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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the designation of portions of the state highway system |
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as memorial highways and bridges, to certain memorial markers and |
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designations on certain highways, and to highway signs for certain |
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cultural attractions. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 201.909(e), (f), and (g), |
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Transportation Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(e) If the application meets the department's requirements |
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and the applicant pays the memorial sign fee, the department shall |
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erect a sign. A sign posted under this section may remain posted |
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for 10 [two] years. At the end of the 10-year [two-year] period the |
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department may release the sign to the applicant. The department is |
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not required to release a sign that has been damaged. |
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(f) A sign posted under this section that is damaged shall |
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be removed by the department. Except as provided in Subsection (g), |
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the department may post a new sign if it has been less than 10 [two] |
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years from the posting of the original sign and a person: |
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(1) submits a written request to the department to |
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replace the sign; and |
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(2) submits a replacement fee in the amount provided |
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under Subsection (d)(2). |
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(g) During the 10-year [two-year] posting period the |
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department shall replace a sign posted under this section that is |
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damaged because of the department's negligence. |
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SECTION 2. Section 201.911, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by amending Subsections (a) and (c) and adding Subsection (c-1) to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) In this section, "victim" means a person killed in a |
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highway collision while operating or riding on a motorcycle. The |
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term does not include a person who was under the influence of |
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alcohol or a controlled substance at the time of the collision. |
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(c) A sign designed and posted under this section shall |
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include: |
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(1) a motorcyclist safety message selected from the |
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options provided by commission rule under Subsection (c-1) [red |
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cross]; |
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(2) the phrase "In Memory Of" and the name of one or |
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more victims in accordance with the commission rule; and |
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(3) the date of the collision that resulted in the |
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victim's death. |
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(c-1) The commission by rule shall develop motorcyclist |
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safety messages that may be used on the memorial signs under this |
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section. |
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SECTION 3. Section 225.021, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (e) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a) Subject to Subsection (e), the [The] department shall |
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repair and replace each marker required by this subchapter and |
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maintain the grounds for the marker. |
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(e) The department may not repair or replace a marker after |
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the 10th anniversary of the effective date of the provision |
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requiring the marker to be erected unless a grant or donation of |
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funds is made to the department to cover the cost of the repair or |
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replacement of the marker. This subsection applies only to a |
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provision of this subchapter enacted after January 1, 2025, that |
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requires the erection of a marker. |
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SECTION 4. Subchapter B, Chapter 225, Transportation Code, |
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is amended by adding Sections 225.243, 225.244, 225.245, 225.246, |
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225.247, 225.248, 225.249, 225.250, 225.251, 225.252, 225.253, |
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225.254, 225.255, 225.256, 225.257, 225.258, 225.259, and 225.260 |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 225.243. PETTY OFFICER BILLY MACHEN MEMORIAL BRIDGE. |
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(a) The Farm-to-Market Road 852 bridge crossing Lake Gilmer in |
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Upshur County is designated as the Petty Officer Billy Machen |
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Memorial Bridge. The designation is in addition to any other |
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designation. |
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(b) Subject to Section 225.021(c), the department shall: |
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(1) design and construct markers indicating the |
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designation as the |
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Petty Officer Billy Machen Memorial Bridge and |
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any other appropriate information; and |
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(2) erect a marker at each end of the bridge. |
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Sec. 225.244. MOLLY MULLENS MILE. (a) The portion of U.S. |
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Highway 287 in Wilbarger County between its intersection with |
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County Road 111 and County Road 132 East is designated as the Molly |
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Mullens Mile. The designation is in addition to any other |
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designation. |
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(b) Subject to Section 225.021(c), the department shall: |
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(1) design and construct markers indicating the |
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designation as the Molly Mullens Mile and any other appropriate |
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information; and |
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(2) erect a marker at each end of the highway and at |
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appropriate intermediate sites along the highway. |
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Sec. 225.245. TROOPER KEVIN RAMIREZ VASQUEZ MEMORIAL |
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HIGHWAY. (a) The portion of State Highway 302 in Ector County |
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between its intersection with Farm-to-Market Road 2019 and the |
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Ector-Winkler County line is designated as the Trooper Kevin |
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Ramirez Vasquez Memorial Highway. |
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(b) Subject to Section 225.021(c), the department shall: |
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(1) design and construct markers indicating the |
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designation as the Trooper Kevin Ramirez Vasquez Memorial Highway |
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and any other appropriate information; and |
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(2) erect a marker at each end of the highway and at |
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appropriate intermediate sites along the highway. |
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Sec. 225.246. LIEUTENANT MILTON RESENDEZ MEMORIAL HIGHWAY. |
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(a) The portion of State Highway 345 in the municipal limits of San |
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Benito is designated as the Lieutenant Milton Resendez Memorial |
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Highway. The designation is in addition to any other designation. |
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(b) Subject to Section 225.021(c), the department shall: |
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(1) design and construct markers indicating the |
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designation as the Lieutenant Milton Resendez Memorial Highway and |
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any other appropriate information; and |
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(2) erect a marker at each end of the highway and at |
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appropriate intermediate sites along the highway. |
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Sec. 225.247. DEPUTY SHERIFF CHRIS DICKERSON MEMORIAL |
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HIGHWAY. (a) Farm-to-Market Road 10 in Panola County is designated |
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as the Deputy Sheriff Chris Dickerson Memorial Highway. The |
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designation is in addition to any other designation. |
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(b) Subject to Section 225.021(c), the department shall: |
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(1) design and construct markers indicating the |
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designation as the Deputy Sheriff Chris Dickerson Memorial Highway |
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and any other appropriate information; and |
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(2) erect a marker at each end of the highway and at |
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appropriate intermediate sites along the highway. |
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Sec. 225.248. DEPUTY SHERIFF DAVID BOSECKER MEMORIAL |
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HIGHWAY. (a) The portion of U.S. Highway 183 in Eastland County |
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between its intersection with Farm-to-Market Road 2526 and its |
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intersection with Farm-to-Market Road 2731 is designated as the |
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Deputy Sheriff David Bosecker Memorial Highway. The designation is |
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in addition to any other designation. |
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(b) Subject to Section 225.021(c), the department shall: |
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(1) design and construct markers indicating the |
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designation as the Deputy Sheriff David Bosecker Memorial Highway |
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and any other appropriate information; and |
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(2) erect a marker at each end of the highway and at |
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appropriate intermediate sites along the highway. |
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Sec. 225.249. SERGEANT MARK BUTLER MEMORIAL HIGHWAY. (a) |
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The portion of State Highway 6 in Brazos County between the southern |
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municipal limits of College Station and the northern municipal |
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limits of Navasota is designated as the Sergeant Mark Butler |
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Memorial Highway. The designation is in addition to any other |
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designation. |
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(b) Subject to Section 225.021(c), the department shall: |
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(1) design and construct markers indicating the |
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designation as the Sergeant Mark Butler Memorial Highway and any |
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other appropriate information; and |
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(2) erect a marker at each end of the highway and at |
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appropriate intermediate sites along the highway. |
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Sec. 225.250. CORPORAL SPEEDY ESPERICUETA MEMORIAL |
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HIGHWAY. (a) The portion of U.S. Highway 83 in the municipal |
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limits of Mission is designated as the Corporal Speedy Espericueta |
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Memorial Highway. The designation is in addition to any other |
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designation. |
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(b) Subject to Section 225.021(c), the department shall: |
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(1) design and construct markers indicating the |
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designation as the Corporal Speedy Espericueta Memorial Highway and |
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any other appropriate information; and |
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(2) erect a marker at each end of the highway and at |
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appropriate intermediate sites along the highway. |
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Sec. 225.251. CAPTAIN KEVIN WILLIAMS AND FIREFIGHTER AUSTIN |
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CHEEK MEMORIAL HIGHWAY. (a) The portion of Farm-to-Market Road |
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2493 in Smith County between its intersection with Church Street in |
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Flint and its intersection with County Road 150 is designated as the |
