Texas House
Standing Committee
Oversees Texas highways, motor vehicles, commercial transportation, railroads, airports, water transportation, and related state agencies.
Committee Leadership
Committee Composition
Committee Size
13 Members
Republicans
8
Democrats
5
Committee Partisan Split
8R – 5D
Committee Membership
Most Recent Session Activity
Metrics reflect activity during the most recent legislative session.
Legislation Referred
300
Legislation Voted Out
166
Overall Efficiency
55.33%
Committee Meetings
21
Interim Charges
- Monitoring: Monitor the implementation and associated rulemaking of all legislation passed by the Committee and enacted by the 89th Legislature to ensure that legislative purposes are properly implemented, including the following:
- SB 1555, relating to a grant program to fund certain railroad grade separation projects; and
- SB 1939, relating to the ship channel improvement revolving fund.
- Foreign Holders of Commercial Driver Licenses: Evaluate the presence of non-domiciled commercial driver licenses (CDL) holders operating in Texas, including whether their presence correlates with an increase in traffic incidents. Review state and federal regulations, including English proficiency standards, applicable to non-domiciled CDL holders and make recommendations to protect public safety.
- Legislative Prioritization of Texas Department of Transportation Projects: Study the need for the Texas Department of Transportation to receive prioritization direction from members of the Texas Legislature, including when identifying local projects for construction or maintenance.
- Texas Department of Transportation Construction Communications: Review the Texas Department of Transportation’s planning and communication strategies for roadway and exit closures during and after construction. Make recommendations on how planning and communication can be improved.
- Supporting Texas Ports: Assess the overall economic impact of Texas seaports and the maritime industry on the state. Evaluate the short- and long-term needs of seaports, including roadway connectivity and capacity needs, and recommend strategies to promote increased commerce and economic development within the maritime sector.
- Speed Enforcement in Work and School Zones: Evaluate measures to enhance roadside worker and public safety, including limited authorization of speed enforcement mechanisms in high-speed work zones and school zones. Consider measures that would safeguard Texans’ privacy, prohibit automated retention of data, and prevent citations from being issued by third-party entities.
- Texas Department of Motor Vehicles Review: Evaluate the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles’ statutory authority, duties, programs, and functions. Identify opportunities to increase efficiency and eliminate duplicative services provided by other state agencies.
- Agency Oversight: Pursuant to the broad oversight responsibilities granted to the Committee under Section 301.014, Government Code, and the House Rules of Procedure, monitor the agencies under the Committee’s jurisdiction, including for fraud, waste, and abuse, where applicable. The jurisdiction of the Transportation Committee includes the following agencies:
- The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles;
- The Texas Department of Transportation; and
- The Texas Transportation Commission.
- Subcommittee on Transportation Funding — Texas Department of Transportation Funding: Examine the formula funding and discretionary funding categories used by the Texas Department of Transportation to allocate dollars for planning and construction of projects. Examine the adequacy of current funding revenue to meet projected transportation needs. Evaluate continuing the County Transportation Infrastructure Fund grant program, and assess its benefits to rural road infrastructure and public safety. Recommend ways to improve transportation-related funding, allocation methodologies, and transparency.
Committee Jurisdiction
The committee shall have 13 members, with jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to:
- Commercial motor vehicles, both bus and truck, and their control, regulation, licensing, and operation.
- The Texas highway system, including all roads, bridges, and ferries constituting a part of the system.
- The licensing of private passenger vehicles to operate on the roads and highways of the state.
- The regulation and control of traffic on the public highways of the State of Texas.
- Railroads, street railway lines, interurban railway lines, steamship companies, and express companies.
- Airports, air traffic, airlines, and other organizations engaged in transportation by means of aerial flight.
- Water transportation in the State of Texas, and the rivers, harbors, and related facilities used in water transportation.
- The regulation of metropolitan transit.
- The following state agencies: the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, the Texas Department of Transportation, and the Texas Transportation Commission.
The committee has one permanent standing subcommittee, a Subcommittee on Transportation Funding, to consider matters relating to current funding sources, debt financing, and alternative transportation funding options.
Committee Contact Information
Capitol Location
Capitol Extension, E2.122
Phone Number
(512) 463-0818
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