H.B. No. 1398 amends the Transportation Code to establish new regulations regarding memorial markers and designations on highways in Texas. Key changes include extending the duration that memorial signs can remain posted from two years to ten years, allowing for the possibility of sign replacement within that timeframe if the original sign is damaged and a request is made. Additionally, the bill clarifies the definition of "victim" in relation to motorcycle collisions, explicitly excluding individuals under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances at the time of the incident. It also mandates the Texas Transportation Commission to develop motorcyclist safety messages for these memorial signs.

Furthermore, the bill introduces a provision that limits the repair or replacement of markers to within ten years of their establishment unless funding is provided through grants or donations for markers erected after January 1, 2025. The Texas Transportation Commission is required to adopt rules for the new safety messages by December 1, 2025, but the Texas Department of Transportation will not be obligated to implement these changes until March 1, 2026. The act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Transportation Code 201.909 (Transportation Code 201)
House Committee Report: Transportation Code 201.909, Transportation Code 201.911, Transportation Code 225.021 (Transportation Code 225, Transportation Code 201)