The bill, H.B. No. 3116, seeks to authorize an optional county fee on vehicle registration specifically for certain counties in Texas, which can be utilized for transportation projects. The bill amends the Transportation Code to expand the criteria for counties eligible to impose this fee. It specifies that the section applies to counties that border the United Mexican States with a population over 250,000, counties with populations exceeding 1.5 million that are coterminous with a regional mobility authority, and now includes counties with populations between 190,000 and 1.5 million that are also coterminous with a regional mobility authority. Additionally, it introduces a new category for counties that are part of a regional mobility authority created under Chapter 370 with at least two counties.

Furthermore, the bill allows the commissioners court of eligible counties with populations under 700,000 to increase the additional vehicle registration fee to a maximum of $20, contingent upon approval from a majority of qualified voters in a referendum election. The bill will take effect immediately if it receives a two-thirds vote from all elected members in both houses; otherwise, it will become effective on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Transportation Code 502.402 (Transportation Code 502)