BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3401

By: Price

Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The United States Navy Sea, Air, and Land Teams, commonly known as Navy SEALs, are highly specialized military forces that engage in incredibly challenging missions in defense of our country. The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles currently offers an abundance of different types of military service license plates but does not offer an option recognizing U.S. Navy SEALs. H.B. 3401 seeks to remedy this situation by providing for the issuance of specialty license plates for members of the U.S. armed services who have been awarded the U.S. Navy Special Warfare Insignia.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 3401 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to issue specialty license plates for members of the U.S. armed services who have been awarded the U.S. Navy Special Warfare Insignia. The license plates must include the words "Navy SEALs" and a depiction of the insignia. The bill authorizes an emblem from this license plate to be included on certain other specialty license plates issued to veterans with disabilities, on request.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.