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Captain Kevin Williams and Firefighter Austin Cheek Memorial |
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Highway. The designation is in addition to any other designation. |
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(b) Subject to Section 225.021(c), the department shall: |
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(1) design and construct markers indicating the |
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designation as the Captain Kevin Williams and Firefighter Austin |
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Cheek Memorial Highway and any other appropriate information; and |
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(2) erect a marker at each end of the highway and at |
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appropriate intermediate sites along the highway. |
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Sec. 225.252. FIRE MARSHAL JIMMY W. SEATON MEMORIAL |
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HIGHWAY. (a) The portion of State Highway 64 in Smith County |
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between its intersection with State Highway Loop 323 and its |
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intersection with the western Smith County line is designated as |
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the Fire Marshal Jimmy W. Seaton Memorial Highway. The designation |
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is in addition to any other designation. |
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(b) Subject to Section 225.021(c), the department shall: |
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(1) design and construct markers indicating the |
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designation as the Fire Marshal Jimmy W. Seaton Memorial Highway |
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and any other appropriate information; and |
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(2) erect a marker at each end of the highway and at |
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appropriate intermediate sites along the highway. |
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Sec. 225.253. CECIL AND DOROTHY BELL MEMORIAL HIGHWAY. (a) |
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The portion of U.S. Highway 79 in Freestone and Leon Counties |
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between its intersection with U.S. Highway 84 and its intersection |
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with the western municipal limits of Oakwood is designated as the |
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Cecil and Dorothy Bell Memorial Highway. The designation is in |
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addition to any other designation. |
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(b) Subject to Section 225.021(c), the department shall: |
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(1) design and construct markers indicating the |
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designation as the Cecil and Dorothy Bell Memorial Highway and any |
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other appropriate information; and |
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(2) erect a marker at each end of the highway and at |
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appropriate intermediate sites along the highway. |
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Sec. 225.254. FIRST RESPONDERS MEMORIAL LOOP. (a) The |
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portion of State Highway Loop 88 under construction as of September |
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1, 2025, as a relief route around Lubbock, in Lubbock County is |
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designated as the First Responders Memorial Loop. The designation |
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is in addition to any other designation. |
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(b) Subject to Section 225.021(c), the department shall: |
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(1) design and construct markers indicating the |
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designation as the First Responders Memorial Loop and any other |
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appropriate information; and |
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(2) erect a marker at appropriate sites along the |
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loop. |
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Sec. 225.255. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON MEMORIAL HIGHWAY. (a) |
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The portion of U.S. Highway 67 in Dallas and Ellis Counties between |
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its intersection with U.S. Highway 287 and its intersection with |
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Interstate Highway 20 is designated as the Eddie Bernice Johnson |
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Memorial Highway. The designation is in addition to any other |
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designation. |
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(b) Subject to Section 225.021(c), the department shall: |
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(1) design and construct markers indicating the |
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designation as the Eddie Bernice Johnson Memorial Highway and any |
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other appropriate information; and |
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(2) erect a marker at each end of the highway and at |
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appropriate intermediate sites along the highway. |
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Sec. 225.256. U.S. BORDER PATROL AGENT JOSE RODRIGUEZ-LUA |
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MEMORIAL HIGHWAY. (a) The portion of U.S. Highway 281 in Hidalgo |
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County between its intersection with Farm-to-Market Road 493 and |
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its intersection with Farm-to-Market Road 88 is designated as the |
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U.S. Border Patrol Agent Jose Rodriguez-Lua Memorial Highway. The |
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designation is in addition to any other designation. |
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(b) Subject to Section 225.021(c), the department shall: |
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(1) design and construct markers indicating the |
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designation as the U.S. Border Patrol Agent Jose Rodriguez-Lua |
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Memorial Highway and any other appropriate information; and |
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(2) erect a marker at each end of the highway and at |
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appropriate intermediate sites along the highway. |
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Sec. 225.257. HAMBY-WEBB MEMORIAL HIGHWAY. (a) The |
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portion of State Highway 315 in Panola County between its |
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intersection with the western Panola County line and its |
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intersection with the western municipal boundary of Carthage is |
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designated as the Hamby-Webb Memorial Highway. The designation is |
