The bill, H.B. No. 3331, amends the Transportation Code to establish regulations for vehicles transporting steel. It introduces a new subchapter that allows the Texas Department of Transportation to issue permits for truck-tractor and semitrailer combinations with six axles, enabling them to operate at a gross weight of up to 90,000 pounds, provided they are equipped with specific safety systems. The bill outlines the conditions under which these vehicles can exceed standard axle weight limits, the requirement for a $1,200 permit fee, and the issuance of a permit sticker for enforcement purposes. Additionally, it specifies how the collected fees will be distributed among state and local funds.

The bill also modifies existing legal language regarding the affirmative defense for operating vehicles with excess axle weights, now including steel as a permissible load alongside agricultural products. It clarifies that permits issued under this new subchapter are the only ones valid for transporting steel and prohibits counties or municipalities from imposing additional fees or permits beyond those required by state law. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Transportation Code 621.508, Chapter , Transportation Code 623.421, Transportation Code 623.003 (Transportation Code 621, Transportation Code 623, Chapter , Transportation Code 623)