bill requiring quarterly TxDOT public meetings in every district

The text as introduced · 395 words

By: Cook
S.B. No. 2732

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to public involvement procedures for the statewide

transportation improvement program.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter J, Chapter 201, Transportation Code,

is amended by adding Section 201.8115 to read as follows:

Sec. 201.8115. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT PROCEDURES FOR STATEWIDE

TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. (a) During the development of

the statewide transportation improvement program, the department

shall hold a quarterly public meeting in each department district

regarding the adoption of the proposed program.

(b) The department shall:

(1) publish notice of each meeting under Subsection

(a) in the Texas Register not later than the 15th day before the

date of the meeting;

(2) accept verbal public comments and questions during

each meeting held under Subsection (a);

(3) prepare a written debriefing assessment of:

(A) each meeting held under Subsection (a) that

summarizes the highlights or major accomplishments from the

meeting; and

(B) public verbal comments and questions

received under Subdivision (2) that summarizes the comments and

questions received and key points or issues raised in the comments;

(4) make the debriefing assessments required under

Subdivision (3) available to the public on the department's

Internet website or through e-mail distribution;

(5) develop a response mechanism that informs

stakeholders of ideas received from the public during the meeting

held under Subsection (a) or though verbal comments received under

Subdivision (2) that the department is incorporating into the

program and clearly communicates why alternate decisions are

required for ideas that the department does not incorporate into

the program;

(6) demonstrate explicit consideration and response

to public input during the development of the statewide

transportation improvement program; and

(7) inform the public of how the statewide

transportation improvement program interacts with local

transportation improvement planning, the timeline for that

planning, and how to obtain more information on that process.

(c) Before the department may consider project designs for

any transportation project included in the statewide

transportation improvement program, the department must hold a

meeting under Subsection (a) to discuss the project.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives

a vote of two-thirds of all the 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.