Enrolled Bill Summary

Senate Bill 656 amends the Local Government Code to allow a municipality to require the removal of an on-premise sign or sign structure no sooner than the first anniversary of the date the business, person, or activity identified or advertised by the sign or sign structure ceases to operate on the premises where the sign or sign structure is located or, if those premises are leased, no sooner than the second anniversary of the date the most recent tenant ceases to operate on the premises. The bill exempts the municipality, if it authorizes removal of an on-premise sign or sign structure, from the requirement to compensate the sign owner for the removal costs and from the requirement to appoint a municipal board on sign removal. The bill allows a municipality to enter into an agreement with the owner of an on-premise sign or sign structure to remove only a portion of the sign or sign structure. The bill allows a municipality to abate municipal property taxes that otherwise would be owed by the owner of an on-premise sign whose removal is required by the municipality.