Bill > SB2722

This bill addresses the use of toll revenues in counties with populations of 4 million or more, primarily focusing on how these counties can use revenues collected from tolls and charges. The bill requires that after paying project-related costs (such as operations, maintenance, debt retirement), the county must distribute $25 million to the municipality containing over 40% of the project's lane miles, specifically for law enforcement, fire protection, and emergency medical services. Any remaining funds must be used exclusively for county road maintenance, with at least 95% of those funds allocated among commissioners' precincts based on three criteria: historical surplus funds, number of county lane miles, and road and pavement condition. The bill includes strict oversight mechanisms, mandating an independent annual audit to ensure compliance, and imposes significant civil penalties for violations. For a first violation, the penalty is 100% of misused revenues, and for subsequent violations, 110% of misused revenues. Additionally, counties that commit a second violation are restricted from adopting a tax rate higher than their no-new-revenue or voter-approval tax rate. The bill is set to take effect on September 1, 2025, and includes provisions that expire on September 1, 2030, suggesting it is a temporary measure designed to address specific fiscal concerns in large Texas counties.

Budget and Finance, Transportation and Infrastructure

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=SB2722