

chapter that may be used to transport steel.

Sec.

623.457.

RULES. (a) The department shall adopt rules

necessary to implement this subchapter, including rules governing

the application for a permit under this subchapter.

(b)

The Department of Public Safety shall adopt rules

requiring additional safety and driver training for permits issued

under this subchapter.

SECTION 3. Section 623.003(b), Transportation Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(b) The Texas Department of Transportation shall provide

the department with all routing information necessary to complete a

permit issued under Section 623.071, 623.121, 623.142, 623.192,

623.402, [
or
] 623.421
, or 623.451
.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect January 1, 2026.