(a) Notwithstanding Section 418.018, Government Code, in a county with a population of less than 75,000 and with a verifiable history of wildfire, the department may designate an emergency evacuation route for use in the event of a wildfire emergency. The department may establish criteria to determine which areas of a county are subject to a potential wildfire emergency.
(b) The department may assist in the improvement of a designated wildfire emergency evacuation route.
(c) Criteria for determining a wildfire emergency evacuation route must provide for evacuation of commercial establishments such as motels, hotels, and other businesses with overnight accommodations.
(d) A wildfire emergency evacuation route designated under Subsection (a) may include federal or state highways or county roads.