Monitoring the SessionSB 2198
Died in committee
THE TEXT
…“necessary, provide for the relocation by a special exception to any”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill orders cities to bend their own ordinances for one kind of business, commercial sign owners. The caption does say the bill is about commercial signs, so the favor is narrow but openly labeled.
Carve-outInitial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade
relating to the relocation, adjustment, and ownership of commercial signs.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Sound wall blocking the billboard? It moves, with a special exception to city rules.
The bill lets owners of billboards and other commercial signs move them to another permitted spot when highway work, public infrastructure, or a public improvement district project forces them out, or when their view is blocked by things like sound walls, grade changes, plants, or state beautification work. Cities must, if needed, grant a special exception to their own ordinances so the move can happen, and the bill declares that the rights of an older sign that no longer meets current rules belong to the sign owner. On the ground, sign owners gain a state-backed right to relocate and to keep grandfathered status, owners pay their own costs when relocating for a blocked view, and local sign ordinances can be overridden for these moves.
Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R SB 898 (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 SB 898 (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.NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 11, 2025 and referred to the Senate Transportation committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
89R-SB2198 · 2025-03-11
relating to the relocation, adjustment, and ownership of commercial signs.
Sound wall blocking the billboard? It moves, with a special exception to city rules.
The bill lets owners of billboards and other commercial signs move them to another permitted spot when highway work, public infrastructure, or a public improvement district project forces them out, or when their view is blocked by things like sound walls, grade changes, plants, or state beautification work. Cities must, if needed, grant a special exception to their own ordinances so the move can happen, and the bill declares that the rights of an older sign that no longer meets current rules belong to the sign owner. On the ground, sign owners gain a state-backed right to relocate and to keep grandfathered status, owners pay their own costs when relocating for a blocked view, and local sign ordinances can be overridden for these moves.
[x] CARVE-OUTanalysis confidence 45%
THE TEXT
…“necessary, provide for the relocation by a special exception to any”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill orders cities to bend their own ordinances for one kind of business, commercial sign owners. The caption does say the bill is about commercial signs, so the favor is narrow but openly labeled.
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
No verified beat found.
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CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Not tied to this bill.
The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.
Derived itemized flow · Jul 1, 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.
$250,000.00
Also funds 2 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 17, 2025 to Oct 15, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Derived itemized flow · Jul 17, 2025 to Oct 15, 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: 101028838, 101071548.
$100,000.00
Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · on Sep 4, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Derived itemized flow · on Sep 4, 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: 101067724.
$100,000.00
Also funds 32 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Feb 20, 2026 to Oct 14, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · on Oct 13, 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: 101071548.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
$250,000.00
Also funds 2 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 17, 2025 to Oct 15, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Derived itemized flow · Jul 17, 2025 to Oct 15, 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: 101028838, 101071548.
$100,000.00
Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · on Sep 4, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.
Derived itemized flow · on Sep 4, 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: 101067724.
$100,000.00
Also funds 32 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Feb 20, 2026 to Oct 14, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · on Oct 13, 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: 101071548.
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.
Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.
by Sen. Hughes, same lead author · Died in committee · reworked
Introduced textLast action, Mar 1, 2023: Referred to Transportation
Relating to the relocation, adjustment, and ownership of commercial and outdoor signs.
Caption, 88R bill history
Texas Senate · Filed Mar 11, 2025
03/25/2025 S Referred to Transportation
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
Senate committee · Transportation · Final status: Died in committee
HB 1695 by Canales (identical)
Business & Commerce--General
Highways
SIGNS
The text as introduced · 414 words
89R7876 AJZ-F By: Hughes S.B. No. 2198 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.