Legislative Update & Transit Headlines

April 7, 2025

Budget Bill Slated for House Debate

The House will hear SB 1 this week.

How do I make my voice heard at the Legislature?

This excerpt is from an article posted February 25, 2025, on the Texas State Law Library's site. For the full article on how to participate in the legislative process, click on the "Read More" link below the excerpt.

I want to testify about a bill. How can I do that?

To testify in person:

Start by signing up for an account on Texas Legislature Online’s MyTLO. You’ll need to opt in to the bill alert system to get e-mail alerts about the bill’s progress.
Keep an eye out for a notification telling you when the committee will hold a hearing for the bill. You can also browse the Committees page on TLO for meeting info.
Once it’s announced, make plans to attend the hearing. Not all committee hearings offer witness testimony, though. Some may only hear invited testimony. Be sure to check the hearing notice to see if public testimony is an option.
Sign up to testify! How you sign up depends on whether it is a House or Senate committee hearing.
Once your name is called, state your thoughts! Witnesses usually have 2 or 3 minutes to testify, but this can vary. The agenda will usually state how much time each witness has.

What if I can’t testify in person?

If you can’t make it to the committee meeting in person, you have the option to submit electronic comments without testifying in person. Check the notice of public hearing for the link to submit comments. The comments will be included in the committee hearing’s public record.

Of course, you can always contact your representatives directly to express your thoughts. You can find a list of members and contact info on the websites of the House and Senate. If you aren’t sure who your representatives are, search your address in the Who Represents Me? tool.

Call to Action

DART Needs Your Help

Advocate at the local level (city and county officials):

The importance of transit to your business, family, and the region
Resolve issues at home in North Texas instead of Austin at the Legislature
Support voter-approved transit funding sources

Advocate at the regional level to (NCTCOG):

Develop realistic and achievable Transit 2.0 recommendations
Prioritize regional funding to jurisdictions with transit
Pursue more funding tools for regional transit initiatives

Advocate at the state level to (State Senators and Representatives):

Oppose any legislation that limits transit funding
The value of public transit in ever-growing North Texas
Create economic development tools for transit member cities

Click here to see all the bills we're tracking

Bills We're Watching Closely

HB 3187 Shaheen, Matt (R)

Relating to powers of regional transportation authorities.

Companions: SB 1557 Paxton, Angela(Identical)

AI Summary: This bill focuses on enhancing the operational capabilities of regional transportation authorities in Texas by instituting a General Mobility Program that allows municipalities within those authorities to allocate a portion of their sales and use tax revenues for transportation-related improvements. Under this program, municipalities can use up to 25% of the tax for projects including the construction and maintenance of streets, sidewalks, and drainage improvements.

Additionally, the bill modifies the authority's ability to pledge revenues for bond security, changing the cap from all or part to not more than 75%, thus providing increased financial flexibility. The usage of excess revenue is expanded to support operating reserves and further fund the newly established mobility program.

Further adjustments to the sales tax rates allow for more gradual increases, while restrictions on the issuance of obligations prevent authorities from accruing financial obligations when there's an impending withdrawal election. The legislation also continues the collection of taxes in previously withdrawn units until specified obligations are met, thereby ensuring financial stability within those regions affected by withdrawals. The law is set to become effective on September 1, 2025.

Bill History: 03-20-25 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Transportation

SB 1557 Paxton, Angela (R)

Relating to powers of regional transportation authorities.

Companions: HB 3187 Shaheen, Matt (Identical)

Bill History: 03-06-25 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate Transportation

HB 4348 Capriglione, Giovanni (R)

Relating to a prohibition on certain roadway projects and to the distribution of affordable housing funds to local governmental entities that violate that prohibition.

Companions: SB 1993 Hall, Bob (Identical)

AI Summary: The proposed legislation aims to tighten local governmental entities' authority over roadway projects, reinforcing the importance of community involvement and ensuring road functionality is prioritized.

Delegated Control: The bill amends the Transportation Code to state that municipalities have delegated control over their public roadways instead of exclusive control, allowing for perhaps more oversight and cooperation with higher authorities.

