BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 693
80R3976 ACP-D By: Paxton (Carona)
Transportation & Homeland Security
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
H.B. 137, enacted by the 79th Legislature, Regular Session, 2005, altered "Welcome to Texas" signs along this state's borders to express pride in being the home of this nation's president. Currently, these signs specifically reference President George W. Bush. Statutory change is necessary for future "Welcome to Texas" signs to indicate if a Texas resident other than George W. Bush were to be elected president.
H.B. 693 deletes existing text referencing George W. Bush on a "Welcome to Texas" sign and replaces that text with a generic reference to any future president who is a Texas resident.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 201.617, Transportation Code, as added by Chapter 474, Acts of the 79th Legislature, Regular Session, 2005, by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c), as follows:
(b) Deletes existing text requiring inclusion of the phrase "Welcome to Texas--Proud to be the Home of President George W. Bush" on a "Welcome to Texas" sign erected by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).
(c) Requires a "Welcome to Texas" sign to include the phrase "Welcome to Texas--Proud to be the Home of President [insert name of the president of the United States]" if the president of the United States is a resident of Texas.
SECTION 2. Requires TxDOT to ensure all "Welcome to Texas" signs erected before the effective date of this Act to comply with this Act not later than September 1, 2009.
SECTION 3. Effective date: January 20, 2009.