BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 2584

By: Raymond

Transportation

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties suggest that the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has too much authority to regulate the spacing of certain electronic signs owned by political subdivisions. C.S.H.B. 2584 seeks to address this issue by changing TxDOT's authority to regulate the spacing of outdoor advertising along highways in certain municipalities.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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

C.S.H.B. 2584 amends the Transportation Code to prohibit the Texas Department of Transportation, in regulating outdoor advertising located in the corporate boundaries of a municipality with a population of more than 200,000 located in a county on the Texas-Mexico border with a population of less than 300,000, from requiring an electronic sign that changes its message or copy by programmable electronic or mechanical processes and that is owned by the municipality to be more than 500 feet from another sign.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2017.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 2584 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and formatted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

INTRODUCED	HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 391, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Section 391.038 to read as follows: Sec. 391.038.  SPACING REQUIREMENTS IN MUNICIPALITIES.  (a)  In this section, "electronic sign" means a sign that changes its message or copy by programmable electronic or mechanical processes. (b)  The department, in regulating outdoor advertising located in the corporate boundaries of a municipality, may not consider for the purposes of spacing distances an electronic sign owned by a political subdivision.	SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 391, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Section 391.038 to read as follows: Sec. 391.038.  SPACING REQUIREMENTS IN CERTAIN MUNICIPALITIES.  (a)  In this section, "electronic sign" means a sign that changes its message or copy by programmable electronic or mechanical processes. (b)  The department, in regulating outdoor advertising located in the corporate boundaries of a municipality with a population of more than 200,000 located in a county on the Texas-Mexico border with a population of less than 300,000, may not require an electronic sign owned by the municipality to be more than 500 feet from another sign.
SECTION 2.  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, 2017.	SECTION 2. Same as introduced version.