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AN ACT
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relating to the operation of golf carts in certain areas. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 551.403, Transportation Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 551.403. OPERATION AUTHORIZED IN CERTAIN AREAS. (a) An |
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operator may operate a golf cart: |
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(1) in a master planned community: |
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(A) that is a residential subdivision as defined |
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by Section 209.002(9), Property Code, or has in place a uniform set |
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of restrictive covenants; and |
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(B) for which a county or municipality has |
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approved one or more plats [a plat]; |
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(2) on a public or private beach that is open to |
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vehicular traffic; or |
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(3) on a highway for which the posted speed limit is |
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not more than 35 miles per hour, if the golf cart is operated: |
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(A) during the daytime; and |
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(B) not more than five [two] miles from the |
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location where the golf cart is usually parked and for |
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transportation to or from a golf course. |
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(b) Notwithstanding Section 551.402(b), a person may |
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operate a golf cart in a master planned community described by |
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Subsection (a) without a golf cart license plate on a highway for |
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which the posted speed limit is not more than 35 miles per hour, |
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including through an intersection of a highway for which the posted |
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speed limit is more than 35 miles per hour. |
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SECTION 2. Section 551.4031, Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 551.4031. PROHIBITION OF OPERATION ON HIGHWAY BY |
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MUNICIPALITY, COUNTY, OR DEPARTMENT. (a) A county or municipality |
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may prohibit the operation of a golf cart on a highway under Section |
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551.403 [551.404] if the governing body of the county or |
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municipality determines that the prohibition is necessary in the |
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interest of safety. |
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(b) The Texas Department of Transportation may prohibit the |
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operation of a golf cart on a highway under Section 551.403 |
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[551.404] if the department determines that the prohibition is |
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necessary in the interest of safety. |
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SECTION 3. Section 551.404(c), Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(c) Subsection (b) applies only to a county that: |
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(1) borders or contains a portion of the Red River; or |
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(2) [borders or contains a portion of the Guadalupe |
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River and contains a part of a barrier island that] borders the Gulf |
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of Mexico and has a population of less than 500,000[; or |
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[(3) is adjacent to a county described by Subdivision |
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(2) and: |
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[(A) has a population of less than 37,000; and |
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[(B) contains a part of a barrier island or |
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peninsula that borders the Gulf of Mexico]. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 1281 was passed by the House on April |
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27, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 144, Nays 0, 1 present, not |
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voting; that the House refused to concur in Senate amendments to |
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H.B. No. 1281 on May 27, 2021, and requested the appointment of a |
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conference committee to consider the differences between the two |
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houses; and that the House adopted the conference committee report |
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on H.B. No. 1281 on May 30, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 143, |
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Nays 0, 2 present, not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 1281 was passed by the Senate, with |
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amendments, on May 22, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays |
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1; at the request of the House, the Senate appointed a conference |
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committee to consider the differences between the two houses; and |
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that the Senate adopted the conference committee report on H.B. No. |
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1281 on May 29, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: __________________ |
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Date |
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__________________ |
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Governor |