[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6231996,"mediaKeyId","3426973-9e9b2e25279b7411ec87d930f624626d","parentId",3426973,"title","Committee advances multiple local memorial highway designations and an adopt-a-county-road proposal","audioSeconds",2773,"startMs",8000,"endMs",2781000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3426973-9e9b2e25279b7411ec87d930f624626d&start=8&end=2781","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3426973-9e9b2e25279b7411ec87d930f624626d/thumbnail_8000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6231996/Texas/Committee-advances-multiple-local-memorial-highway-designations-and-an-adopt-a-county-road-proposal","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6231996-48031ab9ed698bc1687d2fc0e6f89a44/orig.mp4?Expires=1770766470&Signature=kZKUevfm~lWweHhYlQ2Wl-CQRwH7PzuYjvj6qJZe5YKog8gdlBP7sAnhbEv4bxFc7uAbPRD1Afu5XFCoiHxMkxooXWpUa5WqYPVMH3Aa89lefARHRIArnJM4-PeAqsuAlE7WSppL3wlXmq-IVyhJ1hfgurz59cnsglY2WD1fRJJTJDqVu2sYHpNrx2LnoXgXZX29~Ql-wjreQOkocJd9gLKKnnA7w9pwYg5Opxw3VRsM-waMnC0dWWLh~ZyWjl5ELk-OOWbUQ82S73LWevIWEkrYlZjCLp2XdiRDBl--scAcZTVg7f95Aw-McIfeNmEDIeGbdG3h4gpoRfKmGGKW-g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Texas Legislature","date","2025-05-21T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Committee on Transportation advanced a slate of local bills Thursday that would designate portions of state highways as memorials to fallen service members and others, and it reported a local adopt-a-county-road program to the full Senate.

House Bill 20 26, sponsored by Senator Hagenboo, would designate a portion of State Highway 25 between Archer City and the Windsor area as the US Army Staff Sergeant Gary C. Johnston and US Marine Corps Sergeant Gary S. Johnson Memorial Highways. Senator Hagenboo told the committee the two service members were from the same family and that the measure memorializes their service. The committee left public testimony closed and later reported the bill favorably to the Senate on a voice vote.

Other memorial designations laid out in committee included House Bill 44 29, which would name a portion of U.S. Highway 281 in Blanco and Burnet counties as the McLoroy Family Memorial Highway; Senate Bill 3062, which would designate a portion of Highway 315 in Panola County as the Hamby Webb Memorial Highway; House Bill 35 10, which would name a portion of State Highway 6 in Brazos County the Sergeant Mark Butler Memorial Highway; and House Bill 39 86, which would designate part of U.S. Highway 83 in Mission as the Corporal Jose Luis “Speedy” Espariqueta Memorial Highway. Committee files include local resolutions or letters of support for the local-designation bills.

Senator Nichols also moved that House Bill 25 60, creating an adopt-a-county-road program that lets county commissioners’ courts accept donated funds for repair and maintenance and permit recognition signage, be reported favorably; the committee recorded a roll-call vote and reported the measure 7–0. Senator Nichols described the program as optional for counties and said funds and repairs would be administered through the county commissioners’ court and county road district highway funds.

Most memorial bills were reported to the full Senate with recommendations that they pass and be printed; several were submitted to the local uncontested calendar. The committee closed public testimony on each item and left some pending matters for final floor scheduling.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Committee on Transportation May 21, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Transportation advanced several measures designating portions of state highways as memorials and voted to report an adopt-a-county-road program to the full Senate; actions were largely uncontested and carried local support letters or resolutions.","taxTitle","Committee on Transportation, Senate, Legislative, Texas","taxId",16854,"location","Texas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6232001,"Committee hears bill to let licensed recyclers buy older untitled vehicles, with safeguards",72,2387000,2459000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3426973-9e9b2e25279b7411ec87d930f624626d&start=2387&end=2459","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3426973-9e9b2e25279b7411ec87d930f624626d/thumbnail_2387000.jpg","/articles/6232001/Texas/Committee-hears-bill-to-let-licensed-recyclers-buy-older-untitled-vehicles-with-safeguards","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6232001-6953fe6b613e0c8501b167a271227382/orig.mp4?Expires=1770766470&Signature=Zrl8-MAD1JmMGTbk0F2wnZV7DeaYJfJCxDiSUThILpEpRYF-iJUEW1gXtGf1iqR5lMTJ7nDwWixq1cu3wdRuhg4CmDiuKuihUe5Sv~vErhGYDSyvdOTWjEMmviKFE5U0dca0CoiDAU-jnoX1q8mYiD03-iYx0A0yZApQQAmiIHQWHMPB1~7LTmOOcNviRmrWH8EcE8tDgOuU9RZBFnXtnBXST-qSkYeSFTpQ13mIo6lkKcCubVPyHXWIJvXjbxXUDq48Tg8Jo405rXITpUw6xrIqyh5r4-sMGeMnp2CvOZON-z2lWZ6EKhnlQl-dJ2~CRGvjf9pTwLKbWaCcgtaa4Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Committee on Transportation heard testimony on House Bill 54 36, which would let licensed automotive recyclers purchase certain non-title vehicles for parts or scrap and impose reporting and notification safeguards.

