BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center	S.B. 730
87R6613 JXC-D	By: Hall
	Transportation
	3/16/2021
	As Filed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

The Rockwall County Commissioners Court approved a resolution requesting the Texas Senate and Texas House to consider renaming the portion of State Highway 66 extending through the county as the David Magness Highway. The Resolution honors the late Rockwall County Commissioner, David Magness, who died on December 3, 2020.

 

Magness farmed and ranched in Rockwall, Hunt, and Collin counties and owned a fertilizer and chemical distribution business before being elected to the commissioners court in 2003. He served for 12 years as a member of the Royse City ISD Board of Trustees as well as on the STAR Transit Board of Directors, the Regional Transportation Council, as board president of the Farmers Electric Cooperative, and on the Farmers Electric Charitable Foundation. Additionally, he was a founding investor and chairman of the board of Texas Leadership Bank and a founding member of the Royse City Rotary Club, the Rockwall County Youth Fair Board, the Texas Farm Bureau, and the Royse City Chamber of Commerce.

 

Magness coalesced all the communities in Rockwall County and the various transportation agencies to develop its first-ever road bond package in 2004 and the second in 2008, which enjoyed overwhelming support from voters. Magness was committed to planning and building strong communities, advancing transportation projects for improved mobility and safety, promoting quality economic development, maintaining a low tax rate, and providing quality county services to all Rockwall County citizens.

 

This bill designates the portion of State Highway 66 in Rockwall County as Commissioner David Magness Highway. The designation would not affect portions of State Highway 66 known locally by different designations and would only change its name on the state highway system.

 

As proposed, S.B. 730 amends current law relating to the designation of the portion of State Highway 66 in Rockwall County as the Commissioner David Magness 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 B, Chapter 225, Transportation Code, by adding Section 225.190, as follows:

Sec. 225.190.  COMMISSIONER DAVID MAGNESS HIGHWAY.� (a)� Designates the portion of State Highway 66 in Rockwall County as the Commissioner David Magness Highway.

(b)  Requires the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), subject to Section 225.021(c) (relating to prohibiting TxDOT from designing, constructing, or erecting a marker unless a grant or donation of funds is made to cover the cost), to design and construct markers indicating the designation as the Commissioner David Magness Highway and any other appropriate information, and to erect a marker at each end of the highway and at appropriate intermediate sites along the highway.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2021. �