By: Brown S.B. No. 1345 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT 1-1 relating to the definition of a nonconforming sign and the 1-2 attachment of the nonconforming, off-premise sign status to the 1-3 original nonconforming, off-premise sign. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Section 216.002, Local Government Code, is 1-6 amended to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 216.002. Definitions. In this subchapter: 1-8 (1) "Sign" means an outdoor structure, sign, display, 1-9 light device, figure, painting, drawing, message, plaque, poster, 1-10 billboard, or other thing that is designed, intended, or used to 1-11 advertise or inform. 1-12 (2) "On-premise sign" means a freestanding sign 1-13 identifying or advertising a business, person, or activity, and 1-14 installed and maintained on the same premises as the business, 1-15 person, or activity. 1-16 (3) "Off-premise sign" means a sign displaying 1-17 advertising copy that pertains to a business, person, organization, 1-18 activity, event, place, service, or product not principally located 1-19 or primarily manufactured or sold on the premises on which the sign 1-20 is located. 1-21 (4) "Nonconforming sign" means a sign that was 1-22 lawfully installed at its current location but no longer complies 1-23 with the local regulations. The nonconforming status of a sign is 1-24 the property of the owner of the sign, and upon the permanent 2-1 removal of a nonconforming, off-premise sign by the owner for 2-2 reasons other than the requirements in Sections 216.013(b) and (c), 2-3 the nonconforming status of the sign is terminated. 2-4 SECTION 2. Section 216.013, Local Government Code, is 2-5 amended by adding Subsection (e) to read as follows: 2-6 (e) Notwithstanding any other provision of state law or any 2-7 law or action of a political subdivision of this state, a 2-8 nonconforming off-premise sign having been permitted to remain in 2-9 place as a nonconforming use shall not be eligible for replacement 2-10 or reconstruction at its current location except as provided in 2-11 this chapter. The nonconforming use attaches to the original 2-12 off-premise sign and shall not authorize another, new, 2-13 nonconforming off-premise sign at such location. 2-14 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 2-15 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-16 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-17 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-18 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 2-19 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 2-20 passage, and it is so enacted.