BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 5216

By: Martinez

Transportation

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The bill author has informed the committee of the death of U.S. Border Patrol Processing Coordinator Jose Rodriguez-Lua, who was struck by a drunk driver and killed in the line of duty on November 1, 2024, and of his posthumous promotion to the position of Border Patrol Agent. Moreover, the bill author has also informed the committee of the request by the U.S. Border Patrol to designate a portion of U.S. Highway 281 in Hidalgo County to honor the death of Jose Rodriguez-Lua. C.S.H.B. 5216 seeks to make this designation.

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

C.S.H.B. 5216 amends the Transportation Code to designate the portion of U.S. Highway 281 in Hidalgo County between its intersection with Farm-to-Market Road 493 and its intersection with Farm-to-Market Road 88 as the U.S. Border Patrol Agent Jose Rodriguez-Lua 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 design and construct markers indicating the designation as the U.S. Border Patrol Agent Jose Rodriguez-Lua Memorial 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. The bill establishes the legislature's intent that the provisions added by the bill be renumbered to prevent multiple provisions with the same designation.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2025.

COMPARISON OF INTRODUCED AND SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 5216 differs from the introduced in minor or nonsubstantive ways to make technical corrections.