BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 4861
88R25470 DRS-F	By: Wilson (Hancock)
	Transportation
	5/18/2023
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Specialty license plate recipients contend that current law does not easily allow for the creation of new specialty license plates for eligible military members. H.B. 4861 seeks to address this issue by providing for the issuance of certain new specialty license plates and for the authority of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to consider design recommendations for military specialty license plates from persons who are eligible to be issued a military specialty license plate.

H.B. 4861 amends current law relating to the design and issuance of specialty license plates to honor members of the military and for recipients of certain military awards.

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 issued under Section 504.202 (Veterans With Disabilities), other than license plates issued under Subsection (h) (relating to authorizing a person entitled to license plates under this section to elect to receive certain other license plates under the same conditions for the issuance of license plates under this section), 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 504.331, 504.332, 504.333, 504.334, or 504.335.

SECTION 2. Amends Section 504.301, Transportation Code, by adding Subsection (a-1) to authorize the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) to consider recommendations for the design of specialty license plates under Subsection (a) (relating to requiring TxDMV to design specialty license plates for the military) from persons who are eligible to be issued a specialty license plate under Subchapter D (Specialty License Plates for the Military).

SECTION 3. Amends Section 504.3015, Transportation Code, by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (a-1) and (a-2), as follows:

(a) Creates exceptions under Subsections (a-1) and (a-2) and makes a nonsubstantive change.

(a-1) Requires TxDMV to issue one set of license plates without the payment of the registration fee required under Chapter 502 (Registration of Vehicles) for the first registration period and for each renewal of registration for which the vehicle is registered with license plates issued under certain sections. Makes a nonsubstantive change.

(a-2) Requires TxDMV to issue one set of license plates without the payment of the registration fee required under Chapter 502 for the first registration period for which the vehicle is registered with license plates issued under:

(1) Section 504.331;

(2) Section 504.332;

(3) Section 504.333;

(4) Section 504.334; and

(5) Section 504.335.

SECTION 4. Amends Subchapter D, Chapter 504, Transportation Code, by adding Sections 504.331, 504.332, 504.333, 504.334, and 504.335, as follows:

Sec. 504.331. TEXAS HOMELAND DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL. Requires TxDMV to issue specialty license plates for recipients of the Texas Homeland Defense Service Medal. Requires that the license plates include the Texas Homeland Defense Service Medal emblem and include the words "Texas Homeland Defense Service Medal" at the bottom of each plate.

Sec. 504.332.� TEXAS SUPERIOR SERVICE MEDAL. Requires TxDMV to issue specialty license plates for recipients of the Texas Superior Service Medal. Requires that the license plates include the Texas Superior Service Medal emblem and include the words "Texas Superior Service Medal" at the bottom of each plate.

Sec. 504.333.� LONE STAR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL. Requires TxDMV to issue specialty license plates for recipients of the Lone Star Distinguished Service Medal. Requires that the license plates issued under this subsection include the Lone Star Distinguished Service Medal emblem and include the words "Lone Star Distinguished Service Medal" at the bottom of each plate.

Sec. 504.334.� TEXAS OUTSTANDING SERVICE MEDAL. Requires TxDMV to issue specialty license plates for recipients of the Texas Outstanding Service Medal. Requires that the license plates issued under this subsection include the Texas Outstanding Service Medal emblem and include the words "Texas Outstanding Service Medal" at the bottom of each plate.

Sec. 504.335.� TEXAS MEDAL OF MERIT. Requires TxDMV to issue specialty license plates for recipients of the Texas Medal of Merit. Requires that the license plates issued under this subsection include the Texas Medal of Merit emblem and include the words "Texas Medal of Merit" at the bottom of each plate.

SECTION 5. Provides that it is the intent of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, that the amendments made by this Act be harmonized with another Act of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted codes.

SECTION 6. Effective date: September 1, 2023.