HB 3019
Cain Bill Restricts Federal Rail Funds By Date And Population
Died in committee
Verdict: Smells
Why it's charged
Bracket bill
THE TEXT
…“confirmed before July 1, 1985, in which the principal municipality”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
A confirmation date before July 1, 1985, combined with a population of less than 850,000 at the authority's creation, limits a Transportation Code section to whichever authority fits both descriptors. The caption signals narrowness with the word 'certain' but never says which authority is covered.
Bracket billOn Nov 1, 2026 the editor checked the caption mismatch charge against the bill's caption and removed it.
Corrected Nov 1, 2026
Corrected Nov 1, 2026 · We checked this summary against the bill text and fixed it.
Reviewed · Nov 1, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade
Caption
relating to the authority of certain metropolitan rapid transit authorities and related entities to request and receive federal funds.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Covered authorities need the governor’s approval before applying for or receiving federal light-rail funds.
The bill bars a transit authority confirmed before July 1, 1985, whose main city had a population of less than 850,000 when the authority was created, and any local government corporation to which that authority appoints board members, from applying for or receiving federal money for light rail without the governor's approval. Before approving, the governor must consider whether the main city is addressing homelessness and enforcing voter-approved restrictions on camping, sitting or lying in public, and whether the request would compete with other Texas requests for federal money. The governor may ask the attorney general for an opinion on whether the city is enforcing those restrictions, and the bill takes effect September 1, 2025.
Labels
Labels: PENDING FOREVER. Heard by the House Transportation subcommittee on Transportation Funding on Mar 31, 2025 and left pending. Never voted out. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB3019 · 2025-02-19
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to the authority of certain metropolitan rapid transit authorities and related entities to request and receive federal funds.
WHAT IT DOES
Covered authorities need the governor’s approval before applying for or receiving federal light-rail funds.
The bill bars a transit authority confirmed before July 1, 1985, whose main city had a population of less than 850,000 when the authority was created, and any local government corporation to which that authority appoints board members, from applying for or receiving federal money for light rail without the governor's approval. Before approving, the governor must consider whether the main city is addressing homelessness and enforcing voter-approved restrictions on camping, sitting or lying in public, and whether the request would compete with other Texas requests for federal money. The governor may ask the attorney general for an opinion on whether the city is enforcing those restrictions, and the bill takes effect September 1, 2025.
CHARGES
[x] BRACKET BILLanalysis confidence 60%
THE TEXT
…“confirmed before July 1, 1985, in which the principal municipality”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
A confirmation date before July 1, 1985, combined with a population of less than 850,000 at the authority's creation, limits a Transportation Code section to whichever authority fits both descriptors. The caption signals narrowness with the word 'certain' but never says which authority is covered.
TOTAL
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source
Sources
Fiscal note · version I · March 28, 2025
No first-year general revenue figure available here.
LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.
Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.
HISTORY
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to s/c on Transportation Funding by Speaker
- Scheduled for public hearing in s/c on . . .
- Considered by s/c in public hearing
- Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in subcommittee
- Left pending in subcommittee
FILED UNDER
No verified beat found.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
Not tied to this bill.
Sources
The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.
Derived itemized flow · Oct 28, 2024 to May 28, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Teans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$5,000.00
Teans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$5,000.00
- Cash
- $5,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $5,000.00
Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · on Jul 3, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · on Jul 3, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101033926.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Teans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$5,000.00
- Cash
- $5,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $5,000.00
Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · on Jul 3, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · on Jul 3, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101033926.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Fiscal
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source
Sources
Fiscal note · version I · March 28, 2025
No first-year general revenue figure available here.
LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.
Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.
How this was graded
Adversarial review by claude-opus-5-5 at high effort: Smells.
Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 21, 2026, against the published rubric.
Sources
Texas House · Filed Feb 19, 2025
03/31/2025 H Left pending in subcommittee
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Nov 1, 2026 at 6:27 PM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · Transportation · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
Governor
Transportation--Mass Transit
FEDERAL RELATIONS
ATTORNEY GENERAL
Text
The text as introduced · 379 words
By: Cain H.B. No. 3019 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the authority of certain metropolitan rapid transit authorities and related entities to request and receive federal funds. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Chapter 451, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Section 451.069 to read as follows: Sec. 451.069. SUBMISSION OF REQUESTS FOR FEDERAL FUNDS; CERTAIN AUTHORITIES. (a) This section applies only to an authority confirmed before July 1, 1985, in which the principal municipality had a population of less than 850,000 at the time of the authority's creation, and to any local government corporation created under Chapter 431 of the Transportation Code and Chapter 394 of the Local Government Code to which the authority appoints one or more members of the governing body. (b) The authority, or any other entity described in subsection (a), may not apply for or receive federal funds, including capital investment grants, to be used to support construction or operation of a light rail transit system without the approval of the governor. (c) In determining whether to grant an approval under Subsection (b), the governor shall consider: (1) whether the governing body of the principal municipality has taken actions to adequately address public health and safety issues impacting individuals experiencing homelessness and citizens of the municipality, including precluding camping in public places and areas around transit stops, stations, and other right-of-way so as to enhance the safety of users of the transit authority system; (2) whether the principal municipality has taken adequate measures to enforce voter-approved restrictions against camping, sitting or lying in public spaces so as to protect public safety and the safety of users of the transit authority system; and (3) the degree to which the request for funding will compete with requests from other entities in Texas and therefore result in a competitive disadvantage for the state. (d) For purposes of determining whether the requirement of subsection (c)(2) has been satisfied the governor my request that the office of the attorney general review any voter-approved restrictions and actions taken subsequent thereto and provide an opinion as to whether the principal municipality is enforcing the restrictions in accordance with the voter-approved proposition. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.