HB 3611: bill capping penalties for signs on road right-of-way

Caption

relating to the civil penalty for certain signs placed on the right-of-way of a public road.

Summary

Caps of $1,000, $2,500 and $5,000. No more per-day penalty.

The bill rewrites the civil penalty for signs placed on the right-of-way of a public road without legal authorization. It removes the old $500 minimum and the separate penalty for each day a sign stays up, and replaces them with caps of $1,000 for a first violation, $2,500 for a second and $5,000 for a third or later one. It reaches people who place or commission a sign and businesses whose ad appears on one, and local prosecutors can still sue to collect starting September 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: BACK FROM THE DEAD. Same text as a bill filed before that died: 88R HB 1863 by Rep. Thierry (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.CROSS-PARTY HANDOFF. Lead author Pat Curry (R) in the House. Lead sponsor Borris Miles (D) in the Senate. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.ACROSS THE AISLE. Joint authors: 2 Republicans, 3 Democrats. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB3611 · 2025-03-03

SOLD BY

Rep. Pat CurryRHouse 56

Rep. Lauren Ashley SimmonsDHouse 146

Rep. Mary Ann PerezDHouse 144

+ 2 more authors, 9 coauthors

ITEM

relating to the civil penalty for certain signs placed on the right-of-way of a public road.

WHAT IT DOES

Caps of $1,000, $2,500 and $5,000. No more per-day penalty.

The bill rewrites the civil penalty for signs placed on the right-of-way of a public road without legal authorization. It removes the old $500 minimum and the separate penalty for each day a sign stays up, and replaces them with caps of $1,000 for a first violation, $2,500 for a second and $5,000 for a third or later one. It reaches people who place or commission a sign and businesses whose ad appears on one, and local prosecutors can still sue to collect starting September 1, 2025.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 13, 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

Mar 3, 2025Filed
Mar 25, 2025Read first time
Mar 25, 2025Referred to Transportation
Apr 3, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Apr 3, 2025Considered in public hearing
Apr 3, 2025Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
Apr 3, 2025Left pending in committee
Apr 9, 2025Considered in formal meeting
Apr 9, 2025Committee substitute considered in committee
Apr 9, 2025Recommended to be sent to Local & Consent
Apr 9, 2025Reported favorably as substituted
Apr 15, 2025Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
Apr 15, 2025Committee report distributed
Apr 16, 2025Comm. report sent to Local & Consent Calendar
Apr 23, 2025Considered in Local & Consent Calendars
Apr 25, 2025Placed on Local, Consent, and Res. Calendar
Apr 25, 2025Withdrawn from calendar (contested)
Apr 25, 2025Returned to Local & Consent Calendars Comm.
Apr 25, 2025Considered in Local & Consent Calendars
Apr 25, 2025Transferred to Calendars Committee
Apr 25, 2025Committee report sent to Calendars
Apr 25, 2025Considered in Calendars
Apr 29, 2025Placed on General State Calendar
Apr 29, 2025Read 2nd time
Apr 29, 2025Passed to engrossment
Apr 29, 2025Record vote RV#908
Apr 29, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
Apr 30, 2025Read 3rd time
Apr 30, 2025Passed
Apr 30, 2025Record vote RV#1048
Apr 30, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
Apr 30, 2025Reported engrossed
Apr 30, 2025Received from the House
May 5, 2025Read first time
May 5, 2025Referred to Transportation
May 14, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
May 14, 2025Considered in public hearing
May 14, 2025Vote taken in committee
May 14, 2025Reported favorably w/o amendments
May 14, 2025Committee report printed and distributed
May 16, 2025Placed on intent calendar
May 19, 2025Rules suspended-Regular order of business
May 19, 2025Record vote
May 19, 2025Read 2nd time & passed to 3rd reading
May 19, 2025Record vote
May 19, 2025Three day rule suspended
May 19, 2025Record vote
May 19, 2025Read 3rd time
May 19, 2025Passed
May 19, 2025Record vote
May 19, 2025Senate passage reported
May 19, 2025Reported enrolled
May 20, 2025Signed in the House
May 20, 2025Signed in the Senate
May 20, 2025Sent to the Governor
May 29, 2025Signed by the Governor
May 29, 2025Effective on 9/1/25

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 112 yea · 23 nay

Senate · 26 yea · 5 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · Apr 30, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 19, 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

Pat Curry

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$192KDavid Jessup$68,092Texas Sands PAC$37K

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 · Oct 31, 2024 to Oct 23, 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.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$192,192.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$192,192.00

Cash: $65,000.00
Paid by others: $127,192.00
Total: $192,192.00

advertising $108,442.00polling $18,750.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 24, 2025 to Sep 17, 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: 101010834, 101033425, 101040992, 101069649.

David Jessup$68,091.82

Texas Sands PAC$37,000.00

Texas Sands PAC

$37,000.00

Cash: $37,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $37,000.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 9, 2024 to Oct 12, 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: 101012342, 101040992, 101072660.

Money

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

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$192,192.00

Cash: $65,000.00
Paid by others: $127,192.00
Total: $192,192.00

advertising $108,442.00polling $18,750.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 24, 2025 to Sep 17, 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: 101010834, 101033425, 101040992, 101069649.

