Overall Vote Recommendation

Yes

Principle Criteria

Free Enterprise

Property Rights

Personal Responsibility

Limited Government

Individual Liberty

Digest

HB 2061 seeks to honor the memory of Lance Corporal Armando Hernandez by designating a portion of State Highway 242 in Montgomery County as the Lance Corporal Armando Hernandez Memorial Bridge. Specifically, the bill applies to the structure on SH 242 that crosses over Interstate Highway 69.

Under the provisions of the bill, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is directed to design, construct, and install appropriate signage to reflect this honorary designation. Signage must be placed at each end of the bridge and at any other appropriate intermediate locations. However, this is subject to existing statute under Section 225.021(c) of the Transportation Code, which generally requires private funding for memorial signs unless a governmental entity sponsors the designation.

The bill does not alter the legal or functional status of the bridge and is explicitly in addition to any other name or designation it may already hold. The bill adds a new section, 225.243, to the Texas Transportation Code to codify the memorial designation.

The originally filed version of HB 2061 designated the bridge at the intersection of State Highway 242 and State Highway 59 in Montgomery County as the Lance Corporal Armando Hernandez Memorial Bridge. The bill directed the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to erect signage at each end of the bridge, subject to Section 225.021(c) of the Transportation Code, and added the designation under Section 225.217 of the code.

In contrast, the Committee Substitute version clarified and refined the location and statutory placement. It changed the reference to “State Highway 59” to Interstate Highway 69, which reflects the modern, federally designated name for the route formerly known as SH 59. Additionally, the bill updated the statutory reference, placing the designation under Section 225.243 instead of Section 225.217, likely to maintain sequential consistency with other recent transportation code amendments.

Another difference lies in the signage provision. While the original bill required signage only at each end of the bridge, the substitute version expanded this requirement to include intermediate sites along the highway, allowing greater flexibility for TxDOT in placing markers. These edits represent minor but meaningful refinements aimed at aligning the designation with updated geographic naming conventions, enhancing clarity in statute placement, and offering greater signage visibility.

Author (1)

Janis Holt

Co-Author (1)

Joanne Shofner

Sponsor (1)

Brandon Creighton

Contact the Author

Rep. Janis Holt

Capitol Phone:

(512) 463-0570

Capitol Office:

EXT E1.416

E-Mail:

[email protected]

Visit Official Website

Fiscal Notes

According to the Legislative Budget Board (LBB), HB 2061 is not expected to have a significant fiscal impact on the State of Texas. While the bill authorizes the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to design, construct, and install memorial signage for the Lance Corporal Armando Hernandez Memorial Bridge, it is assumed that any associated costs could be absorbed using TxDOT’s existing operational resources and appropriations.

This expectation reflects the relatively minor nature of expenses related to erecting memorial highway signs, which typically involve the fabrication and installation of a limited number of standard-format markers. TxDOT routinely handles such designations and has established procedures and budgetary flexibility to manage these activities without requiring additional funding.

Furthermore, the bill has no anticipated fiscal implications for local governments. Since it does not impose any mandates or responsibilities on counties, municipalities, or other political subdivisions, no additional expenditures or administrative burdens are expected at the local level. Overall, HB 2061 is fiscally neutral and administratively manageable within the scope of current government operations.

Vote Recommendation Notes

HB 2061 intends to honor the life and sacrifice of Lance Corporal Armando Hernandez by naming a bridge on State Highway 242 over Interstate 69 in Montgomery County in his memory. The legislative intent reflects a community-driven initiative, with the bill being filed at the request of a constituent closely connected to the local area.

From a governance perspective, the bill imposes no new criminal statutes, regulatory frameworks, or expansion of state authority. It does not grant additional rulemaking powers nor affect any criminal justice or civil liberty matters. Additionally, the bill’s fiscal implications are negligible. According to the Legislative Budget Board, any costs associated with signage are expected to be absorbed within existing resources and are contingent on donated funds, as required under Section 225.021(c) of the Transportation Code.

The change made in the substitute version, specifying signage placement at both ends and intermediate points of the highway, not just the bridge, ensures greater public visibility and consistency with TxDOT’s standard practices. The substitute also adds a procedural clause to ensure the new section does not conflict with existing statutory numbering.

Taken together, HB 2061 serves a symbolic and unifying purpose without imposing regulatory or fiscal burdens, making it a clear example of limited, responsive government acting in support of community values and public service recognition. For these reasons, Texas Policy Research recommends that lawmakers vote YES on HB 2061.

Individual Liberty: The bill does not impact individual freedoms or civil liberties. It neither creates new obligations nor restricts any person’s ability to act freely. It simply honors an individual’s military service through a highway designation. In doing so, it indirectly reinforces the societal value placed on those who defend liberty, without infringing upon anyone else’s rights.
Personal Responsibility: The bill does not create incentives or consequences for individual actions. However, it does elevate the legacy of a person, Lance Corporal Armando Hernandez, whose military service exemplifies the principle of personal responsibility and sacrifice. While this is symbolic rather than legislative in nature, it serves to reinforce cultural norms around duty and honor.
Free Enterprise: There is no effect on business activity, economic freedom, or regulatory policy. The bill does not introduce any burdens on commerce or private enterprise. It is narrowly focused on a state highway designation and does not interfere with the market.
Private Property Rights: The bill does not modify land use, zoning, or private ownership rights. All activity related to signage is restricted to the public right-of-way managed by the Texas Department of Transportation. There are no eminent domain provisions or land acquisitions involved.
Limited Government: This principle is where the bill finds its only modestly positive liberty impact. The memorial designation is a permissible and historically routine use of legislative authority that does not expand the role or cost of government in any meaningful way. Moreover, Section 225.021(c) of the Transportation Code ensures that TxDOT may only install signage if private donations or grants cover the cost, preventing misuse of taxpayer funds and reinforcing fiscal discipline.

View Bill Text and Status