Monitoring the Session

HB 1695

bill letting billboard owners move signs public work pushes out

Died in committee

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. Terry CanalesDHouse 40

Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to the relocation, adjustment, and ownership of commercial signs.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

walls, plants or construction blocking the view count too.

The bill lets a billboard or other commercial sign owner move a sign when highway work, public infrastructure, or a public improvement district project forces it out, or when walls, grade changes, plants, construction, or state sign work block its view. Cities must grant a special exception to their own ordinances when needed to allow the move, though owners pay their own costs for view-blocked moves. It also says the rights tied to an older sign that was legal when built but no longer meets current rules belong to the sign owner.

Labels

Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R HB 2806 (Died in committee) and this bill (Died in committee). Checked against 88R only.DO-OVER. Reworked text of a bill filed before that died: 88R HB 2806 (Died in committee). Filed in 2 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R only.TRY NO. 2. Filed in 2 sessions: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.GOT HALFWAY. Passed the House on Apr 29, 2025. Died in the Senate: never got out of the Transportation committee.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB1695 · 2024-12-20

SOLD BY

Rep. Terry CanalesDHouse 40

ITEM

relating to the relocation, adjustment, and ownership of commercial signs.

WHAT IT DOES

walls, plants or construction blocking the view count too.

The bill lets a billboard or other commercial sign owner move a sign when highway work, public infrastructure, or a public improvement district project forces it out, or when walls, grade changes, plants, construction, or state sign work block its view. Cities must grant a special exception to their own ordinances when needed to allow the move, though owners pay their own costs for view-blocked moves. It also says the rights tied to an older sign that was legal when built but no longer meets current rules belong to the sign owner.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · March 31, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Filed
  2. Read first time
  3. Referred to Transportation
  4. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  5. Withdrawn from schedule
  6. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  7. Considered in public hearing
  8. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  9. Left pending in committee
  10. Considered in formal meeting
  11. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  12. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  13. Committee report distributed
  14. Committee report sent to Calendars
  15. Considered in Calendars
  16. Placed on General State Calendar
  17. Read 2nd time
  18. Passed to engrossment
  19. Record vote RV#650
  20. Read 3rd time
  21. Passed
  22. Record vote RV#745
  23. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  24. Reported engrossed
  25. Received from the House
  26. Read first time
  27. Referred to Transportation
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 146 yea · 1 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · Apr 29, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Terry Canales

Donors

Associated General Contractors of Texas PAC$65KTexas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$35KCurtis E. Ford$30,605

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Aug 9, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Associated General Contractors of Texas PAC$65,000.00

Associated General Contractors of Texas PAC

$65,000.00

Cash
$65,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$65,000.00

Also funds 120 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 19, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 6, 2024 to Oct 21, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100986692, 101072185.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$35,000.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$35,000.00

Cash
$35,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$35,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Aug 9, 2024 to Sep 29, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100986692, 101030306, 101068017, 101072185.

Curtis E. Ford$30,605.00
Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Associated General Contractors of Texas PAC

$65,000.00

Cash
$65,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$65,000.00

Also funds 120 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 19, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 6, 2024 to Oct 21, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100986692, 101072185.

×

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$35,000.00

Cash
$35,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$35,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Aug 9, 2024 to Sep 29, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100986692, 101030306, 101068017, 101072185.

Votes2

House Apr 29, 2025

Yea
146
Nay
1
Present, not voting
1
Absent
1
Excused
1
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 745

HB 1695 was passed by (Record 745): 146 Yeas, 1 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 146 (published)
  • Nay: 1 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 1 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House Apr 28, 2025

Yea
145
Nay
1
Present, not voting
2
Absent
1
Excused
1
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 650

HB 1695 was passed to engrossment by (Record 650): 145 Yeas, 1 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 145 (published)
  • Nay: 1 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 1 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses10
For
6
Against
3
On
1
Names

For

  • Outdoor Advertising Association of Texas1 registration
  • Reagan Outdoor Advertising1 registration
  • Self4 registrations

Against

  • Self3 registrations

On

  • Texas Department of Transportation1 registration
Sources

10 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

House witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · March 31, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

FILED BEFORE

Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.

88R HB 2806

by Rep. Canales, same lead author · Died in committee · reworked

Introduced text

Last action, May 17, 2023: Referred to Transportation

Relating to the relocation, adjustment, and ownership of commercial signs.

Caption, 88R bill history

Sources

Texas House · Filed Dec 20, 2024

04/30/2025 S Referred to Transportation

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report · Engrossed

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 6:51 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

House committee · Transportation · Committee vote 11 aye, 0 nay, 2 absent · Out of committee

Senate committee · Transportation · Final status: Died in committee

Companion

SB 2198 by Hughes (identical)

Subjects

Business & Commerce--General

City Government--Roads

Highways

SIGNS

Text

The text as introduced · 414 words

89R7876 AJZ-F

By: Canales
H.B. No. 1695

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the relocation, adjustment, and ownership of commercial

signs.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 391, Transportation Code,

is amended by adding Sections 391.0331 and 391.037 to read as

follows:

Sec. 391.0331. RELOCATION OF CERTAIN COMMERCIAL SIGNS

BECAUSE OF HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION, PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, OR PUBLIC

IMPROVEMENT. (a) If a commercial sign use, structure, or permit

may not be continued because of the widening, construction, or

reconstruction of a highway, the installation, expansion, or

construction of public infrastructure, or the undertaking of a

public improvement project by a public improvement district, the

owner of the commercial sign may relocate the use, structure, or

permit to another location permitted by this chapter or rules

adopted under this chapter.

(b) If the use or structure is located in a municipality,

the municipality in which the use or structure is located shall, if

necessary, provide for the relocation by a special exception to any

applicable ordinance.

Sec. 391.037. OBSTRUCTION OF VIEW AND READABILITY OF

CERTAIN COMMERCIAL SIGNS. (a) If the view and readability of a

commercial sign are obstructed due to a noise abatement or safety

measure, a grade change, vegetation, construction, an aesthetic

improvement made by an agency of this state, or a directional sign,

the owner of the commercial sign may relocate the sign to a location

in which a commercial sign is permitted under this chapter or rules

adopted under this chapter. The owner of the sign is responsible

for all costs associated with relocating a sign under this

subsection and is not entitled to any compensation for those costs.

(b) If the commercial sign is located in a municipality, the

municipality in which the commercial sign is located shall, if

necessary, provide for the relocation by a special exception to any

applicable ordinance.

SECTION 2. Subtitle H, Title 6, Transportation Code, is

amended by adding Chapter 398 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 398. PROVISIONS GENERALLY APPLICABLE TO OUTDOOR COMMERCIAL

SIGNS

Sec. 398.001. RIGHTS OF OWNER OF CERTAIN SIGNS. The rights

associated with a commercial sign, as defined by Section 391.001,

that was lawfully erected but no longer complies with current laws

and regulations, including laws and regulations promulgated under

Chapters 391 and 394 of this code, and Chapter 216, Local Government

Code, vest in the owner of the commercial sign.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.