Relating to a study by the Texas Department of Transportation of the construction and maintenance of certain county road systems in this state.

89(R) HB 4473 - Engrossed version - Bill Text

By: Canales

H.B. No. 4473

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a study by the Texas Department of Transportation of the

construction and maintenance of certain county road systems in this

state.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 250, Transportation Code, is amended by

adding Section 250.003 to read as follows:

Sec.

250.003.

STUDY REGARDING COUNTY ROAD SYSTEMS. (a) The

department, in consultation with the Texas A&M Transportation

Institute, shall conduct a study of the construction and

maintenance of county roads and bridges under the five systems of

county road administration described by Chapter 251 and

Subchapters A, B, C, and D of Chapter 252.

(b) The study described by Subsection (a) shall:

(1)

provide an inventory of what system of county road

administration each county in this state has adopted and the date on

which it was adopted;

(2)

provide, for the 20 most populous counties in each

of the five systems of county road administration and after

adjusting for inflation:

(A)

the average and median cost of the

construction and maintenance of county roads during the most recent

25-year period or the period since the adoption of the county's

current system of county road administration; and

(B)

an average per-mile cost comparison of

completed road projects among the five systems of county road

administration during the most recent 25-year period or the period

since the adoption of the county's current system of county road

administration; and

(3)

rank from most economical to least economical for

taxpayers the systems of county road administration for the

construction and maintenance of county roads and describe the

reasoning behind each rank placement.

(c)

Not later than December 1, 2026, the department shall

submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the

house, and each legislative committee with jurisdiction over

transportation issues a written report that includes the results of

the study conducted under this section and any associated

recommendations.

(c-1)

The department, as part of the study conducted under

this section and in consultation with the Texas A&M Transportation

Institute, shall:

(1)

identify unpaved or substandard county roads

located in counties that border the United Mexican States;

(2)

assess the extent to which those roads impact

border security operations, including law enforcement mobility and

emergency response access;

(3)

evaluate the feasibility and estimated cost of

paving or upgrading roads that are determined to significantly

impact border security; and

(4)

include in the report submitted under Subsection

(c) any recommendations for prioritizing improvements to such roads

based on their relevance to public safety and national security.

(d) This section expires January 1, 2027.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives

a vote of two-thirds of all members elected to each house, as

provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this

Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this

Act takes effect September 1, 2025.