Off-Road Bill History

The sketchy details...

March 25, 2003

House Committee on State Cultural and Recreation Resources meets.

March 18, 2003

House Committee on State Cultural and Recreation Resources holds a public hearing and hears testimony. Left pending in committee. Another hearing is expected.

Senate Natural Resources Committee holds a public hearing and hears testimony. Voted out of committee with amendments to the floor. Read more...

February 17, 2003

Fiscal analysis reports no fiscal implications on the state for enactment of this legislation. Read the offical report (opens new window).

February 3, 2003

Senator Madla added as co-author to SB 155. Representative Jones added as co-author to HB 305.

January 30, 2003

Senate Bill 155 read for the first time. Referred to the Natural Resources Committee.

January 14, 2003

Senator Wentworth added as co-author.

January 6, 2003

House Bill 305 read for the first time. Referred to Committee on State Cultural and Recreational Resources.

December 19, 2002

House Bill 305 Filed. Senate Bill 155 Filed.

Susan Combs, Agricultural Commissioner, holds a press conference supporting this legislation.

November 2002

Task force and public testimony before the waterways subcommittee.

2002

Task force is convened by the Waterways Subcommittee of the Natural Resources Committee.

Members:

• John Gosdin, Austin, Lower Colorado River Authority
• Trey Powers, Austin, Department of Agriculture
• John Robinson, Austin, landowner on el Llano
• Michael Van Winkle, Kerrville, canoer
• Jim Davenport, Austin, Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission
• Ingrid Hollinger, Katy, Texas 4 X 4 Cyber Club
• Reagan Houston IV, San Antonio, The Ansley Group, Director, Hondo National Bank
• Leo Perron, Jr., San Antonio, commercial realtor, Perron and Company, Past President of the San Antonio Board of Realtors Commercial and Investment Division
• Janice Treviño, Fresno
• Jeannie Dullnig, San Antonio, Stewards of the Nueces, Texas Parks
  & Wildlife River Advisory Board member
• Dianne Wassenich, San Marcos River Foundation
• Con Mims, Uvalde, Nueces River Authority Director
• Bubba Hickman, Camp Wood, Texas Watercraft Association
• Rey De Leon, Uvalde
• Joe F. Alejandro, Uvalde
• Carol Smith, Mico
• Bill West, Austin, Guadalupe Blanco River Authority Director
• Tom Tagliabue, Austin, Texas General Land Office
• Jesse Moreno, Uvalde, Precinct 4 Commissioner
• Alan Bloxom, III, Uvalde, Camp Wood, attorney, Oil and Gas operator
• Kevin Anderson, Austin, Texas Riparian Association
• Shawn Pagan, The Woodlands, Texas Motorized Trails Association
• Rick Jones, Uvalde, Texas 4X 4.com
• Stephen Salmon, San Angelo,Riverside Landowners Association
• Happy Rogers, San Antonio, Texas Parks and Wildlife Private Lands Committee
• Larry McKinney, Senior Director for Aquatic Resources, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
• Robert Sweeney, attorney, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
• Rick Taylor, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
• Gary Garrett, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
• Bill Harvey, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
• Melissa Parker, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
• Bob Spain, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

1990's - 2001

Off-road vehicular usage of Texas rivers grows from a sporadic incidental event to an regular event every weekend and many weekdays. This includes rallys with large numbers of vehicles drastically affecting river banks, vegetation, dumping oil, radiator fluids, etc. into the river.