Bill Text: TX SB1520 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the establishment of a hike and bike trail to be known as the Bicentennial Trail.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2025-02-21 - Filed [SB1520 Detail]
Download: Texas-2025-SB1520-Introduced.html
| 89R13475 CMO-F | ||
| By: Campbell, Flores | S.B. No. 1520 | |
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| relating to the establishment of a hike and bike trail to be known | ||
| as the Bicentennial Trail. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Chapter 31, Natural Resources Code, is amended | ||
| by adding Subchapter J to read as follows: | ||
| SUBCHAPTER J. BICENTENNIAL TRAIL | ||
| Sec. 31.501. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "hike and | ||
| bike trail" means a trail designed for the exclusive use of | ||
| pedestrians and bicyclists. | ||
| Sec. 31.5011. ESTABLISHMENT OF BICENTENNIAL TRAIL. (a) | ||
| The land office shall coordinate the establishment of a hike and | ||
| bike trail network for the purposes described by Section 31.502, | ||
| with connections as described by that section, to be known as the | ||
| Bicentennial Trail. | ||
| (b) The land office shall undertake to ensure that the | ||
| Bicentennial Trail is established on or before January 1, 2036. | ||
| (c) As necessary or convenient to coordinate the | ||
| establishment of the Bicentennial Trail, the land office shall | ||
| enter into memoranda of understanding with: | ||
| (1) political subdivisions, nonprofit organizations, | ||
| the Texas Department of Transportation, and other persons as | ||
| necessary to establish and maintain the trail; and | ||
| (2) the Parks and Wildlife Department: | ||
| (A) to acquire real property or interests in real | ||
| property as necessary to complete the trail routes; and | ||
| (B) concerning other matters related to the | ||
| establishment of the trail or the maintenance of the trail and | ||
| property associated with the trail. | ||
| (d) A memorandum of understanding entered into under | ||
| Subsection (c) may address: | ||
| (1) coordination of trail development; | ||
| (2) trail maintenance; | ||
| (3) acquisition of interests in real property; | ||
| (4) conservation efforts along the trail routes; or | ||
| (5) any other matter pertinent to the establishment or | ||
| maintenance of the trail. | ||
| (e) The land office may adopt rules as necessary to | ||
| coordinate the establishment of the Bicentennial Trail, including a | ||
| timeline for the acquisition of real property and real property | ||
| interests as necessary to complete the trail route. | ||
| (f) Real property or interests in real property necessary to | ||
| complete the trail routes may not be acquired through eminent | ||
| domain. | ||
| (g) This section expires September 1, 2037. | ||
| Sec. 31.502. BICENTENNIAL TRAIL PURPOSES. The Bicentennial | ||
| Trail is established as a network of hike and bike trails to connect | ||
| the Alamo to the State Capitol and to include hike and bike trail | ||
| connections to Barton Springs, San Marcos Springs, Comal Springs, | ||
| and San Antonio Springs for the purposes of promoting outdoor | ||
| recreation, environmental stewardship, and the historical and | ||
| cultural heritage of this state. | ||
| Sec. 31.503. USE OF BICENTENNIAL TRAIL PROPERTY. Real | ||
| property acquired by this state for the Bicentennial Trail may be | ||
| used only for the purposes of the Bicentennial Trail. | ||
| Sec. 31.504. BICENTENNIAL TRAIL MAINTENANCE. The Parks and | ||
| Wildlife Department shall maintain any real property acquired by | ||
| this state for the Bicentennial Trail. | ||
| SECTION 2. The expiration of Section 31.5011, Natural | ||
| Resources Code, as added by this Act, does not affect the validity | ||
| of a memorandum of understanding entered into under that section. | ||
| SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. | ||
