80R6305 ACP-F

By: Branch H.B. No. 2242

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to erecting an off-premise sign adjacent to and visible from certain roads.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 391.252(a), Transportation Code, as amended by Chapters 281, 352, 405, 796, 903, 983, 1046, and 1353, Acts of the 79th Legislature, Regular Session, 2005, is reenacted and amended to read as follows:

(a) A person may not erect an off-premise sign that is adjacent to and visible from any road or highway in this state[:

[(1) U.S. Highway 290 between the western city limits of the city of Austin and the eastern city limits of the city of Fredericksburg;

[(2) State Highway 317 between the northern city limits of the city of Belton to the southern city limits of the city of Valley Mills;

[(3) State Highway 16 between the northern city limits of the city of Kerrville and Interstate Highway 20;

[(4) U.S. Highway 77 between State Highway 186 and State Highway 44;

[(5) U.S. Highway 281 between State Highway 186 and Interstate Highway 37, exclusive of the segment of U.S. Highway 281 located in the city limits of Three Rivers;

[(5)U.S. Highway 281 between:

[(A) State Highway 186 and Interstate Highway 37; and

[(B) the southern boundary line of Comal County and State Highway 306;

[(6) State Highway 17 between State Highway 118 and U.S. Highway 90;

[(7) State Highway 67 between U.S. Highway 90 and Farm-to-Market Road 170;

[(8) Farm-to-Market Road 170 between State Highway 67 and State Highway 118;

[(9) State Highway 118 between Farm-to-Market Road 170 and State Highway 17;

[(10) State Highway 105 between the western city limits of the city of Sour Lake to the eastern city limits of the city of Cleveland;

[(11) State Highway 73 between the eastern city limits of the city of Winnie to the western city limits of the city of Port Arthur;

[(12) State Highway 21 between the southern city limits of the city of College Station and U.S. Highway 290;

[(13)a highway located in:

[(A)the Sabine National Forest;

[(B)the Davy Crockett National Forest; or

[(C)the Sam Houston National Forest; or

[(14)Segments 1 through 4 of State Highway 130

[(14) a highway in Bandera County that is part of the state highway system

[(14) Farm-to-Market Road 3238 beginning at State Highway 71 and any extension of that road through Hays and Blanco Counties

[(14) Farm-to-Market Road 2978 between Farm-to-Market Road 1488 and the boundary line between Harris and Montgomery Counties

[(14) State Highway 90 between the western city limits of the city of San Antonio and the eastern city limits of the city of Hondo].

SECTION 2. Sections 391.253(b) and (c), Transportation Code, are amended to read as follows:

(b) The department shall permit the relocation of an off-premise sign adjacent to and visible from a road or highway [listed in Section 391.252] to another location that is adjacent to and visible from the same road or highway if:

(1) the construction, reconstruction, or expansion of a road or highway requires the removal of the sign;

(2) the sign is not modified to increase the above-grade height, the area of each sign face, the dimensions of the sign face, the number of sign faces, or the illumination of the sign; and

(3) the department identifies an alternate site for the relocation of the sign adjacent to and visible from the road or highway [listed in Section 391.252].

(c) For purposes of this section, the department shall specify, within 30 days of receipt of a request for a relocation site, a minimum of three alternate sites that meet permitting requirements for an off-premise sign to be reerected, reconstructed, repaired, or rebuilt adjacent to and visible from a road or highway [listed in Section 391.252].

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2007.