BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 4429

By: McQueeney

Transportation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

In November 2023, Zach and Lauren Muckleroy of Tarrant County, along with their children 12-year-old Judson and 9-year-old Lindsey, were on their way to visit family for Thanksgiving when their car was fatally hit by a drunk driver. Lauren, though injured, was the only survivor. H.B. 4429 seeks to honor the Muckleroy family by designating a portion of U.S. Highway 281 in Blanco and Burnet Counties, where the accident occurred, as the Muckleroy Memorial Highway.

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

H.B. 4429 amends the Transportation Code to designate the portion of U.S. Highway 281 in Blanco and Burnet Counties between its intersection with State Highway 71 and Ranch Road 962 as the Muckleroy Memorial Highway, in addition to any other designation. The bill requires the Texas Department of Transportation, subject to a grant or donation of funds, to do the following:

· design and construct markers indicating the designation as the Muckleroy 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.

H.B. 4429 establishes the legislature's intent that the bill's provisions be renumbered to prevent multiple provisions with the same designation.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2025.