H.B. No. 3679 amends the Texas Tax Code and Transportation Code to facilitate the operation of certain vehicles during disaster situations. Specifically, it introduces a new provision allowing individuals who purchase dyed diesel fuel to operate their vehicles on public highways during declared disasters, provided they submit a signed statement with an end user number to the licensed supplier. This provision is applicable when the Internal Revenue Service has waived penalties for using dyed diesel fuel on public highways and is limited to areas affected by the disaster declaration. Additionally, the bill expands the list of permits under which vehicles can operate, including a new permit for transporting agricultural commodities during disasters.

The bill also establishes a new subchapter in the Transportation Code that outlines the conditions and requirements for obtaining permits for vehicles transporting agricultural commodities during disaster situations. It allows the Department of Transportation to issue special permits for oversize or overweight vehicles used to deliver agricultural products to or from disaster-affected areas. The permits will expire upon the end of the disaster declaration or when the IRS resumes penalties for using dyed diesel fuel. The bill emphasizes safety and minimizes roadway damage by allowing the department to impose conditions on permit holders, and it clarifies that the new regulations will not permit vehicles exceeding federal size and weight limits on interstate highways. The changes will take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Tax Code 162.235, Transportation Code 621.102, Transportation Code 621.301 (Transportation Code 621, Tax Code 162)
House Committee Report: Tax Code 162.235, Transportation Code 621.102, Transportation Code 621.301 (Transportation Code 621, Tax Code 162)
Engrossed: Tax Code 162.235, Transportation Code 621.102, Transportation Code 621.301 (Transportation Code 621, Tax Code 162)