When dealing with the closure of streets or alleys, municipalities are now required to follow a series of steps. This includes soliciting public input through hearings, submitting petitions with specific criteria (like demonstrating traffic congestion will not worsen), and securing voter approval through an election.

In a significant shift, the bill prohibits local governmental entities from engaging in roadway projects that reallocate roadway space (for instance, converting lanes into bike lanes or narrowing lanes) unless creating new traffic lanes. This ensures that vehicular capacity is not compromised.

Additionally, there is a strict complaint process: complaints about violations must be investigated, and findings can result in administrative actions. If violations persist, the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs will be notified, which can lead to financial assistance being withheld until the issues are resolved.

Lastly, Section 311.001(c) of the Transportation Code is repealed, further simplifying the framework for municipal road management. This bill is poised to take effect immediately with sufficient legislative support or by September 1, 2025, if not. - Version: FIL

Bill History: 04-01-25 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Transportation

SB 1993 Hall, Bob (R)

Relating to a prohibition on certain roadway projects and to the distribution of affordable housing funds to local governmental entities that violate that prohibition.

Companions: HB 4348 Capriglione, Giovanni (Identical)

Bill History: 03-17-25 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate Transportation

HB 5049 Shaheen, Matt (R)

Relating to the composition and authority of certain subregional boards of regional transportation authorities.

Companions: SB 2118 Parker, Tan (Identical)

AI Summary: The bill introduces significant changes to the governance structure of subregional boards under the Texas Transportation Code, specifically in Section 452.112 and related sections. A major change is that each municipality in the subregional authority will appoint one member to the board, simplifying the previous arrangement where municipalities collectively appointed 15 members. This shift emphasizes the governance of local municipalities in a more equitable manner.

Another critical modification is the voting structure: the designated member from the principal municipality will have enhanced voting power, able to cast three votes instead of aligning votes based on multiple members per municipality.

The bill also revises member terms; all board members will now have staggered two-year terms, with about half of the members terms expiring each year to ensure continuity and regular turnover. Moreover, the role of the presiding officer will rotate among the members every two years, ensuring no member serves consecutive terms in this capacity, which is intended to promote fairness and shared leadership.

Additionally, several sections of the current Transportation Code are repealed, which reflects a legislative intent to streamline the governing process by removing outdated provisions. Finally, the bill is set to take effect on September 1, 2025, concluding with the expiration of current board terms and the immediate establishment of the restructured subregional boards. - Version: FIL

Bill History: 04-03-25 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Transportation

SB 2118 Parker, Tan (R)

Relating to the composition and authority of certain subregional boards of regional transportation authorities.

Companions: HB 5049 Shaheen, Matt (Identical)

Bill History: 03-24-25 S Introduced and referred to committee on Senate Transportation

Transit in the Headlines

DART Board Signals Support for Refunding Sales Tax to Select Cities

communityimpact.com

During a March 25 meeting, DART’s board of directors voted 11-3 on a resolution signaling the agency’s commitment to resolving member city’s issues at the local level. The action comes after two bills were filed in the Texas 2025 legislative session that aim to moderate sales tax collections by the transit agency.

The resolution states DART will establish a general mobility program funded by 5% of its annual sales tax collections. Those funds will be available for use by some member cities as an equity adjustment to support local mobility needs, according to the resolution.

DART staff will design policy guidelines and a plan for the program to be considered by the board at a later date. The program is expected to launch in fiscal year 2025-26, according to the resolution.

FIFA Soccer to Streets, Plano Transit Pullout Could Drive Gridlock in Fort Worth

star-telegram.com Opinion

Most Fort Worthians won’t find themselves commuting to Plano, hardly any on our trains and rails. And yet, the fast-growing Dallas metro area outpost’s potential pullout from Dallas Area Rapid Transit would ripple across the entire North Texas region. Cowtown needs to pay attention.

Plano is one of a handful of DART “member cities” — meaning municipalities with rail and bus lines connecting to Dallas — straining its budget under the weight of its booming population. Instead of raising taxes, the Plano City Council proposed cutting its DART tax contribution by a quarter of a cent, a major blow to funding for a service still expanding across the city. A set of identical House and Senate bills goes a step further by echoing Plano’s defund dreams statewide, allowing member cities of any regional transit line to reduce their tax contributions by 25%.

