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HB 1402

Relating to a prohibition on the use of public money to pay for the alteration of a roadway related to high-speed rail construction.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Cody Harris and 3 co-sponsors

Texas bill prohibits state funding for roadway changes required by high-speed rail construction, potentially shifting adaptation costs to rail operators or federal sources.

Left pending in subcommittee
#citygovernment--roads(i0066) #countygovernment--roads(i0099) #highways(i0390) #stateagencies #boards&commissions(i0749) #transportation--railroads(i0821)
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Bill Summary · HB 1402

Legislative bill overview

HB 1402 prohibits Texas from using public funds to pay for roadway alterations necessitated by high-speed rail construction. The bill would restrict state spending on infrastructure modifications that a private or federally-funded rail project requires, potentially shifting these costs to the rail operator or federal government.

Why is this important

High-speed rail projects typically require significant modifications to existing roadways—grade separations, realignments, closures—that impose substantial public costs. This bill addresses whether Texas taxpayers should bear these infrastructure adaptation costs or whether the rail project itself should fund necessary roadway changes, affecting both state budgets and the feasibility of future rail development.

Potential points of contention

  • Project feasibility and cost-shifting: Prohibiting public funding for roadway modifications could make high-speed rail projects economically unviable, potentially blocking development that private operators or federal grants alone cannot fully finance
  • Local community impacts: Roadway alterations often benefit local areas by improving traffic flow and safety; restricting public funds could leave communities with substandard infrastructure modifications during construction
  • Federal funding complications: If federal high-speed rail grants exist, this bill may create conflicts between federal requirements for public infrastructure coordination and Texas's restriction on state spending

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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