By: Hefner H.B. No. 3642 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the designation of portions of the state highway system as memorial highways and bridges, to certain memorial markers and designations on certain highways, and to highway signs for certain cultural attractions. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Sections 201.909(e), (f), and (g), Transportation Code, are amended to read as follows: (e) If the application meets the department's requirements and the applicant pays the memorial sign fee, the department shall erect a sign. A sign posted under this section may remain posted for 10 [two] years. At the end of the 10-year [two-year] period the department may release the sign to the applicant. The department is not required to release a sign that has been damaged. (f) A sign posted under this section that is damaged shall be removed by the department. Except as provided in Subsection (g), the department may post a new sign if it has been less than 10 [two] years from the posting of the original sign and a person: (1) submits a written request to the department to replace the sign; and (2) submits a replacement fee in the amount provided under Subsection (d)(2). (g) During the 10-year [two-year] posting period the department shall replace a sign posted under this section that is damaged because of the department's negligence. SECTION 2. Section 201.911, Transportation Code, is amended by amending Subsections (a) and (c) and adding Subsection (c-1) to read as follows: (a) In this section, "victim" means a person killed in a highway collision while operating or riding on a motorcycle. The term does not include a person who was under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance at the time of the collision. (c) A sign designed and posted under this section shall include: (1) a motorcyclist safety message selected from the options provided by commission rule under Subsection (c-1) [red cross]; (2) the phrase "In Memory Of" and the name of one or more victims in accordance with the commission rule; and (3) the date of the collision that resulted in the victim's death. (c-1) The commission by rule shall develop motorcyclist safety messages that may be used on the memorial signs under this section. SECTION 3. Section 225.021, Transportation Code, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (e) to read as follows: (a) Subject to Subsection (e), the [The] department shall repair and replace each marker required by this subchapter and maintain the grounds for the marker. (e) The department may not repair or replace a marker after the 10th anniversary of the effective date of the provision requiring the marker to be erected unless a grant or donation of funds is made to the department to cover the cost of the repair or replacement of the marker. This subsection applies only to a provision of this subchapter enacted after January 1, 2025, that requires the erection of a marker. SECTION 4. Subchapter B, Chapter 225, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Sections 225.243, 225.244, 225.245, 225.246, 225.247, 225.248, 225.249, 225.250, 225.251, 225.252, 225.253, 225.254, 225.255, 225.256, 225.257, 225.258, 225.259, and 225.260 to read as follows: Sec. 225.243. PETTY OFFICER BILLY MACHEN MEMORIAL BRIDGE. (a) The Farm-to-Market Road 852 bridge crossing Lake Gilmer in Upshur County is designated as the Petty Officer Billy Machen Memorial Bridge. The designation is in addition to any other designation. (b) Subject to Section 225.021(c), the department shall: (1) design and construct markers indicating the designation as the Petty Officer Billy Machen Memorial Bridge and any other appropriate information; and (2) erect a marker at each end of the bridge. Sec. 225.244. MOLLY MULLENS MILE. (a) The portion of U.S. Highway 287 in Wilbarger County between its intersection with County Road 111 and County Road 132 East is designated as the Molly Mullens Mile. The designation is in addition to any other designation. (b) Subject to Section 225.021(c), the department shall: (1) design and construct markers indicating the designation as the Molly Mullens Mile and any other appropriate information; and (2) erect a marker at each end of the highway and at appropriate intermediate sites along the highway. Sec. 225.245. TROOPER KEVIN RAMIREZ VASQUEZ MEMORIAL HIGHWAY. (a) The portion of State Highway 302 in Ector County between its intersection with Farm-to-Market Road 2019 and the Ector-Winkler County line is designated as the Trooper Kevin Ramirez Vasquez Memorial Highway. (b) Subject to Section 225.021(c), the department shall: (1) design and construct markers indicating the designation as the Trooper Kevin Ramirez Vasquez Memorial Highway and any other appropriate information; and (2) erect a marker at each end of the highway and at appropriate intermediate sites along the highway. Sec. 225.246. LIEUTENANT MILTON RESENDEZ MEMORIAL HIGHWAY. (a) The portion of State Highway 345 in the municipal limits of San Benito is designated as the Lieutenant Milton Resendez Memorial Highway. The designation is in addition to any other designation. (b) Subject to Section 225.021(c), the department shall: (1) design and construct markers indicating the designation as the Lieutenant Milton Resendez Memorial Highway and any other appropriate information; and (2) erect a marker at each end of the highway and at appropriate intermediate sites along the highway. Sec. 225.247. DEPUTY SHERIFF CHRIS DICKERSON MEMORIAL HIGHWAY. (a) Farm-to-Market Road 10 in Panola County is designated as the Deputy Sheriff Chris Dickerson Memorial Highway. The designation is in addition to any other designation. (b) Subject to Section 225.021(c), the department shall: (1) design and construct markers indicating the designation as the Deputy Sheriff Chris Dickerson Memorial Highway and any other appropriate information; and (2) erect a marker at each end of the highway and at appropriate intermediate sites along the highway. Sec. 225.248. DEPUTY SHERIFF DAVID BOSECKER MEMORIAL HIGHWAY. (a) The portion of U.S. Highway 183 in Eastland County between its intersection with Farm-to-Market Road 2526 and its intersection with Farm-to-Market Road 2731 is designated as the Deputy Sheriff David Bosecker Memorial Highway. The designation is in addition to any other designation. (b) Subject to Section 225.021(c), the department shall: (1) design and construct markers indicating the designation as the Deputy Sheriff David Bosecker Memorial Highway and any other appropriate information; and (2) erect a marker at each end of the highway and at appropriate intermediate sites along the highway. Sec. 225.249. SERGEANT MARK BUTLER MEMORIAL HIGHWAY. (a) The portion of State Highway 6 in Brazos County between the southern municipal limits of College Station and the northern municipal limits of Navasota is designated as the Sergeant Mark Butler Memorial Highway. The designation is in addition to any other designation. (b) Subject to Section 225.021(c), the department shall: (1) design and construct markers indicating the designation as the Sergeant Mark Butler Memorial Highway and any other appropriate information; and (2) erect a marker at each end of the highway and at appropriate intermediate sites along the highway. Sec. 225.250. CORPORAL SPEEDY ESPERICUETA MEMORIAL HIGHWAY. (a) The portion of U.S. Highway 83 in the municipal limits of Mission is designated as the Corporal Speedy Espericueta Memorial Highway. The designation is in addition to any other designation. (b) Subject to Section 225.021(c), the department shall: (1) design and construct markers indicating the designation as the Corporal Speedy Espericueta Memorial Highway and any other appropriate information; and (2) erect a marker at each end of the highway and at appropriate intermediate sites along the highway. Sec. 225.251. CAPTAIN KEVIN WILLIAMS AND FIREFIGHTER AUSTIN CHEEK MEMORIAL HIGHWAY. (a) The portion of Farm-to-Market Road 2493 in Smith County between its intersection with Church Street in Flint and its intersection with County Road 150 is designated as the Captain Kevin Williams and Firefighter Austin Cheek Memorial Highway. The designation is in addition to any other designation. (b) Subject to Section 225.021(c), the department shall: (1) design and construct markers indicating the designation as the Captain Kevin Williams and Firefighter Austin Cheek Memorial Highway and any other appropriate information; and (2) erect a marker at each end of the highway and at appropriate intermediate sites along the highway. Sec. 225.252. FIRE MARSHAL JIMMY W. SEATON MEMORIAL HIGHWAY. (a) The portion of State Highway 64 in Smith County between its intersection with State Highway Loop 323 and its intersection with the western Smith County line is designated as the Fire Marshal Jimmy W. Seaton Memorial Highway. The designation is in addition to any other designation. (b) Subject to Section 225.021(c), the department shall: (1) design and construct markers indicating the designation as the Fire Marshal Jimmy W. Seaton Memorial Highway and any other appropriate information; and (2) erect a marker at each end of the highway and at appropriate intermediate sites along the highway. Sec. 225.253. CECIL AND DOROTHY BELL MEMORIAL HIGHWAY. (a) The portion of U.S. Highway 79 in Freestone and Leon Counties between its intersection with U.S. Highway 84 and its intersection with the western municipal limits of Oakwood is designated as the Cecil and Dorothy Bell Memorial Highway. The designation is in addition to any other designation. (b) Subject to Section 225.021(c), the department shall: (1) design and construct markers indicating the designation as the Cecil and Dorothy Bell Memorial Highway and any other appropriate information; and (2) erect a marker at each end of the highway and at appropriate intermediate sites along the highway. Sec. 225.254. FIRST RESPONDERS MEMORIAL LOOP. (a) The portion of State Highway Loop 88 under construction as of September 1, 2025, as a relief route around Lubbock, in Lubbock County is designated as the First Responders Memorial Loop. The designation is in addition to any other designation. (b) Subject to Section 225.021(c), the department shall: (1) design and construct markers indicating the designation as the First Responders Memorial Loop and any other appropriate information; and (2) erect a marker at appropriate sites along the loop. Sec. 225.255. