AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Captain Jesse Billingsley (1810-1880) was born in Tennessee and came to Texas in 1834. Known as a fearless fighter and friend of David Crocket, Billingsley was elected Captain of the Mina Volunteers, Company C, of the Republic of Texas Army.
Captain Billingsley is described as “The Old Rock” of San Jacinto and credited with being the first to yell, “Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad!” in an emotional speech to his men the night before the battle. At the Battle of San Jacinto, Billingsley and his Rangers were the first into Santa Anna’s camp and suffered the most casualties of all the frontiersmen. Despite being crippled in his left hand from a gunshot wound during the fight at San Jacinto, Billingsley continued to participate in almost every major skirmish on the Texas frontier and was awarded a league of land for his valor under fire.
Captain Billingsley went on to serve as a representative of Bastrop County in the First and Second Congress and as a senator in the Fifth and Eighth Legislatures of Texas. Captain Billingsley sacrificed his public career by taking a stand against secession from the Union and by becoming an advocate for the literacy of slaves.
S.B. 2055 honors this Texas hero by designating State Highway Loop 223 in McDade, Bastrop County, the Captain Jesse Billingsley Memorial Highway. S.B. 2055 also instructs the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to design, construct, and erect markers at each end of Loop 223 and at appropriate intermediate sites along the loop indicating the designation and any other appropriate information.
TxDOT estimates the signage costs will be approximately $3,450. In accordance with Section 225.021(c) of the Transportation Code, TxDOT will not design, construct, or erect a marker unless a grant or donation of funds is made to TxDOT to cover this cost.
As proposed, S.B. 2055 amends current law relating to the designation of Loop 223 in Bastrop County as the Captain Jesse Billingsley Memorial Loop.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 225, Transportation Code, by adding Section 225.102, as follows:
Sec. 225.102. CAPTAIN JESSE BILLINGSLEY MEMORIAL LOOP IN BASTROP COUNTY. (a) Provides that State Highway Loop 223 in McDade, Bastrop County, is designated as the Captain Jesse Billingsley Memorial Loop.
(b) Requires the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), subject to Section 225.021(c) (prohibiting TxDOT from designing, constructing, or erecting a marker under this subchapter unless a grant or donation of funds is made to TxDOT to cover the cost of the design, construction, and erection of the marker), to:
(1) design and construct markers indicating the designation as the Captain Jesse Billingsley Memorial Loop and any other appropriate information; and
(2) erect a marker at each end of the loop and at appropriate intermediate sites along the loop.
SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2015.