Committee advances bill raising penalties and clarifying liability for illegal street "bandit" signs

Senator West laid out Senate Bill 284 to the Senate Transportation Committee, describing “bandit signs” as small illegal advertising signs placed in medians and intersections. The bill would increase civil penalties for placing those signs on highway rights-of-way and clarify that both the person who posts a sign and the party advertising on it can be held liable.

Houston officials and local advocates told the committee that the signs create safety and economic problems and often target vulnerable people. Martha Castack Tatum, Houston mayor pro tem and a city council member, said the city spends “thousands of dollars a month cleaning up and dealing with these signs,” and characterized some ads as “predatory public nuisance[s]” that exploit residents.

Andrea French, executive director of Scenic Houston, testified in support and said the proposed higher fees are intended to “dissuade current and potential repeat offenders.” She described signs that “spam our sidewalks, clutter our communities, and in many cases, land in our drains and waterways,” and said the measure would give local governments stronger enforcement tools.

Senator Betancourt noted previous objections to owner liability provisions and said she had voted against a previous iteration on the floor because an owner could be penalized for a sign placed without the owner’s knowledge. The committee received numerous registrations in support from Houston and county officials; no opposition testimony was recorded.

Senator Miles moved a committee-substitute motion and, after roll call, the committee substitute for SB 284 left the committee with a mixed vote (5 ayes, 4 nays) and the substitute advanced out of committee. The transcript shows supporters urging passage to protect communities and reduce cleanup costs.