BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 5577

By: Shofner

Transportation

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The bill author has informed the committee of Kaleb Hamby and Gabriel "Corey" Webb who were tragically killed on December 11, 2021, in a fiery crash when the driver of an 18-wheeler failed to slow down and rear-ended their pickup truck on State Highway 315 in Panola County. The bill author has further informed the committee that these beloved men were husbands, fathers, sons, and brothers and are survived by their family members, including Mr. Hamby's loving wife, Ashley Marie Townsend Hamby, and his precious daughters Micah Marie, Millie Jane, and Maya Shay Hamby, and Mr. Webb's loving wife, Ashley Erin Webb, and his precious children Gabriel Kai, Elianna Kate, and Isabella Kenley Webb, each of whom will always cherish their loved one's memory. C.S.H.B. 5577 seeks to designate a portion of State Highway 315 in Panola County as the Hamby-Webb 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

C.S.H.B. 5577 amends the Transportation Code to designate the portion of State Highway 315 in Panola County between its intersection with the western Panola County line and its intersection with the western municipal boundary of Carthage as the Hamby-Webb 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 Hamby-Webb 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 bill's provisions be renumbered to prevent multiple provisions with the same designation.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2025.

COMPARISON OF INTRODUCED AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 5577 may differ from the introduced in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

The substitute designates a specified portion of the state highway as the Hamby-Webb Memorial Highway, whereas the introduced designated the entirety of the state highway as the Hamby-Webb Memorial Highway.