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.