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By James Bickerton
News Reporter
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A Republican lawmaker has introduced a bill in the Texas Legislature that would ban public money from being spent on altering state roadways in order to facilitate high-speed rail construction.
The legislation, titled House Bill 1402, was introduced on November 19 and is due to appear before the House Subcommittee on Transportation Funding on March 31.
Newsweek contacted state Representative Cody Harris for comment via online inquiry form on Monday.
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Why It Matters
There are preliminary plans to build two new high-speed rail lines in Texas, one linking Dallas to Houston and the other Dallas with Fort Worth.
Harris' bill would make it more difficult by blocking public money from being spent on associated state road reorganization and by preventing the Legislature from appropriating money to pay for any high-speed rail line operated by a private company.
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What To Know
Harris' bill aims to prevent Texas public money from being spent either on road changes related to any high-speed rail lines, or on the lines themselves if operated privately.
It states: "The legislature may not appropriate money to pay for a cost of planning, facility construction or maintenance, or security for, promotion of, or operation of, high-speed rail operated by a private entity.
"This state, a state agency, or a political subdivision of this state may not use public money to pay for the alteration of a roadway related to the construction of a high-speed rail project operated by a public or private entity."
If passed into law, the legislation would go into effect on September 1.
The bill is being opposed by Texas Rail Advocates, a non-profit group that campaigns on behalf of the rail industry in the Lone Star State.
"This bill would prohibit the use of public funds for planning, facility construction or maintenance, security, promotion or operation of a high-speed rail operated by a private entity," the group said. "It also prohibits using public funds for alteration of a roadway related to high-speed rail construction.
"The state would be barred from accepting public money [theoretically even federal rail funds] for a high-speed rail project operated by a public or private entity."
However, Texas Rail Advocates has welcomed a rival joint resolution introduced in the House by state Representative John Bucy III, a Democrat, that proposes permitting the use of state highway funding to support other transit projects. The resolution is also due to be discussed by the House Subcommittee on Transportation on Monday.
What People Are Saying
Texas Republican state Representative Cody Harris told KXAN: "HB 1402 would stop the use of your hard-earned tax dollars from being spent to alter roadways for this unwelcome project.
"We're one step closer to defending private property rights and protecting Texas taxpayers from this transportation debacle through HB 1402."
Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn told Newsweek in 2024: "We certainly need more transportation infrastructure in Texas. We're a big, growing state, and while the Texas Department of Transportation has done a lot in trying to build enough roads and highways to keep up, I think invariably things like high-speed rail come into play."
What Happens Next
While Republicans control both chambers of the Texas Legislature, the party is divided on the utility of proposed high-speed rail projects, meaning Democrats and some GOP lawmakers could oppose the bill.
Republican Senator Ted Cruz told Newsweek in 2024 that high-speed lines in Texas "would create jobs and support the economy" adding: "If the project is completed, I'm sure a great many Texans would use it and appreciate an easy and fast way to travel between Houston and Dallas."
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