Yep, it's dead.

A Dallas Morning News blog reported today that Rep. Vicki Truitt, author of the House version of Sen. Carona's bill to give local entities power to call elections to raise motor fuels taxes and certain fees, declared the Local Option Transportation Plan dead in the TxDOT Sunset Bill Conference Committee.

Is the Local Options Transportation Plan dead in the TxDOT Sunset Bill?

That's what Rep. Gary Elkins and Sen. Dan Patrick have said on Twitter, a social networking site.

In a statement issued Saturday morning about progress in the HB 300 (TxDOT Sunset Bill) conference committee, Sen. John Carona (R-Dallas) claimed there are 77 House members ready to vote "yay" on a sunset bill that includes his Local Option Transportation Plan.

But LSR wonders why, if a majority of votes are already there, is Carona calling for more?

The chairman of the House Transportation Committee said Friday night that he's supicious of a petition being circulated by HillCo Partners, a lobbying firm.

The petition, according to Rep. Joe Pickett (D-El Paso), asked members whether they would support the Local Option Transportation Plan. Pickett said the petition is presented in an open folder for the members to sign, and it's unlikely that a copy is available for that reason.

Neatly printed signs reading "Don't kill Texas businesses with traffic congestion" and "Support Local Control" met with hand-drawn signs reading "Texas Not Taxes" and "No Diversions!" at a press conference and rally at the South Steps of the Texas Capitol Friday afternoon.

Legislators in favor of the Local Option Transportation Plan -- an effort to give local entities the power to raise the motor fuels tax and assorted fees via an election -- joined with representatives from major Texas cities for a press conference hosted by supporters, flanked by protestors.

The House and Senate named its conferees to the TxDOT Sunset Bill (HB 300) conference committee to hammer out differences between the versions of the bill over the weekend.

An amendment to the Senate version of the TxDOT Sunset bill to ban red light cameras passed by one vote ...

... and was then reconsidered and withdrew.

It appears aspects of the Local Options Transportation Bill (SB 855) has been woven into the TxDOT Sunset Bill (HB 300/SB 1019), according to a copy of a committee substitute amendment obtained by LSR.

The Texas Senate Tuesday passed on final reading HB 3097, which would set up a Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) carved out of certain TxDOT responsibilities.

HB 3097 would transfer all duties related to the vehicle titles and registration, Motor Vehicle Division, the Motor Carrier Division, and the Automobile Burglary and Theft Prevention Authority from TxDOT to the new DMV. It did not include vehicle inspection or drivers licenses responsibilities, which were expected to be taken from the Department of Public Safety in its Sunset bill. The bill calls for a Sunset review date of 2015.

Though there are many major and minor differences between the Senate version of the TxDOT Sunset Bill (HB 300) and the much-amended House version, here are a few of the bigger points, courtesy of LSR.