Legislative Affairs
Both the Texas Legislature and the United States Congress address many important transportation issues that affect the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Transportation and air quality in the North Central Texas region are impacted by legislative decisions at the State and federal levels.
NCTCOG staff regularly update policy and technical committee members, transportation partners and others interested in monitoring legislative initiatives related to the Regional Transportation Council (RTC) legislative priorities.
In order to understand current legislative initiatives, the RTC directed the development of a Transportation Funding 101 primer so legislators and the general public can better understand funding sources for transportation as well as trends that impact the amount of funding available. A shortfall of funding has been identified and the primer also addresses potential solutions to increase funding options.
Legislative Update
March 7, 2025
FROM WASHINGTON, D.C.
House Aviation Hearing
On March 4, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation met to discuss challenges in air traffic control infrastructure and staffing. Many of the subcommittee’s questions addressed inefficiencies within the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in recruiting and retaining highly qualified air traffic controllers. A witness from the agency overseeing U.S. air traffic controllers assured lawmakers that the rigorous training process ensures America has the best air traffic control professionals in the world and should not face funding cuts or efficiency-driven directives.
Funding and modernization were also central topics, with members questioning the FAA’s difficulties in long-term planning and effective project delivery. Witnesses unanimously advocated for improved funding mechanisms, increased oversight of procurement practices, and the modernization of the FAA’s outdated technology.
House Energy and Commerce on Broadband
On March 5, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology met to discuss broadband programs established under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The hearing focused on the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, with members subjecting it to rigorous questioning. The majority criticized the program for being slow, costly, and burdened with excessive red tape, while the minority emphasized the progress made in advancing states through the 14-step process toward statewide connectivity. Both sides acknowledged the program’s permitting challenges and bureaucratic inefficiencies. However, they could not reach a consensus on whether to completely overhaul and rebuild the program from scratch or to refine and build upon its existing progress.
FROM AUSTIN
The House Transportation Committee held its first meeting of the legislative session on March 6 at 8 am. The Committee heard invited testimony from the Texas Department of Transportation and the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. TxDMV received a lot of questions on the metal license plates law, which will go into effect on July 1, 2025. The Department reassured members that they have developed a new distribution process, contracted with logistic vendors for all dealers in the state, and developed an inventory management system.
The Senate Transportation Committee will hold its first meeting of the session next Wednesday and will consider legislation including SB 1555, which would create a grant program to fund railroad grade separation projects. Additional information can be found below under Upcoming Committee Hearings.
MONITORED BILLS LIST
If you need information on the bills being tracked, please contact Jackie Nolasco at jnolasco@nctcog.org.
HIGHLIGHTED BILLS
Air Quality
SB 1799 Middleton – Relating to revision or elimination of the motor vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance program. Would review the current motor vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance program, revise the State Implementation Plan to only include a minimum program, and submit for EPA approval.
High-Speed Rail
HB 1769 Cook – Relating to the use of state money for high-speed rail operated by a private entity and to the construction of certain high-speed rail. Would mandate TxDOT to partner with a private entity for the construction and operation of high-speed rail connecting Houston to Austin, using state funds, and defines high-speed rail as intercity passenger service expected to reach speeds of at least 110 miles per hour.
Safety
SB 1770 Cook – Relating to the accommodation of pedestrians, bicyclists, persons with disabilities, children, senior citizens, users of public transportation, movers of commercial goods, and motorists on streets and highways. Would mandate TxDOT and local authorities to implement a "complete streets" policy that ensures the safety, accessibility, and mobility of all users—pedestrians, bicyclists, public transportation users, commercial movers, and motorists—are considered in all transportation projects.
Revenue
HJR 164 Lowe – Proposing a constitutional amendment prohibiting the imposition of a vehicle mileage tax or fee. Would propose a constitutional amendment to prohibit the Texas legislature from imposing a tax or fee on individuals based on the number of miles they travel in a motor vehicle within the state.
TxDOT
SB 35/SB 1655 Nichols – Relating to design build contracts. Would reduce the number of design-build projects the Texas Department of Transportation could perform in a biennium from six to two.
HB 3849 Canales – Relating to the program categories in the Unified Transportation Program. Would create a category for projects related to improving border security and establishing international trade corridors.
RECENT HEARINGS
US HOUSE
- On March 4, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation met to discuss the air traffic controller shortage and safety concerns facing the flying public.
- On March 5, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communication and Technology met to discuss the progress of nationwide broadband connectivity under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
TEXAS HOUSE
- On March 6, the House Transportation Committee met for an organizational hearing and heard testimony from TxDOT and TxDMV. The summary is discussed above.
UPCOMING COMMITTEE HEARINGS
TEXAS SENATE
- The Senate Transportation Committee will meet on Wednesday, March 12, at 8am. The Committee will meet to consider and adopt the Committee Rules, and conduct any other organizational business deemed necessary by the Chair, and consider the following bills of interest:
- SB 35 Relating to design build contracts
- SB 305 Relating to the criminal offense of passing certain vehicles on a highway
- SB 1555 Relating to a grant program to fund certain railroad grade separation projects
- The Senate Natural Resources Committee will meet on Wednesday, March 12, at 9am. The Committee will meet to consider the following bills of interest:
- SB 763 Relating to the renewal and review of standard permits for certain concrete plants
TEXAS HOUSE
- The House Transportation Funding Subcommittee will meet on Monday, March 10, and 10am. The Committee will meet for an organizational hearing for invited testimony only, including TxDOT, the Harris County Toll Road Authority, and the Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority.
Texas Legislature - 89th Session January 14, 2025 - June 2, 2025
- Regional Transportation Council Legislative Program for the 89th Texas Legislature 
Texas Legislature - 88th Session January 10, 2023 - May 29, 2023
- Regional Transportation Council Legislative Program for the 88th Texas Legislature
- 88th Texas Legislature Summary of Bills (2023)
Other Resources
- Texas House of Representatives
Congressional Updates important to our region
In 2005 Congress passed the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) . This legislation guided surface transportation policy and funding through 2009. Nine short-term extensions passed since SAFETEA-LU expired in 2009. The final short-term extension of SAFETEA-LU extended surface transportation authorization through June 30, 2012.
On July 6, 2012, President Obama signed into law a two-year $105 billion surface transportation authorization, titled Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21). MAP-21 reauthorized the federal-aid highway, highway safety and transit programs that were last authorized by SAFETEA-LU. New programs and funding levels began on October 1, 2012, and continued through September 30, 2014. The final short-term extension of MAP-21 expired on December 4, 2015.
On December 4, 2015, President Obama signed the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act into law, which authorizes Federal highway, transit, safety and rail programs for five years at $305 billion. The FAST Act is effective October 1, 2015 through September 30, 2020.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), signed into law by President Biden on November 15, 2021, is a five-year bill that authorizes $567.5 billion for surface transportation, including roads and bridges, and an additional $550 billion for water, broadband, cybersecurity, and energy infrastructure. With a total funding amount of $1.2 trillion, the act aims to modernize infrastructure across the nation and is set to expire on September 30, 2026.
2019 RTC Principles for Federal Surface Transportation Authorization