Texas Senate Passes First Bill of Session, Road Funding Plan

AUSTIN (AP/STAFF) — The Texas Senate has approved the first bill of the 2015 legislative session, passing a plan to funnel billions of dollars generated by vehicle sales taxes to building and maintaining traffic-clogged roads. Wednesday’s vote sends a proposed constitutional amendment by Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Robert Nichols of Jacksonville, to the House. Lawmakers are constitutionally barred from passing bills during the first two months of a session that began January 13. But Governor Greg Abbott fast-tracked bills on transportation infrastructure by making the issue one of his “emergency items.” Taxes collected on vehicle sales currently flow into the state budget’s general revenue. The Nichols plan would divert tax collections over $2.5 billion and up to $5 billion annually for road infrastructure beginning in 2018. Revenue over $5 billion goes back to general revenue.