DART Ponders Its Options, And None of Them Are Great

dmagazine.com

Facing hostile legislation, dissatisfied city councils, and a stalled mediation process, Dallas Area Rapid Transit has chosen to cut its own budget. In a motion that passed 11-3 during a DART board meeting last week, the agency has chosen to start the processes of establishing a general mobility program allowing certain cities to take back 5 percent of the sales tax revenue they give to DART.

Details of how this general mobility program will be implemented are still vague and in the early planning stages, but simply put, select cities would be eligible to get some of their money back. Service cuts are expected, such as decreasing frequencies on light rail and buses, but they are nowhere near as severe as the 25 percent cuts DART could be facing if bills in the Legislature were passed.

Under current policies, DART member cities must give up 1 cent of their sales tax to be a member of the agency, taking up half of the 2 cents cities are allowed to charge on the dollar. Starting last summer, multiple suburban member cities filed resolutions calling for DART to reduce the amount of sales tax the agencies collect. This kicked off months of back and forth as DART tried to negotiate with cities before things escalated to Austin, but it was now of no use.

Texas High-Speed Rail Faces Another Obstacle

rtands.com

Houston Public Media has reported that State House Bill 1402 was presented and debated this week by Texas House Subcommittee on Transportation Funding and was written by state Rep. Cody Harris of East Texas (R-District 8). This bill would make it illegal to use local or state funding to make any changes to roadways during the construction of the proposed high-speed rail line between Houston and Dallas, which are the two largest cities in Texas.

During the past ten years, proponents have tried to move a 240-mile high-speed rail project between the cities forward, but with virtually no progress. The train, fashioned after the Japanese Bullet Train Shinkansen, would travel between Houston and Dallas in 90 minutes.

Harris said “Texas Central [the company promoting the line] wants to skirt paying local property taxes that were owed but use local property tax dollars to pay for their project. Bill 1402 prohibits the use of taxpayer dollars in any form from the state to local level from being used to pay for the alteration of the roadway related to the construction of a high-speed rail project.”

Trinity Metro Reports 5,500 Monthly Rides at TCC Bus Stops

collegian.tccd.edu

For nearly seven years, TCC students have had access to free public transportation through the EasyRide program—a resource that allows thousands to save money and navigate the city.

The program allows all eligible students, which the TCC website classifies as students enrolled in at least three credit hours or 48 continuing education hours, to use their student ID cards as a free pass.

Eligible students can access Trinity Metro buses, MINIMOVERS, On-Demand rideshare vans, TEXRail and the Trinity Railway Express by swiping their student ID in the farebox or showing their ID to conductors.

However, the program does not extend to students in College for Kids, Senior Education, Dual Credit or Early College High School. Trinity River Campus student Alexandria Williams has been riding the bus for two years and said her perception of public transportation has changed over time.

“There aren’t many downsides,” she said. “At first, I worried about cleanliness and safety, but now I feel comfortable riding regularly.”

Meet April’s Fort Worthian, Anette Landeros

fwtx.com

Anette Landeros is shaping the future of Fort Worth. In her new role as the chief strategy officer for Trinity Metro, the city’s public transit agency, Landeros is developing the vision and strategy that will result in more bus riders, rail riders, rideshare riders, and (eventually, fingers crossed) streetcar riders. And this demand will increase the need for a more robust public transit system, resulting in a city you might not recognize decades down the road.

However, making public transit believers out of Texans is no easy task. But, as the Trinity Metro CSO, this is Landeros’ main charge. And having spent nearly 20 years in the public sector and nonprofits, including a 12-year stint at the US Department of Transportation, it’s a task Landeros is well positioned to tackle.

As you can see from the articles and bills we've been posting, there's a lot going on with transit in North Texas. If your company/organization is interested in joining the Coalition, please contact Christy Willhite, Executive Director, cwillhite@transitnorthtexas.org.