BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 2143
89R9843 RDR-D	By: Metcalf; Bell, Cecil (Creighton)
	Transportation
	5/1/2025
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

In February 2022, Army Specialist Joey Lenz, of Conroe, Texas, tragically passed away while serving at Fort Hood. Specialist Lenz enlisted in the United States Army on September 18, 2017. He completed Basic Combat Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, on December 4, 2017, and Advanced Individual Training as a 91D Tactical Power Generation Specialist at Fort Lee, Virginia, on March 18, 2018. From October 2019 through February 2021, he honorably served in the Republic of Korea, supporting operations as a Tactical Power Generator Specialist.

H.B. 2143 will designate a portion of Farm-to-Market Road 1097 in Montgomery County as the Army Specialist Joey Lenz Memorial Highway. Markers indicating the designation will be placed at each end of the highway and at appropriate intermediate sites along the highway.

H.B. 2143 amends current law relating to the designation of a portion of Farm-to-Market Road 1097 in Montgomery County as the Army Specialist Joey Lenz Memorial 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 225.243, as follows:

Sec. 225.243. ARMY SPECIALIST JOEY LENZ MEMORIAL HIGHWAY. (a) Provides that the portion of Farm-to-Market Road 1097 in Montgomery County between its intersection with Interstate Highway 45 and its intersection with Lake Conroe Hills Drive is designated as the Army Specialist Joey Lenz Memorial Highway. Provides that the designation is in addition to any other designation.

(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 Army Specialist Joey Lenz Memorial Highway and any other appropriate information and erect a marker at each end of the highway and at appropriate intermediate sites along the highway.

SECTION 2. Provides that it is the intent of the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, that the provisions added by this Act be renumbered to prevent multiple provisions with the same designation.

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2025.