HBA-TBM C.S.H.B. 1191 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.B. 1191 By: Williams Transportation 3/18/2001 Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current state law, the commissioners court of a county has the authority to adjust the speed limit on any road in the county that is not part of the state highway system or within an incorporated municipality. The law does not allow the commissioners court to reduce a speed limit to less than 30 miles per hour. The Woodlands, being an unincorporated area, is subject to determinations made by the commissioners court with regard to speed limits. Because The Woodlands is a residential area with such hazards as winding roads, limited visibility, and pedestrian traffic, 30 miles per hour may be an unsafe speed limit on certain roads within The Woodlands. C.S.H.B. 1191 authorizes the commissioners court of a county to reduce to 20 miles per hour the speed limit on a road within a residence district that is not part of the state highway system or within an incorporated municipality. 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. ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 1191 amends the Transportation Code to authorize a commissioners court of a county to reduce the speed limit of a county road or highway within a residence district but outside of a municipality to 20 rather than 30 miles per hour. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE C.S.H.B. 1191 differs from the original by allowing the commissioners court of a county to lower the speed limit of a road within a residence district rather than any road to 20 miles per hour if the road is a county road or highway outside of a municipality.