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House approves bill letting colleges enforce parking rules for visitors, rejects several amendments
Summary
The House passed HB39 to let higher-education institutions enforce parking and traffic rules against visitors and pursue judicial enforcement; members debated pink-sheet amendments requiring campuses to meet local parking standards, but the bill passed 49–20 after amendment activity.
Representative Tyler described House Bill 39 as a measure to allow institutions of higher education to enforce parking and traffic regulations for all campus visitors (not just faculty, staff, and students) and to use judicial remedies when necessary. He told members that many campuses already meet or exceed state Division of Facilities standards and that the bill addresses enforcement gaps when visitors are not subject to existing enforcement authority.
Representative Hickman proposed a pink-sheet amendment requiring campuses to meet parking requirements in the local community (for example, specified parking ratios for employees and students). Proponents of the amendment argued it would protect local residents and visitors from excessive campus parking impacts; opponents warned the amendment could create an unfunded mandate for landlocked campuses and run counter to air-quality goals that encourage reduced parking and decreased traffic.
Members discussed DFCM (Division of Facilities, Construction and Management) standards, campus land constraints, and the unintended consequences of mandating additional parking. A substitute motion and several pink-sheet amendments were considered; some amendments failed in recorded votes while others were withdrawn. After debate, the House voted to pass HB39; the Clerk reported 49 yes votes and 20 no votes, and the bill will be forwarded to the Senate.
