bill rewrites penalties for signs on road right-of-way

The text as introduced · 304 words

89R395 CXP-D

By: Miles
S.B. No. 284

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.