Border Counties With Overweight Corridors Get Required Emissions Testing

The text as introduced · 376 words

90R3371 JRR-D

By: Gámez
H.B. No. 683

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to required motor vehicle emissions inspections in certain

border counties.

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

SECTION 1. Section 382.202(c), Health and Safety Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(c) If the program is established under this section, the

commission:

(1) shall adopt vehicle emissions inspection and

maintenance requirements for certain areas as required by federal

law or regulation; [ and ]

(2) shall adopt vehicle emissions inspection and

maintenance requirements for counties not subject to a specific

federal requirement in response to a formal request by resolutions

adopted by the county and the most populous municipality within the

county according to the most recent federal decennial census ; and

(3) shall adopt vehicle emissions inspection and

maintenance requirements for counties not described by Subdivision

(1) or (2) that:

(A) border the United Mexican States; and

(B) contain an overweight corridor, as defined by

Section 548.301, Transportation Code .

SECTION 2. Section 548.301, Transportation Code, is amended

by adding Subsections (a-1) and (a-2) to read as follows:

(a-1) The commission by rule shall establish a motor vehicle

emissions inspection and maintenance program for vehicles located

in a county that:

(1) borders the United Mexican States; and

(2) contains an overweight corridor.

(a-2) For purposes of Subsection (a-1), "overweight

corridor" means a designated section of a state highway for which an

optional procedure is authorized under Chapter 623 for the issuance

of permits:

(1) by entities other than the department or the Texas

Department of Motor Vehicles; and

(2) for the movement of oversize or overweight

vehicles.

SECTION 3. As soon as practicable after the effective date

of this Act, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the

Public Safety Commission shall adopt the requirements and rules

necessary to implement Section 382.202, Health and Safety Code, and

Section 548.301, Transportation Code, as amended by this Act.

SECTION 4. 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, 2027.