Texas lawmakers hope an additional $200 million will decrease dreaded wait times at driver's license

Texas lawmakers hope an additional $200 million will decrease dreaded wait times at driver's license centers

by Arya Sundaram, Texas Tribune


State lawmakers are poised to spend more than $200 million to decrease Texans' wait times for driver's licenses. The lion’s share of the money, $141.5 million, will be used to hire another 762 employees for the program. Legislators also plan to give raises to current driver’s license specialists and open new driver’s license offices in Angleton, outside of Houston, and Denton, north of Dallas and Fort Worth.

The legislature’s reforms come after spikes in wait times at driver’s license offices last summer. Near Dallas, some people waited up to eight hours, with part of their time spent in 100-degree Texas heat. Election anxieties have upped the ante for lawmakers, who say many voters consider this issue their most pressing concern.

“If someone had the resources and ran against you on this issue?” said Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston. “You would get yourself in political liability over this issue alone.”

A committee comprised of lawmakers from the House and Senate approved the plan, which was released Saturday as part of the state's proposed two-year budget. Both the House and Senate have to sign off on the budget before the legislative session ends Monday.

Read more: https://www.texastribune.org/2019/05/26/texas-drivers-license-centers-long-wait-times-get-200-million-fix/