79(R) SB 1375 Senate committee report

LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 79TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION


May 9, 2005

TO:	Honorable Todd Staples, Chair, Senate Committee on Transportation & Homeland Security

FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board

IN RE:	SB1375 by Staples (Relating to the regulation of outdoor advertising.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend Chapter 391of the Transportation Code, to require a governmental entity to pay “just compensation” as if it made an acquisition by eminent domain, if it prevents the relocation of existing outdoor advertising because of highway construction. The bill would allow the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to remove outdoor advertising signs erected or maintained in violation of the Texas Highway Beautification Act without payment of compensation to the owner or lessee. The bill would require a county or municipality to provide for the relocation by a special exception to any applicable zoning ordinance. The bill would allow a relocated sign to be erected to a height and angle to make it visible to traffic and be the same size as the previous sign, subject to TxDOT rules.

Based on the analysis of TxDOT, it is assumed any costs or duties associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be absorbed within existing resources.

The bill would take effect September 1, 2005.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Local governmental entities may incur costs to notify license and permit holders of regulation changes, but the costs are not expected to be significant.