LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

May 11, 2007

TO:	Honorable John Carona, Chair, Senate Committee on Transportation & Homeland Security
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB1521 by Kolkhorst (Relating to the prohibition of signs on certain roads.), As Engrossed

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Transportation Code by adding certain highways located in Austin County to those highways to which an off-premise sign is prohibited from being erected if it would be adjacent to or visible from the highway.

The county clerk in an affected county would be required to notify, within 45 days of the effective date of the bill, each applicable landowner and publish in a newspaper notice that the specific parcels of land would be affected by the statute and how to seek exclusion. The county clerk would be required to notify the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) in writing by certified mail when the notice is mailed to the landowners and published. The bill would authorize TxDOT to exclude a landowner's property from the prohibition of erecting an off-premise sign adjacent to and visible from certain roads if the landowner submits an application as provided within the provisions of the bill. The prohibition of signs would take effect on the 91st day after TxDOT receives notification from all appropriate county clerks regarding having notified landowners.

 

It is assumend that TxDOT and county clerks could implement provisions of the bill utilizing existing resources.

Local Government Impact

Because the bill would not have statewide impact on units of local government of the same type or class, no comment from this office is required by the rules of the House/Senate as to its probable fiscal implication on units of local government.

Source Agencies:

LBB Staff:

JOB, KJG, DB