Senator West, sponsor of the bill, told the committee the measure addresses a market of untitled vehicles that current law allows only unregulated actors to buy. Chad Terramian, legislative director for the Texas Automotive Recyclers Association, said the bill would allow licensed recyclers to purchase vehicles that are at least 13 years old and have not been registered for seven years. Terramian said the bill requires recyclers to report the purchase to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles and the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System and to wait four days before dismantling to allow the department to check for liens or theft records.

Earl Cook of the Texas Independent Auto Dealers Association said the bill added two important safeguards after negotiations with sponsors: the seven-year registration gap and a notice to owners and lienholders that gives them an opportunity to retrieve a vehicle at no charge if an active lien exists.

Committee members asked about the scale of affected vehicles; Terramian estimated that three large salvage facilities dismantle roughly 600 vehicles per week to illustrate scale but said a statewide total was not available in committee. The Texas DMV was present and offered to provide technical input.

No final committee vote was taken; the bill was left pending for further review and possible amendment. Proponents characterized the bill as targeting illegal markets that aren’t captured by existing titling and enforcement, while opponents and committee members sought data on the statewide population of eligible vehicles and on enforcement resources.","Lawmakers discussed a bill to allow licensed automotive recyclers to purchase vehicles that lack titles if the vehicles are at least 13 years old and unregistered for seven years; the proposal includes reporting, lienholder notice and delay-before-dismantle provisions and was left pending.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6232006,"Committee advances bill requiring mailed notice for new commercial bus terminals after dust-up over Houston relocation",317,756000,1073000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3426973-9e9b2e25279b7411ec87d930f624626d&start=756&end=1073","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3426973-9e9b2e25279b7411ec87d930f624626d/thumbnail_756000.jpg","/articles/6232006/Texas/Committee-advances-bill-requiring-mailed-notice-for-new-commercial-bus-terminals-after-dust-up-over-Houston-relocation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6232006-93cfadde00d337cc5d8e3d71d280df4e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770766470&Signature=cBoeUgAOkrhmy5~gIAVZ9Fx6H~QCikDXwiI0DCB9t3yUWhdNU6rT9FvQlKNaS56~5mpOLuNUIPHPGtDmmLOX5elFWwOY6LjQEHkl1wsJ24vUk-aE0nsCdaPfqWA9xO8VpOWByfrTON7VB1jmVOoLRgMYUtZweulRNF6WFwoioA58Bnv-nMhxH4bzThdzbZmTSPPM-wj~r8Umw2Qp-IQqZOeybQHJM23QidFuzFX0MuyznfZQoficUFNmboFze6Jk8iFZdoNpJaxlinjiyOtz9Puss81VbjWprqvUVyaFAUpWlo-pjqt~0JKiKUxm6q2ehXliyLc23h0pOw4Yiro7jA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Committee on Transportation reported House Bill 39 66 to the full Senate after a contested vote, advancing a bill that would require commercial bus operators to mail written notice to residents within 1 mile of a proposed new stop or terminal.

Senator Carol Alvarado, sponsor of the bill, said the measure responds to a December 2023 relocation of a commercial bus terminal into a residential neighborhood in Houston’s East End. She told the committee the terminal was moved “smack in the middle of a neighborhood,” and said residents saw “a sharp rise in crime, including thefts, assaults, and trespassing” after the move. Alvarado said the bill would not block terminals from locating in neighborhoods but would require operators to “send a written notice by mail to residents living within 1 mile of a proposed bus stop.”

Rodney Serber, chief operating officer at Greyhound Lines, testified in opposition and urged the committee to vote the bill down. “At first glance, the bill may seem intended to increase transparency, but in practice, it would create significant unintended consequences,” Serber said. He told senators the mail-notice requirement would force companies to mail thousands of notices in many locations and would impose a 90-day delay on relocations triggered by unforeseen events such as hurricanes, flooding or lease terminations. “That's not just inefficient, it's a barrier to safety and basic mobility in emergencies,” Serber said.

Senators questioned operational specifics, including how many households would receive mailings and whether 90 days is reasonable for forced moves. Serber said operators sometimes must relocate quickly and that a 90-day timeline could be infeasible for short-notice lease terminations.

