Honorable Robert Nichols, Chair, Senate Committee on Transportation
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB3531 by Martinez (Relating to motor vehicle titles, registration, and license plates.), As Engrossed
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would require the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) to place a hold on processing a title application for a motor vehicle if the department receives evidence of a lawsuit regarding ownership of or a lien on the vehicle. The bill would amend §504.202 to allow a Disabled Veteran license plate to include one emblem or design from another military specialty license plate to which a person is entitled under Subchapter D, Chapter 504, Transportation Code. The bill would amend Transportation Code §504.454 to exempt a vehicle owned by a nonprofit disaster relief organization from vehicle registration fees if the vehicle is used by the organization exclusively for emergencies, training, equipment maintenance, transportation of disaster relief supplies, or other activities related to disaster relief.
Under current law, a vehicle owned by a nonprofit disaster relief organization is exempt from registration fees if the vehicle is used exclusively for emergencies. Implementation of the bill would expand the eligible uses and, potentially, the number of vehicles owned by a nonprofit disaster relief organization that would be exempt from registration fees. Based on the information and analysis provided by TxDMV, it is assumed the number of additional disaster relief organization vehicles that would qualify for the exemption would not be significant. Therefore, it is assumed implementation of the bill would not result in a significant negative impact to state and local vehicle registration fee revenues. Based on the information provided by TxDMV, it is assumed any costs or duties associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be absorbed within the agency's existing resources.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 601 Department of Transportation, 608 Department of Motor Vehicles