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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of a hike and bike trail to be known |
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as the Bicentennial Trail. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 31, Natural Resources Code, is amended |
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by adding Subchapter J to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER J. BICENTENNIAL TRAIL |
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Sec. 31.501. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "hike and |
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bike trail" means a trail designed for the exclusive use of |
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pedestrians and bicyclists. |
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Sec. 31.5011. ESTABLISHMENT OF BICENTENNIAL TRAIL. (a) |
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The land office shall coordinate the establishment of a hike and |
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bike trail network for the purposes described by Section 31.502, |
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with connections as described by that section, to be known as the |
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Bicentennial Trail. |
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(b) The land office shall undertake to ensure that the |
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Bicentennial Trail is established on or before January 1, 2036. |
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(c) As necessary or convenient to coordinate the |
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establishment of the Bicentennial Trail, the land office shall |
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enter into memoranda of understanding with: |
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(1) political subdivisions, nonprofit organizations, |
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the Texas Department of Transportation, and other persons as |
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necessary to establish and maintain the trail; and |
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(2) the Parks and Wildlife Department: |
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(A) to acquire real property or interests in real |
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property as necessary to complete the trail routes; and |
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(B) concerning other matters related to the |
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establishment of the trail or the maintenance of the trail and |
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property associated with the trail. |
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(d) A memorandum of understanding entered into under |
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Subsection (c) may address: |
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(1) coordination of trail development; |
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(2) trail maintenance; |
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(3) acquisition of interests in real property; |
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(4) conservation efforts along the trail routes; or |
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(5) any other matter pertinent to the establishment or |
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maintenance of the trail. |
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(e) The land office may adopt rules as necessary to |
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coordinate the establishment of the Bicentennial Trail, including a |
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timeline for the acquisition of real property and real property |
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interests as necessary to complete the trail route. |
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(f) Real property or interests in real property necessary to |
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complete the trail routes may not be acquired through eminent |
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domain. |
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(g) This section expires September 1, 2037. |
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Sec. 31.502. BICENTENNIAL TRAIL PURPOSES. The Bicentennial |
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Trail is established as a network of hike and bike trails to connect |
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the Alamo to the State Capitol and to include hike and bike trail |
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connections to Barton Springs, San Marcos Springs, Comal Springs, |
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and San Antonio Springs for the purposes of promoting outdoor |
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recreation, environmental stewardship, and the historical and |
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cultural heritage of this state. |
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Sec. 31.503. USE OF BICENTENNIAL TRAIL PROPERTY. Real |
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property acquired by this state for the Bicentennial Trail may be |
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used only for the purposes of the Bicentennial Trail. |
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Sec. 31.504. BICENTENNIAL TRAIL MAINTENANCE. The Parks and |
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Wildlife Department shall maintain any real property acquired by |
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this state for the Bicentennial Trail. |
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SECTION 2. The expiration of Section 31.5011, Natural |
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Resources Code, as added by this Act, does not affect the validity |
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of a memorandum of understanding entered into under that section. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |