HBA-MPA H.B. 3328 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3328 By: Gallego Transportation 3/28/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The Texas highway system encompasses 77,042 miles of state-maintained highway, most of which pass through flat, sparsely populated areas. The vast size of Texas requires many people to spend a great number of hours on the road. Ten western states with similar landscapes and population densities, including the surrounding states of New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Arizona, have already set their speed limits at 75 miles per hour. H.B. 3328 raises the speed limit on Texas highways from 70 to 75 miles per hour. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 545.352(b), Transportation Code, to provide that 75, rather than 70, miles per hour in daytime is a lawful speed for a passenger car, motorcycle, or other specified motor vehicles on a highway numbered by the state or the United States outside of an urban district, including a farm-to-market or ranch-to-market road, unless a special hazard exists that requires a slower speed for compliance with Section 545.351(b) (Maximum Speed Requirement). SECTION 2. Authorizes the speed limit on a highway that has a speed limit of 70 miles per hour in the daytime and 65 miles an hour in nighttime on the effective date of this Act to be increased only if the Texas Department of Transportation determines that the increase is appropriate on that highway or portion of highway. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1999. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 4. Emergency clause.