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in addition to any other designation. |
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(b) Subject to Section 225.021(c), the department shall: |
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(1) design and construct markers indicating the |
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designation as the Hamby-Webb Memorial Highway and any other |
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appropriate information; and |
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(2) erect a marker at each end of the highway and at |
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appropriate intermediate sites along the highway. |
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Sec. 225.258. MUCKLEROY FAMILY MEMORIAL HIGHWAY. (a) The |
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portion of U.S. Highway 281 in Blanco and Burnet Counties between |
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its intersection with State Highway 71 and Ranch Road 962 is |
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designated as the Muckleroy Family Memorial Highway. The |
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designation is in addition to any other designation. |
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(b) Subject to Section 225.021(c), the department shall: |
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(1) design and construct markers indicating the |
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designation as the Muckleroy Family Memorial Highway and any other |
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appropriate information; and |
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(2) erect a marker at each end of the highway and at |
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appropriate intermediate sites along the highway. |
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Sec. 225.259. BOB CORNETT PARKWAY. (a) The portion of U.S. |
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Highway 377 under construction as of September 1, 2024, as a relief |
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route around Cresson, in Hood and Johnson Counties is designated as |
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the Bob Cornett Parkway. The designation is in addition to any |
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other designation. |
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(b) Subject to Section 225.021(c), the department shall: |
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(1) design and construct markers indicating the |
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designation as the Bob Cornett Parkway and any other appropriate |
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information; and |
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(2) erect a marker at each end of the highway and at |
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appropriate intermediate sites along the highway. |
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Sec. 225.260. BILL STOUDT PARKWAY. (a) The portion of |
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Farm-to-Market Road 2275 in Gregg County between its intersection |
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with U.S. Highway 259 and its intersection with Spur 502/Judson |
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Road is designated as the Bill Stoudt Parkway. The designation is |
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in addition to any other designation. |
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(b) Subject to Section 225.021(c), the department shall: |
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(1) design and construct markers indicating the |
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designation as the Bill Stoudt Parkway and any other appropriate |
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information; and |
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(2) erect a marker at each end of the highway and at |
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appropriate intermediate sites along the highway. |
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SECTION 5. (a) Not later than December 1, 2025, the Texas |
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Transportation Commission shall adopt the rules required by Section |
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201.911(c-1), Transportation Code, as added by this Act. |
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(b) Notwithstanding Section 201.911, Transportation Code, |
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as amended by this Act, the Texas Department of Transportation is |
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not required to comply with the changes in law made by this Act to |
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Sections 201.909, 201.911, and 225.021, Transportation Code, |
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before March 1, 2026. |
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SECTION 6. (a) Subject to Subsection (c) of this section |
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and not later than September 1, 2026, the Texas Department of |
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Transportation shall erect and maintain highway signs guiding road |
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users to the Koreatown District in the Northwest Dallas |
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neighborhood of Dallas from the following routes: |
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(1) the exits for Royal Lane from northbound and |
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southbound Interstate Highway 35E; and |
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(2) the exits for Luna Road from eastbound and |
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westbound Interstate Highway 635. |
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(b) Subject to Subsection (c) of this section and not later |
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than September 1, 2026, the Texas Department of Transportation |
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shall erect and maintain highway signs guiding road users to the |
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Chinatown District in Richardson from the following routes: |
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(1) the exits for Arapaho Road from northbound and |
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southbound U.S. Highway 75; and |
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(2) the exits for Belt Line Road and Main Street from |
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northbound and southbound U.S. Highway 75. |
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(c) A sign erected under this section may not violate the |
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Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices or the Manual on |
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Uniform Traffic Control Devices issued by the United States |
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Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. |
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SECTION 7. It is the intent of the 89th Legislature, Regular |
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Session, 2025, that the provisions added by this Act be renumbered |
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to prevent multiple provisions with the same designation. |
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SECTION 8. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |