Governor Abbott Vetoes HB 1764 (85R)
Pursuant to Article IV, Section 14, of the Texas Constitution, I, Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas, do hereby disapprove of and veto House Bill No. 1764 as passed by the Eighty-Fifth Texas Legislature, Regular Session, because of the following objections:
House Bill 1764 would have reduced budget transparency and competitive bidding requirements for local transportation authorities such as Austin’s Capital Metro. The bill would have raised from $50,000 to $150,000 the value of a contract that Capital Metro could award without competitive bidding. It would also have expanded Capital Metro’s ability to go into debt.
The legislative bill analysis for House Bill 1764 indicates that the bill was envisioned because “Capital Metro discovered that several sections of Chapter 451 [of the Transportation Code] are out of date with its current operations.” If Capital Metro’s way of doing business violates the Transportation Code, the answer is not House Bill 1764. The answer is for Capital Metro to follow the law.
Since the Eighty-Fifth Texas Legislature, Regular Session, by its adjournment has prevented the return of this bill, I am filing these objections in the office of the Secretary of State and giving notice thereof by this public proclamation according to the aforementioned constitutional provision.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have signed my name officially and caused the Seal of the State to be affixed hereto at Austin, this 15th day of June, 2017.
GREG ABBOTT
Governor