Relating to the selection, prioritization, construction, and funding of transportation projects.
SB 35 is a transportation infrastructure bill that changes how the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) identifies, prioritizes, and advances projects. It requires TxDOT’s 10-year unified transportation program to not only list planned projects and target funding levels, but also to identify and prioritize projects needed to maintain or improve state infrastructure. The bill also expands legislative notice requirements so that lawmakers representing a county are notified when a major road project in that county is selected for funding or is nearing completion.
The bill goes further than process changes by directing TxDOT to plan, review, design, and construct a specific list of road, bridge, interchange, and corridor projects in multiple counties, including projects in San Antonio, Cameron County, Dallas County, Denton County, Harris County, Frio/Maverick/Zavala Counties, Martin County, Midland County, and Williamson County. It also requires TxDOT to ensure that certain routes between Eagle Pass and Laredo, including Farm-to-Market Roads 1021 and 1472, are sufficiently maintained. The act takes effect September 1, 2025.
SB 35 would amend the Transportation Code to alter TxDOT’s planning and notification duties and to mandate action on a set of named transportation projects. It affects Section 201.609 by requiring notice to legislators about funding selections and project completion, and Section 201.991 by adding a prioritization standard focused on maintaining and improving infrastructure. In practical terms, the bill would direct state transportation resources toward specified highways, roads, bridges, interchanges, and corridor improvements, while also shaping how projects are documented in the state’s long-range transportation program.
The available voting history suggests the bill had strong support in the Senate, passing key procedural and final stages 27-4. No committee transcript is available, but the narrow number of dissenting votes indicates broad agreement on the need for transportation investment, combined with some opposition or reservations. The bill’s advancement to the House calendar suggests it remained active and viable after Senate passage.
The main points of contention likely center on the bill’s highly specific project mandates and the degree to which the Legislature should direct TxDOT’s project selection and construction priorities. Critics may object to earmarking or legislatively prescribing individual projects, which can limit agency flexibility and raise concerns about fairness across regions. Supporters, by contrast, appear to favor targeted infrastructure improvements, enhanced legislative notice, and a clearer prioritization framework for maintaining and expanding the state highway system.