S.B. 656 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS S.B. 656 By: Brimer Urban Affairs Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, a municipal board must be formed if a city wants to relocate, reconstruct, or remove on-premise signs. S.B. 656 authorizes a municipality to require the removal of an on-premise sign or sign structure not sooner than the first anniversary of the date the business, person, or activity that the sign or sign structure identifies or advertises ceases to operate on the premises on which the sign or sign structure is located. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the committee that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS S.B. 656 amends the Local Government Code to make an exception for which municipalities do not have to provide compensation for costs related to the required relocation, reconstruction, or removal of a sign. The bill authorizes a municipality to require the removal of an on-premise sign or sign structure, without having to provide compensation, no sooner than the first anniversary of the date the business, person, or activity that the sign or sign structure identifies or advertises ceases to operate on the premises on which the sign is located. The bill prohibits a municipality from requiring the removal of an on-premise sign or sign structure before the second anniversary of the date the most recent tenant ceases to operate on the premises, if the premises containing the sign or sign structure is leased. The bill would not require a municipal board be appointed prior to the removal of a sign or sign structure. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2003.