BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 2457
	By: Meyer; Frank (Parker)
	Transportation
	5/1/2025
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

In the summer of 2024, the Mullens family was driving home from Colorado through the Oklaunion area in Wilbarger County on a stretch of highway with an S-curve. While navigating the curve, a driver from the opposite direction lost control, crossed the grass median and cable barriers, and collided head-on with the Mullens family vehicle. Tragically, their nine-year-old daughter, Molly Mullens, was killed in the crash, while her parents and two older brothers survived. After learning from local law enforcement that this stretch of highway is a known accident "hot spot," the Mullens family worked with our office and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to improve safety by replacing the cable barriers with concrete barriers, hoping to prevent future accidents.

S.B. 2457 seeks to designate this portion of US Highway 287 as the "Molly Mullens Mile" in honor of Molly Mullens. The Mullens family collaborated with TxDOT and our office to enhance the safety of this highway, ensuring that no other family will have to endure the same tragedy they experienced. This bill seeks to name this stretch of highway after Molly, honoring her life and the efforts her family made in her memory to improve its safety.

H.B. 2457 amends current law relating to the designation of a portion of U.S. Highway 287 in Wilbarger County as the Molly Mullens Mile.

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 225.247, as follows:

Sec. 225.247. MOLLY MULLENS MILE. (a) Provides that the portion of U.S. Highway 287 in Wilbarger County between its intersection with County Road 111 and County Road 132 East is designated as the Molly Mullens Mile. 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 Molly Mullens Mile 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.