Bill Text: TX HB597 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the issuance of an excess gross weight permit for certain farm tractors on county, farm-to-market, and ranch-to-market roads; authorizing a fee.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-11-12 - Filed [HB597 Detail]
Download: Texas-2025-HB597-Introduced.html
| 89R44 JRR-F | ||
| By: Guillen | H.B. No. 597 | |
|
|
||
|
|
||
| relating to the issuance of an excess gross weight permit for | ||
| certain farm tractors on county, farm-to-market, and | ||
| ranch-to-market roads; authorizing a fee. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 623, Transportation Code, | ||
| is amended by adding Section 623.0173 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 623.0173. EXCESS GROSS WEIGHT PERMIT FOR CERTAIN FARM | ||
| TRACTORS. (a) In this section: | ||
| (1) "Accessory" means any additional attachment being | ||
| pulled or carried by a farm tractor that contributes to the farm | ||
| tractor's gross weight. | ||
| (2) "Farm tractor" has the meaning assigned by Section | ||
| 541.201. | ||
| (b) The department shall issue an annual permit that | ||
| authorizes the operation of a farm tractor, including any | ||
| accessories that are used for agricultural production, on county, | ||
| farm-to-market, and ranch-to-market roads at a gross weight that is | ||
| not heavier than the weight equal to the maximum allowable gross | ||
| weight for the tractor plus a tolerance allowance of 10 percent. | ||
| (c) To qualify for a permit under this section: | ||
| (1) the farm tractor must be registered as a farm | ||
| vehicle under Chapter 502; and | ||
| (2) the applicant must: | ||
| (A) designate in the permit application each | ||
| county in which the farm tractor will be operated; and | ||
| (B) pay an annual permit fee of $90. | ||
| (d) A permit issued under this section must be carried in | ||
| the farm tractor for which it is issued. | ||
| (e) A permit issued under this section does not authorize | ||
| the operation of a farm tractor on a bridge for which a maximum | ||
| weight and load limit has been established and posted by the Texas | ||
| Department of Transportation under Section 621.102 or the | ||
| commissioners court of a county under Section 621.301, if the gross | ||
| weight of the farm tractor and load or the axles and wheel loads are | ||
| greater than the limits established and posted under those | ||
| sections. | ||
| (f) Unless otherwise provided by state or federal law, a | ||
| county may not require a permit, fee, or license for the operation | ||
| of a farm tractor in addition to a permit, fee, or license required | ||
| by state law. | ||
| (g) The fee collected for a permit under this section shall | ||
| be divided equally among and distributed to the counties designated | ||
| in the permit application for deposit to the credit of the county | ||
| road and bridge fund of those counties. | ||
| (h) The department may adopt rules necessary to administer | ||
| this section, including rules governing the application for a | ||
| permit under this section. | ||
| SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. | ||
