BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 1075
87R3888 JRR-D	By: Meza (Hancock)
	Transportation
	5/11/2021
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

State Highway 356, also known as Irving Boulevard, is a historic roadway and one of the first roadways in Dallas County dating to the days the county was settled. It has remained for more than a century as a vital transportation artery for the city of Irving and for Dallas County. The highway is also an example of local and state governments partnering to meet local needs in expanding a state highway. In 1965, the City of Irving partnered with the then-Texas Highway Department to provide nearly $100,000 for right-of-way acquisition to expand State Highway 356 to a large local employer. In recognition of the historic importance of the roadway, H.B. 1075 seeks to make State Highway 356 in Irving designated as a Texas historic highway.

H.B. 1075 amends the Government Code to require the Texas Historical Commission (THC) to cooperate with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to designate, interpret, and market the portion of State Highway 356 in the municipal limits of Irving as a Texas historic highway. The bill authorizes THC and TxDOT to pursue federal funds dedicated to highway enhancement to supplement revenue available for those purposes but prohibits the designation from being construed as a designation under the federal National Historic Preservation Act. TxDOT is not required to design, construct, or erect a marker under the bill's provisions unless a grant or donation of funds is made to TxDOT to cover those costs. The bill requires money received to cover the cost of the marker to be deposited to the credit of the state highway fund.

H.B. 1075 amends current law relating to the designation of State Highway 356 in Irving as a historic highway.

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 A, Chapter 442, Government Code, by adding Section 442.033, as follows:

Sec. 442.033.� STATE HIGHWAY 356 AS TEXAS HISTORIC HIGHWAY. (a) Requires the Texas Historical Commission (THC) to cooperate with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to designate, interpret, and market the portion of State Highway 356 in the municipal limits of Irving as a Texas historic highway.

(b) Authorizes THC and TxDOT, to supplement revenue available for the purposes under Subsection (a), to pursue federal funds dedicated to highway enhancement.

(c) Prohibits a designation of a portion of State Highway 356 as a Texas historic highway from being construed as a designation under the National Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. Section 300101 et seq.).

(d) Provides that TxDOT is not required to design, construct, or erect a marker under this section unless a grant or donation of funds is made to TxDOT to cover the cost of the design, construction, and erection of the marker. Requires that money received to cover the cost of the marker be deposited to the credit of the state highway fund.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2021.