SRC-JEC H.B. 3025 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 3025
78R9573 ATP-FBy: Martinez Fischer (Madla)
Intergovernmental Relations
5/23/2003
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Chapter 216, Local Government Code, makes provisions for the municipal
regulation of signs, including the relocation, reconstruction or removal
of signs.  It provides for compensation of the affected sign owners,
allowing a municipality to grant certain tax abatements for relocation or
reconstruction of a sign, but not for removal.  H.B. 3025 makes the
abatement option available for sign removals as well. 

Recently, certain billboard construction companies have attempted to
circumvent billboard regulations by claiming that their signs are
"on-premise" signs.  H.B. 3025 amends Chapter 216, Local Government Code,
to authorize a municipality to grant certain tax abatements as a means of
compensation to the owner of  "on-premise" signs that must be removed.    

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to
a state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 216.010(b), Local Government Code, to provide
that if an on-premise sign is required to be removed, a municipality,
acting under the Property Redevelopment and Tax Abatement Act (Chapter
312, Tax Code), is authorized to abate municipal property taxes that would
otherwise be owed by the sign owner. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2003.