BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center                                                                                                     H.B. 1248

79R11566 JTS-D                                                                                     By: Villarreal (Wentworth)

Intergovernmental Relations

5/11/2005

Engrossed

AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Currently, many Texas cities have provisions restricting or prohibiting the construction of billboards.  However, municipal restrictions do not apply in rural and unincorporated areas. 

H.B. 1248 prohibits construction of new off-premise billboards adjacent to and visible from a certain road within Bexar County.  The bill does not apply to existing billboards and only prohibits construction of new off-premise billboards.  Furthermore, the owners of existing billboards will still be allowed to maintain and repair existing off-premise billboards.

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 391.252(a), Transportation Code, to prohibit a person from erecting an off-premise sign that is adjacent to and visible from U.S. Highway 281 between the southern boundary line of Comal County and State Highway 306.  Makes a nonsubstantive change.

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2005.