By: Raney, Kacal, Canales H.B. No. 1698       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to an optional county fee on vehicle registration in   certain counties to be used for transportation projects.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 502.402, Transportation Code, is amended   by amending Subsections (a), (b), (b-1), and (e) and adding   Subsection (e-1) to read as follows:          (a)  This section applies only to:                (1)  a county that:                      (A)  borders the United Mexican States; and                      (B)  has a population of more than 250,000; [and]                (2)  a county that has a population of more than 1.5   million that is coterminous with a regional mobility authority;                (3)  a county other than a county described by   Subdivision (1) or (2) that is part of a regional mobility   authority; and                (4)  a county:                      (A)  that has a population of more than 320,000;                      (B)  that does not border the United Mexican   States; and                      (C)  in which a port authority is authorized to   issue permits for oversize or overweight vehicles under Chapter   623.          (b)  The commissioners court of a county by order may impose   an additional fee for a vehicle registered in the county. Except as   provided by Subsection (b-1), the fee may not exceed $10. In a   county described by Subsection (a)(3), the fee must be approved by a   majority of the qualified voters of the county voting on the issue   at a referendum election, which the commissioners court may order   and hold for that purpose.          (b-1)  The commissioners court of a county described by   Subsection (a) [with a population of less than 700,000] may   increase the additional fee to an amount that does not exceed $20 if   approved by a majority of the qualified voters of the county voting   on the issue at a referendum election, which the commissioners   court may order and hold for that purpose.          (e)  The additional fee shall be collected for a vehicle when   other fees imposed under this chapter are collected. Except as   otherwise provided by Subsection (e-1), the [The] fee revenue   collected shall be:                (1)  sent to a regional mobility authority located in   the county to fund long-term transportation projects in the county   that are consistent with the purposes specified by Section 7-a,   Article VIII, Texas Constitution; or                (2)  if there is no regional mobility authority located   in the county, used by the county only to fund long-term   transportation projects in the county that are consistent with the   purposes specified by Section 7-a, Article VIII, Texas   Constitution.          (e-1)  If a county described by Subsection (a)(1), other than   a county in which a vehicle is required to pass an emissions   inspection, has been authorized to increase the amount of the fee   under Subsection (b-1), 50 percent of the additional revenue   collected as authorized by that subsection shall be sent to the   county treasurer of the county to be credited to the county road and   bridge fund.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives   a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as   provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this   Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this   Act takes effect September 1, 2021.