Bill Text: TX HB3019 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the authority of certain metropolitan rapid transit authorities and related entities to request and receive federal funds.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2025-02-19 - Filed [HB3019 Detail]
Download: Texas-2025-HB3019-Introduced.html
| By: Cain | H.B. No. 3019 | |
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| 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. | ||
