A bill that could shift how toll road dollars are spent in Harris County—and send a chunk of that money to the City of Houston—is now in the hands of the Texas House.
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Senate Bill 2722, filed by Sen. Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston), passed the Texas Senate with a 21-8 vote and is stirring the pot over how Harris County spends its excess toll revenue.
“Since 2019, toll revenues in Harris County have been distributed based on political formulas rather than actual road needs,” said Senator Bettencourt. “If drivers are paying tolls, then drivers should see those funds reinvested into roads they actually use to help pay down the debt, prioritize county-owned roads, and split 70/30 with the City of Houston to cover expenses.”
The proposal would limit where those funds can go, making sure more money stays tied to transportation needs—and for the first time, would carve out a guaranteed portion for Houston’s emergency services.
“This is a good government, taxpayer-first reform,” Bettencourt said. “It keeps the focus on transportation and safety, not political slush funds. The days of diverting toll money for pet projects are numbered, we’re taking politics out of the equation and putting safety, roads, and accountability to toll revenue first.” Senator Paul Bettencourt concluded.
More toll money for roads
The bill says 70% of extra toll money must go toward fixing and maintaining county roads. It blocks spending toll funds on hike and bike trails unless required by law. The money will be split up by precincts based on past funding, how many roads they have, and the condition of those roads.
Houston gets cut for emergency services
The other 30% would go to cities like Houston. Up to $80 million over five years could help cover police and fire response on toll roads. Houston handled over 6,500 emergency calls on tollways between 2022 and 2024.
Counties face penalties for misuse
The bill includes audits and penalties. If a county misuses toll funds, it could be fined the full amount—and even more if it happens again. Repeat offenders would also lose the ability to raise certain taxes.
What’s next
Now that the bill has passed the Senate, it heads to the House for consideration. If approved, it could bring major changes to how Harris County toll money is spent—and how much the City of Houston receives.