The committee recorded a roll-call vote on the bill: Nichols — Aye; West — Aye; Bettencourt — Nay; Hagenboo — Nay; Hinojosa — Aye; Johnson — Aye; King — Aye. The motion to report House Bill 39 66 to the Senate passed 5–2 and the bill was advanced to the full Senate. Committee minutes show the bill will appear on the contested local calendar.","Senate panel reported House Bill 39 66 to the full Senate after debate about a Greyhound terminal moved into a residential Houston neighborhood; Greyhound testified in opposition, saying the mail-notice requirement would hinder emergency relocations and operational flexibility.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6232011,"Senate committee weighs tighter controls, fees for overweight corridors near Pharr International Bridge",372,202000,574000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3426973-9e9b2e25279b7411ec87d930f624626d&start=202&end=574","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3426973-9e9b2e25279b7411ec87d930f624626d/thumbnail_202000.jpg","/articles/6232011/Texas/Senate-committee-weighs-tighter-controls-fees-for-overweight-corridors-near-Pharr-International-Bridge","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6232011-c121abba45e808ce87088733c274f153/orig.mp4?Expires=1770766470&Signature=Oj129mmluksV~f~L8~0O1i~EysQ4FnR0J78O7PamBiSn2IiFTwlCLMQVKcOGrCUdFkcrZKgXOoqRm9xE-Tfd-~IPFkyhK7D6mxKBoUJK4OKqu8wbXN9qTiUdfQ3i~rIILrLWu7rxoFhnH4F5yfCq~s~3S7Xu0yoW44rrFrU4yv4PzTszfqJrWBtZJNNPfKXIEkzDgmKUlI1~q2IXsep2Sxn-0wsd44zlc8rjyjfbvfY~MXWTx3lrLzqeoDgzJeIkx3YAABA4sgwwfGDHRViMm~~d6YHVrT4WH4kMn2Xmf92ddHxKlK6-Dhp~E7NZ1see2U5MIn-J-KTAdtPpkjT5vg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Committee on Transportation on Thursday considered two related bills that would change how oversized and overweight vehicle permits are authorized and paid for around the Pharr International Bridge and other Hidalgo County corridors.

Senator José Hinojosa, the bill sponsor, told the committee, “Oversized and overweight freight traffic plays a key role in cross border trade in Hidalgo County.” He said the measure would add West Daffin Road and State Highway 365 to the list of roads eligible for special permits and would correct the name of State Highway 365 to the 365 Tollway.

The committee substitute presented during the hearing removed language that would have allowed a small city to issue overweight permits on designated roads, barred the Hidalgo County Regional Mobility Authority from issuing permits for vehicles transporting hazardous materials in cargo tanks regulated at the federal level, and allowed the RMA to raise the maximum per-trip permit fee from $200 to $250 effective Sept. 1, 2025. The substitute also requires the RMA to cover all costs to construct and maintain West Daffin Road and any other off-system roads it designates after Sept. 1, 2025, using permit fees collected by the RMA, and it requires the RMA to return to the Legislature for future corridor designations. Finally, the substitute makes passage contingent on the passage of Senate Bill 2949, related to fuel-depot roads.

Luis Bassan, director of the Pharr International Bridge, told the committee the bridge is a major trade corridor: “The bridge is currently operating at maximum capacity at 6,000 commercial trucks moving northbound and southbound every single day,” and the planned expansion would increase commercial crossings by over 40 percent. Bassan said TxDOT recognized a previous drafting error in an August 2024 minute order and that the bills would put that administrative action into statute.

Committee members asked for details about hazardous-material restrictions, the reason for legislative approval of corridor designations, and how the changes interact with federal limits on interstate highways. Senator Hinojosa said the substitute was intended to unify oversight, address confusion caused by multiple names for the same road segment, and preserve safety and oversight for corridors carrying hazardous cargos.

No final vote was taken on either bill; both were left pending in committee. Public testimony was heard and closed before the committee paused consideration pending the related Senate bill.

The bills would alter permit authority, adjust fees, and require locally controlled funding of connector construction and maintenance for certain off-system roads. Committee records show the proposals remain contingent on broader border-transportation legislation.","The Senate Transportation Committee considered bills to clarify overweight-corridor authorizations, restrict hazardous-material permits, raise permit fees and require RMAs to shoulder construction and maintenance costs for new connector roads serving the Pharr International Bridge; measures were left pending pending related legislation.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee advances multiple local memorial highway designations and an adopt-a-county-road proposal

Committee hears bill to let licensed recyclers buy older untitled vehicles, with safeguards

Committee advances bill requiring mailed notice for new commercial bus terminals after dust-up over Houston relocation

Senate committee weighs tighter controls, fees for overweight corridors near Pharr International Bridge