The bill, S.B. No. 2324, amends various sections of the Transportation Code to establish new regulations regarding the cessation of tolls on toll projects under specific circumstances. It introduces a new section, 372.060, which stipulates that tolls must cease when the costs of acquisition and construction of a project have been fully paid, and all associated bonds and interest have been settled. The bill also outlines the conditions under which a toll project may be maintained without tolls, including the transition of the project into the state highway system or a county road system, depending on the approval of the Legislative Budget Board.

Additionally, the bill repeals several existing provisions related to toll revenue and financing, specifically removing references to surplus revenue from other projects being used to pay for bonds. It mandates that the Texas Department of Transportation conduct a study by September 1, 2026, to assess the costs associated with ceasing toll collections on highways, including identifying all toll roads and their projected maintenance costs once they are no longer tolled. The bill aims to streamline the process for transitioning toll projects to non-toll status while ensuring financial accountability and planning for future maintenance.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Transportation Code 228.012, Transportation Code 228.0055, Transportation Code 228.104, Transportation Code 228.105, Transportation Code 366.113, Transportation Code 370.113, Transportation Code 372.0535 (Transportation Code 372, Transportation Code 366, Transportation Code 370, Transportation Code 228)