×

Texas Sands PAC

$37,000.00

Cash: $37,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $37,000.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 9, 2024 to Oct 12, 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: 101012342, 101040992, 101072660.

Votes6

Senate May 19, 2025

Yea: 26
Nay: 5
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: 0
Excused: 0

Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 26, Nays 5. (Same as previous roll call)

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

Yea: 26 (published)
Nay: 5 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

Senate May 19, 2025

Yea: 26
Nay: 5
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: 0
Excused: 0

Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

Senator Miles moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that HB 3611 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 26, Nays 5.

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

Yea: 26 (published)
Nay: 5 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

Senate May 19, 2025

Yea: 26
Nay: 5
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: 0
Excused: 0

Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

The bill was read second time and was passed to third reading by the following vote: Yeas 26, Nays 5. (Same as previous roll call)

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

Yea: 26 (published)
Nay: 5 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

Senate May 19, 2025

Yea: 26
Nay: 5
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: 0
Excused: 0

Names

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

Senate journal

Sources

Senator Miles moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration HB 3611 at this time on its second reading: HB 3611, Relating to the civil penalty for certain signs placed on the right-of-way of a public road. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 26, Nays 5.

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

Yea: 26 (published)
Nay: 5 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

House Apr 30, 2025

Yea: 112
Nay: 23
Present, not voting: 2
Absent: 1
Excused: 12

Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 1048

HB 3611 was passed by (Record 1048): 112 Yeas, 23 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

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

Yea: 112 (published)
Nay: 23 (published)
Present, not voting: 2 (published)
Absent: 1 (derived from named list)
Excused: 12 (derived from named list)

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

House Apr 29, 2025

Yea: 129
Nay: 17
Present, not voting: 3
Absent: 1
Excused: 0

Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 908

CSHB 3611 was passed to engrossment by (Record 908): 129 Yeas, 17 Nays, 3 Present, not voting.

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

Yea: 129 (published)
Nay: 17 (published)
Present, not voting: 3 (published)
Absent: 1 (derived from named list)
Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

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

Witnesses14

For: 12
Against: 1
On: 1

Names

For

City of Fort Worth1 registration
City of Houston4 registrations
City of San Antonio2 registrations
El Paso County1 registration
Harris County Commissioners Court1 registration
Self3 registrations

Against

Self1 registration

On

Self; TURF, Texans for Tollfree Highways, We the People - Liberty in Action1 registration

Sources

14 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.

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

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 13, 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 1863

by Rep. Thierry, different lead author · Died in committee · same text

Introduced text

Last action, May 3, 2023: Left pending in committee

Relating to the civil penalty for certain signs placed on the right-of-way of a public road.

Caption, 88R bill history

Sources

Texas House · Filed Mar 3, 2025

05/29/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report · Engrossed · Senate Committee Report · Enrolled

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Coauthors

Sheryl ColeDHouse 46

Mano DeAyalaRHouse 133

Jolanda "Jo" JonesDHouse 147

Christian ManuelDHouse 22

Penny Morales ShawDHouse 148

Ron ReynoldsDHouse 27

Jon E. RosenthalDHouse 135

Hubert VoDHouse 149

Charlene Ward JohnsonDHouse 139

Companion

SB 284 by Miles (identical)

Subjects

Civil Remedies & Liabilities

Highways

ADVERTISING

SIGNS

Text

The text as introduced · 304 words

89R395 CXP-D

By: Curry
H.B. No. 3611

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the civil penalty for certain signs placed on the

right-of-way of a public road.

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

SECTION 1. Sections 393.007(a) and (b), Transportation

Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) A person who places or commissions the placement of or

whose commercial advertisement is placed on a sign on the

right-of-way of a public road that is not otherwise authorized by

law may be liable for a civil penalty. A district or county

attorney or a municipal attorney in the jurisdiction in which the

placement of a sign on the right-of-way of a public road is alleged

to have occurred may sue to collect the penalty.

(b) The amount of the civil penalty may not exceed:

(1) [ is not less than $500 or more than ] $1,000 for a

first [ each ] violation ;

(2) $2,500 for a second violation; and

(3) $5,000 for a third or subsequent violation [ ,

depending on the seriousness of the violation and whether the

person has previously violated this chapter. A separate penalty

may be collected for each day a continuing violation occurs ].

SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only

to a violation that occurs on or after the effective date of this

Act. A violation that occurs before the effective date of this Act

is governed by the law in effect on the date the violation occurred,

and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For

purposes of this section, a violation occurs before the effective

date of this Act if any element of the violation occurs before that

date.

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

Verdict: No flags

The receipt

SOLD BY

ITEM

WHAT IT DOES

CHARGES

TOTAL

HISTORY

SIGNED FOR BY

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

Texas Sands PAC

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

Texas Sands PAC

Senate May 19, 2025

Senate May 19, 2025

Senate May 19, 2025

Senate May 19, 2025

House Apr 30, 2025

House Apr 29, 2025

For

Against

On

88R HB 1863

Companion