These bills are still alive. Passed 2nd reading in House. Improves county laws on signs. HB 601 was incorporated into 600, so only 2 bills are proceeding. I am pleased that the lagislation includes a couple suggestions I made in testimony at the initial committee hearing regarding use of volunteers and low $ sign confiscation without notice: "A sheriff, constable, or other trained volunteer authorized by the commissioners court of a county may confiscate a sign placed in violation of Section 393.002" and "The sheriff, constable, or other trained volunteer authorized by the commissioners court may discard a sign of less than $25 in value without giving the notice required by Section 393.003."
The latest amendment EXCEPTION appears to let municipalities have those "temporary" kiosks for builders/developers on the highway ROW: "This chapter does not apply to a temporary directional sign or kiosk erected by a political subdivision as part of a program approved by the commission and administered by the political subdivision on a highway within the boundaries of the political subdivision." We would have to watch for appeals to the TX Transportation Commission for such program approvals and lobby against them. May be a big hurdle to jump.
From: http://www.hcnonline.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1574&dept_id=532216&newsid=14275641&PAG=461&rfi=9 Rep. Rob Eissler, R-The Woodlands "Bandit" signs, the small signs advertising anything from garage sales to new home building, are one step closer to becoming outlawed. House bills 600 and 599, authored by Eissler, were both voted out of committee this past week HB600 beefs up prosecution and fines for placing of bandit signs. Current law only allows prosecution of the person actually placing the signs, while Eissler's legislation will allow prosecution of the individual or business owner who produces the signs or the landowner who maintains them. Often the person placing the signs is a minimum-wage worker hired for that very purpose. HB599 will provide additional enforcement tools to prosecute those who place or maintain illegal off-premise billboards - those without a permit - along rural and federal roads.
