BILL ANALYSIS
By: Paxton
Culture, Recreation, & Tourism
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
HB137 from the 79th Legislature altered the "Welcome to Texas" signs along our borders to express our state's pride at being the home to our nation's president. In our nation's history there hove been only 43 presidents. Regardless of political party affiliation, it is a matter of pride for a state to be the home of a president and the state's welcome signs along the roadways entering the state is an appropriate place to display that pride.
The purpose of this bill is to remove the language specifically referencing President Bush and replace it with a generic reference so that any future president elected from Texas would be honored on our welcome signs in the same manner.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 201.617, Transportation Code by deleting subsection (b)(3) relating to the phrase "Welcome to Texas--Proud to be the Home of President George W. Bush." Subsection (c) is added which directs the department to include a phrase honoring any future president elected from Texas on the Welcome to Texas Signs.
SECTION 2. Instructs the department to bring all Welcome to Texas signs into compliance with the Act by September 1, 2009.
SECTION 3. Makes the Act effective January 20, 2009.
EFFECTIVE DATE
January 20, 2009.