SB1364

The repealed section generally barred a state agency from purchasing or leasing a vehicle designed or used primarily to transport people, including a station wagon, if its wheelbase exceeded 113 inches or it exceeded 160 SAE net horsepower. Wheelbase is the distance between the front and rear axles. Vehicles to be converted to the listed alternative fuels or electricity, including plug-in hybrids, had higher limits of 116 inches or 280 SAE net horsepower. The act removes the section containing both the standard limits and that conversion exception. Repealed section 2158.003; Final law.

The old limits already excluded vehicles primarily for criminal law enforcement, buses, motorcycles, pickups, vans, trucks, three-wheel vehicles, tractors and ambulances. It would be misleading to say this bill newly frees all of those categories from the limits. The act does not direct agencies to buy larger or more powerful cars, replace existing fleets, or spend a specified amount. Repealed section 2158.003; Final law.

The same two-section repeal and September 1 effective date appear in all five substantive versions. The official index lists no amendments; there is no separate adopted or rejected floor amendment to summarize. Introduced; Senate committee; Senate-passed; House committee; Final law; Version index; Amendment index.

Compare the published text versions in the official text index. A change is not attributed to a specific amendment here without a verified record.

State agencies gain more choice among vehicles previously excluded solely by these size or power limits. Vendors may be able to offer additional models for those purchases, but the law guarantees neither sales nor lower costs. This is a state-fleet procurement change, not a relaxation of ordinary Texans’ vehicle-operation rules. Final law; Repealed section 2158.003.

The March 17 fiscal note anticipates no significant state fiscal impact and assumes any savings would be insignificant. It anticipates no local-government fiscal impact and provides no dollar savings estimate. The act makes no appropriation. Fiscal note; Final law.