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON MEMORIAL HIGHWAY. (a) The portion of U.S. Highway 67 in Dallas and Ellis Counties between its intersection with U.S. Highway 287 and its intersection with Interstate Highway 20 is designated as the Eddie Bernice Johnson Memorial Highway. The designation is in addition to any other designation. (b) Subject to Section 225.021(c), the department shall: (1) design and construct markers indicating the designation as the Eddie Bernice Johnson Memorial Highway and any other appropriate information; and (2) erect a marker at each end of the highway and at appropriate intermediate sites along the highway. Sec. 225.256. U.S. BORDER PATROL AGENT JOSE RODRIGUEZ-LUA MEMORIAL HIGHWAY. (a) The portion of U.S. Highway 281 in Hidalgo County between its intersection with Farm-to-Market Road 493 and its intersection with Farm-to-Market Road 88 is designated as the U.S. Border Patrol Agent Jose Rodriguez-Lua Memorial Highway. The designation is in addition to any other designation. (b) Subject to Section 225.021(c), the department shall: (1) design and construct markers indicating the designation as the U.S. Border Patrol Agent Jose Rodriguez-Lua Memorial Highway and any other appropriate information; and (2) erect a marker at each end of the highway and at appropriate intermediate sites along the highway. Sec. 225.257. HAMBY-WEBB MEMORIAL HIGHWAY. (a) The portion of State Highway 315 in Panola County between its intersection with the western Panola County line and its intersection with the western municipal boundary of Carthage is designated as the Hamby-Webb Memorial Highway. The designation is in addition to any other designation. (b) Subject to Section 225.021(c), the department shall: (1) design and construct markers indicating the designation as the Hamby-Webb Memorial Highway and any other appropriate information; and (2) erect a marker at each end of the highway and at appropriate intermediate sites along the highway. Sec. 225.258. MUCKLEROY FAMILY MEMORIAL HIGHWAY. (a) The portion of U.S. Highway 281 in Blanco and Burnet Counties between its intersection with State Highway 71 and Ranch Road 962 is designated as the Muckleroy Family Memorial Highway. The designation is in addition to any other designation. (b) Subject to Section 225.021(c), the department shall: (1) design and construct markers indicating the designation as the Muckleroy Family Memorial Highway and any other appropriate information; and (2) erect a marker at each end of the highway and at appropriate intermediate sites along the highway. Sec. 225.259. BOB CORNETT PARKWAY. (a) The portion of U.S. Highway 377 under construction as of September 1, 2024, as a relief route around Cresson, in Hood and Johnson Counties is designated as the Bob Cornett Parkway. The designation is in addition to any other designation. (b) Subject to Section 225.021(c), the department shall: (1) design and construct markers indicating the designation as the Bob Cornett Parkway and any other appropriate information; and (2) erect a marker at each end of the highway and at appropriate intermediate sites along the highway. Sec. 225.260. BILL STOUDT PARKWAY. (a) The portion of Farm-to-Market Road 2275 in Gregg County between its intersection with U.S. Highway 259 and its intersection with Spur 502/Judson Road is designated as the Bill Stoudt Parkway. The designation is in addition to any other designation. (b) Subject to Section 225.021(c), the department shall: (1) design and construct markers indicating the designation as the Bill Stoudt Parkway and any other appropriate information; and (2) erect a marker at each end of the highway and at appropriate intermediate sites along the highway. SECTION 5. (a) Not later than December 1, 2025, the Texas Transportation Commission shall adopt the rules required by Section 201.911(c-1), Transportation Code, as added by this Act. (b) Notwithstanding Section 201.911, Transportation Code, as amended by this Act, the Texas Department of Transportation is not required to comply with the changes in law made by this Act to Sections 201.909, 201.911, and 225.021, Transportation Code, before March 1, 2026. SECTION 6. (a) Subject to Subsection (c) of this section and not later than September 1, 2026, the Texas Department of Transportation shall erect and maintain highway signs guiding road users to the Koreatown District in the Northwest Dallas neighborhood of Dallas from the following routes: (1) the exits for Royal Lane from northbound and southbound Interstate Highway 35E; and (2) the exits for Luna Road from eastbound and westbound Interstate Highway 635. (b) Subject to Subsection (c) of this section and not later than September 1, 2026, the Texas Department of Transportation shall erect and maintain highway signs guiding road users to the Chinatown District in Richardson from the following routes: (1) the exits for Arapaho Road from northbound and southbound U.S. Highway 75; and (2) the exits for Belt Line Road and Main Street from northbound and southbound U.S. Highway 75. (c) A sign erected under this section may not violate the Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices or the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices issued by the United States Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. SECTION 7. It is the intent of the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, that the provisions added by this Act be renumbered to prevent multiple provisions with the same designation. SECTION 8. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.