BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	C.S.H.B. 2323
88R31205 BEE-D	By: Hayes (Parker)
	Transportation
	5/19/2023
	Committee Report (Substituted)

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

"Texas, Our Texas" was written in 1924, the music by William J. Marsh and the lyrics by Gladys Yoakum Wright. The song was selected as the official state song by a concurrent resolution of the Texas Legislature in 1929, following a statewide competition. The 73rd Legislature again adopted "Texas, Our Texas" as the state song in 1993 and the song will be celebrating its centennial anniversary in 2024. The song has been performed at state functions and football games and has been sung by school children for generations. Its prominence as the state song for the past 100 years is deserving of recognition. H.B. 2323 seeks to honor the state song by creating a one time general issue license plate to commemorate the centennial anniversary of the writing of "Texas, Our Texas."

H.B. 2323 amends the Transportation Code to require license plates issued by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) during the five-year period beginning January 1, 2024, other than specialty license plates, to be designed to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the writing of the state song, "Texas, Our Texas," and include the words "Texas, Our Texas" and the dates "1924-2024." The bill requires TxDMV to deplete the current inventory of general issue license plates before issuing the commemorative license plates. These provisions expire January 1, 2030. 

(Original Author's/Sponsor's Statement of Intent)

C.S.H.B. 2323 amends current law relating to the issuance of specialty license plates commemorating the 100th anniversary of the writing of the state song.

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 Subchapter G, Chapter 504, Transportation Code, by adding Section 504.679, as follows:

Sec. 504.679. TEXAS, OUR TEXAS LICENSE PLATES. (a) Requires the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) to issue specialty license plates designed to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the writing of the state song, "Texas, Our Texas," that include the words "Texas, Our Texas" and the dates "1924�2024."

(b) Requires that the remainder of the fee for issuance of the license plates, after the deduction of TxDMV's administrative costs, be deposited to the credit of the general revenue fund.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2024.