BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 3401
87R11017 JAM-D	By: Price et al. (Blanco)
	Transportation
	5/3/2021
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

The United States Navy Sea, Air, and Land teams, commonly known as Navy SEALs, are a highly specialized military component of our nation's armed forces.

Navy SEALs engage in various intensely challenging missions in defense of our nation. They are among our nation's heroes, and include Texans such as United States Navy four-star Admiral William McRaven and Texas' beloved son, the late United States Navy Chief Petty Officer Chris Kyle. 

Currently, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) offers many types of military service license plates (over 150 different plates). However, the DMV does not offer an option of a U.S. Navy SEALs specialty license plate.

H.B. 3401 would provide the ability for Navy SEALs to purchase a specialty license plate created in their honor. This bill would add the words "Navy SEALs" and the depiction of the United States Navy Special Warfare Insignia as a specialty license plate for U.S. military members who have been awarded the Special Warfare Insignia (Trident).

H.B. 3401 amends current law relating to the issuance of specialty license plates to honor members of the United States Navy SEALs.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 504.202(e-1), Transportation Code, as follows:

(e-1) Authorizes license plates under this section, other than license plates issued under Subsection (h), to include, on request:

(1) makes no changes to this subdivision; or

(2) one emblem from another license plate to which the person is entitled under certain sections, including Section 504.327. Deletes existing text relating to certain sections as added by Chapter 1085 (H.B. 3567), Acts of the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017.

SECTION 2. Amends Subchapter D, Chapter 504, Transportation Code, by adding Section 504.327 as follows:

Sec. 504.327. UNITED STATES NAVY SEALS. Requires the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to issue specialty license plates for members of the United States armed services who have been awarded the Special Warfare Insignia. Requires that the license plates include:

(1) the words "Navy SEALs"; and

(2) a depiction of the United States Navy Special Warfare Insignia.

SECTION 3. Provides that to the extent of any conflict, this Act prevails over another Act of the 87th Legislature, Regular Session, 2021, relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted codes.

SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2021.