AUSTIN, Texas—By a 29-1 vote, the Texas Senate passed SB 459, a bill that sets strict guidelines for the sale, handling and transport of used tires within the state.
The bill was approved April 15 after being passed unanimously April 3 by the Texas Senate Transportation Committee.
SB 459 forbids the sale of any used tire that is visibly damaged, has an improper repair, has a tread depth of less than 1/16 inch, has no clear Department of Transportation identification number, or is subject to a safety recall.
It also sets strict regulations for used and scrap tire transporters, including a requirement that registered haulers file a bond of at least $100,000 with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
The Rubber Manufacturers Association and Liberty Tire Recycling support SB 459 as common-sense legislation to protect both consumer safety and the environment. However, the Texas Tire Dealers Association and the Texas Automotive Recyclers Association say the bill is both unnecessary and prohibitively expensive for its members.
Meanwhile, a hearing is scheduled today in the Texas House Regulatory Affairs Committee for HB 3783, a companion bill to SB 459.