H.B. No. 1521
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the prohibition of signs on certain roads.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 391.252(a), Transportation Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  A person may not erect an off-premise sign that is
  adjacent to and visible from:
               (1)  U.S. Highway 290 between the western city limits
  of the city of Austin and the eastern city limits of the city of
  Fredericksburg;
               (2)  State Highway 317 between the northern city limits
  of the city of Belton to the southern city limits of the city of
  Valley Mills;
               (3)  State Highway 16 between the northern city limits
  of the city of Kerrville and Interstate Highway 20;
               (4)  U.S. Highway 77 between State Highway 186 and
  State Highway 44;
               (5)  [U.S. Highway 281 between State Highway 186 and
  Interstate Highway 37, exclusive of the segment of U.S. Highway 281
  located in the city limits of Three Rivers;
               [(5)]  U.S. Highway 281 between:
                     (A)  State Highway 186 and Interstate Highway 37,
  exclusive of the segment of U.S. Highway 281 located in the city
  limits of Three Rivers; and
                     (B)  the southern boundary line of Comal County
  and State Highway 306;
               (6)  State Highway 17 between State Highway 118 and
  U.S. Highway 90;
               (7)  State Highway 67 between U.S. Highway 90 and
  Farm-to-Market Road 170;
               (8)  Farm-to-Market Road 170 between State Highway 67
  and State Highway 118;
               (9)  State Highway 118 between Farm-to-Market Road 170
  and State Highway 17;
               (10)  State Highway 105 between the western city limits
  of the city of Sour Lake to the eastern city limits of the city of
  Cleveland;
               (11)  State Highway 73 between the eastern city limits
  of the city of Winnie to the western city limits of the city of Port
  Arthur;
               (12)  State Highway 21 between the southern city limits
  of the city of College Station and U.S. Highway 290;
               (13)  a highway located in:
                     (A)  the Sabine National Forest;
                     (B)  the Davy Crockett National Forest; or
                     (C)  the Sam Houston National Forest; [or]
               (14)  Segments 1 through 4 of State Highway 130;[.]
               (15) [(14)]  a highway in Bandera County that is part
  of the state highway system;[.]
               (16) [(14)]  Farm-to-Market Road 3238 beginning at
  State Highway 71 and any extension of that road through Hays and
  Blanco Counties;[.]
               (17) [(14)]  Farm-to-Market Road 2978 between
  Farm-to-Market Road 1488 and the boundary line between Harris and
  Montgomery Counties;[.]
               (18)  U.S. [(14)  State] Highway 90 between the
  western city limits of the city of San Antonio and the eastern city
  limits of the city of Hondo; or
               (19)  the following highways in Austin County:
                     (A)  State Highway 159;
                     (B)  Farm-to-Market Road 331;
                     (C)  Farm-to-Market Road 529;
                     (D)  Farm-to-Market Road 1094; and
                     (E)  Farm-to-Market Road 2502.
         SECTION 2.  A landowner to whom notice is given as provided
  by Section 3(b) of this Act may exclude the landowner's property
  from the application of Section 391.252(a)(19), Transportation
  Code, as added by this Act by notifying the Texas Department of
  Transportation in writing, by certified mail.  In order for the
  landowner's property to be excluded from the application of Section
  391.252(a)(19), Transportation Code, as added by this Act, the
  landowner's notice must be received by the Texas Department of
  Transportation within one year of the date the Texas Department of
  Transportation receives notification from all appropriate county
  clerks that notices were published as provided in Section 3(b) of
  this Act.  The exclusion of the landowner from the application of
  Section 391.252(a)(19), Transportation Code, as added by this Act
  becomes effective on the date the landowner's notice is received by
  the Texas Department of Transportation.
         SECTION 3.  (a)  Except as otherwise provided by this
  section, this Act takes effect September 1, 2007.
         (b)  Before Section 391.252(a)(19), Transportation Code, as
  added by this Act can become effective, notice shall be published in
  a newspaper of general circulation in the county or counties in
  which a segment of public road affected by Section 391.252(a)(19),
  Transportation Code, as added by this Act is located.  The notice
  shall identify the segment of public road affected by Section
  391.252(a)(19), Transportation Code, as added by this Act and state
  that the landowner's future right to lease the landowner's property
  for the purpose of erecting an off-premise sign will be terminated
  unless the landowner notifies the Texas Department of
  Transportation that the landowner plans to exclude the landowner's
  property from the application of Section 391.252(a)(19),
  Transportation Code, as added by this Act.  The notice must be
  published by the appropriate county clerk or clerks in accordance
  with this subsection within 45 days of the effective date of this
  Act.  The appropriate county clerk or clerks shall notify the Texas
  Department of Transportation in writing, by certified mail, when
  the notice is published in accordance with this subsection.  The
  notice provided to the Texas Department of Transportation by the
  county clerk is public information for the purposes of Chapter 552,
  Government Code, and must include the affidavit of the publisher of
  the newspaper notice indicating the date the notice was published,
  accompanied by a printed copy of the notice as published.
         (c)  Section 391.252(a)(19), Transportation Code, as added
  by this Act takes effect on the 91st day after the Texas Department
  of Transportation receives  notification from all appropriate
  county clerks as provided in Subsection (b).
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1521 was passed by the House on March
  28, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 145, Nays 0, 2 present, not
  voting; that the House refused to concur in Senate amendments to
  H.B. No. 1521 on May 23, 2007, and requested the appointment of a
  conference committee to consider the differences between the two
  houses; and that the House adopted the conference committee report
  on H.B. No. 1521 on May 28, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 143,
  Nays 0, 2 present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1521 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 18, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 28, Nays
  1; at the request of the House, the Senate appointed a conference
  committee to consider the differences between the two houses; and
  that the Senate adopted the conference committee report on H.B. No.
  1521 on May 27, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor