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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to public involvement procedures for the statewide |
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transportation improvement program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter J, Chapter 201, Transportation Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 201.8115 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 201.8115. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT PROCEDURES FOR STATEWIDE |
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TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. (a) During the development of |
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the statewide transportation improvement program, the department |
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shall hold a quarterly public meeting in each department district |
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regarding the adoption of the proposed program. |
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(b) The department shall: |
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(1) publish notice of each meeting under Subsection |
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(a) in the Texas Register not later than the 15th day before the |
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date of the meeting; |
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(2) accept verbal public comments and questions during |
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each meeting held under Subsection (a); |
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(3) prepare a written debriefing assessment of: |
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(A) each meeting held under Subsection (a) that |
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summarizes the highlights or major accomplishments from the |
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meeting; and |
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(B) public verbal comments and questions |
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received under Subdivision (2) that summarizes the comments and |
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questions received and key points or issues raised in the comments; |
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(4) make the debriefing assessments required under |
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Subdivision (3) available to the public on the department's |
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Internet website or through e-mail distribution; |
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(5) develop a response mechanism that informs |
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stakeholders of ideas received from the public during the meeting |
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held under Subsection (a) or though verbal comments received under |
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Subdivision (2) that the department is incorporating into the |
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program and clearly communicates why alternate decisions are |
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required for ideas that the department does not incorporate into |
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the program; |
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(6) demonstrate explicit consideration and response |
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to public input during the development of the statewide |
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transportation improvement program; and |
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(7) inform the public of how the statewide |
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transportation improvement program interacts with local |
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transportation improvement planning, the timeline for that |
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planning, and how to obtain more information on that process. |
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(c) Before the department may consider project designs for |
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any transportation project included in the statewide |
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transportation improvement program, the department must hold a |
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meeting under Subsection (a) to discuss the project. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |