Bill > HB3389

This bill modifies the process for approving surety bonds for oversize or overweight vehicles crossing Texas roads or highways. Currently, such bonds require approval from the comptroller and attorney general, but the bill changes this so that the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) will now be solely responsible for bond approval. The bill requires that before operating an oversized or overweight vehicle, a person must: (1) contract with TxDOT to indemnify the department for potential maintenance and repair costs, and (2) execute a surety bond with a corporate surety authorized to do business in Texas, in an amount determined by the commission. The bond must compensate for potential damage and be conditioned on the person fulfilling all contractual obligations. These changes will apply only to surety bond approvals on or after the bill's effective date, which will be immediately if the bill receives a two-thirds vote in the Texas legislature, or September 1, 2025, if it does not receive the required immediate-effect vote.