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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the design and issuance of specialty license plates to |
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honor members of the military and for recipients of certain |
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military awards. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 504.202(e-1), Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(e-1) Other than license plates issued under Subsection |
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(h), license plates issued under this section may include, on |
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request: |
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(1) the emblem of the veteran's branch of service; or |
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(2) one emblem from another license plate to which the |
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person is entitled under Section 504.308, 504.309, 504.310(b), |
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504.311, 504.312, 504.313, 504.3135, 504.314, 504.315, 504.316, |
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504.3161, 504.318, 504.319, 504.320, 504.323, 504.325, [or] |
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504.327, 504.331, 504.332, 504.333, 504.334, or 504.335. |
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SECTION 2. Section 504.301, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows: |
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(a-1) The department may consider recommendations for the |
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design of specialty license plates under Subsection (a) from |
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persons who are eligible to be issued a specialty license plate |
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under this subchapter. |
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SECTION 3. Section 504.3015, Transportation Code, is |
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amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (a-1) and |
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(a-2) to read as follows: |
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(a) A person applying for a set of license plates under this |
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subchapter shall pay: |
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(1) except as provided by Subsections (a-1) and (a-2), |
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the registration fee required under Chapter 502; and |
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(2) any [the] applicable special plate fee required |
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under this section. |
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(a-1) The department shall issue one set of license plates |
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[, except that one set of license plates shall be issued] without |
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the payment of the registration fee required under Chapter 502 for |
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the first registration period and for each renewal of registration |
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for which the vehicle is registered with license plates issued |
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under: |
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(1) Section 504.308; |
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(2) Section 504.310(b); |
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(3) Section 504.315, other than Subsections (c) and |
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(q) of that section; and |
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(4) Section 504.319. |
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(a-2) The department shall issue one set of license plates |
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without the payment of the registration fee required under Chapter |
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502 for the first registration period for which the vehicle is |
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registered with license plates issued under: |
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(1) Section 504.331; |
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(2) Section 504.332; |
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(3) Section 504.333; |
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(4) Section 504.334; and |
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(5) Section 504.335. |
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SECTION 4. Subchapter D, Chapter 504, Transportation Code, |
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is amended by adding Sections 504.331, 504.332, 504.333, 504.334, |
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and 504.335 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 504.331. TEXAS HOMELAND DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL. The |
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department shall issue specialty license plates for recipients of |
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the Texas Homeland Defense Service Medal. The license plates must |
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include the Texas Homeland Defense Service Medal emblem and must |
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include the words "Texas Homeland Defense Service Medal" at the |
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bottom of each plate. |
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Sec. 504.332. TEXAS SUPERIOR SERVICE MEDAL. The department |
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shall issue specialty license plates for recipients of the Texas |
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Superior Service Medal. The license plates must include the Texas |
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Superior Service Medal emblem and must include the words "Texas |
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Superior Service Medal" at the bottom of each plate. |
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Sec. 504.333. LONE STAR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL. The |
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department shall issue specialty license plates for recipients of |
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the Lone Star Distinguished Service Medal. License plates issued |
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under this subsection must include the Lone Star Distinguished |
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Service Medal emblem and must include the words "Lone Star |
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Distinguished Service Medal" at the bottom of each plate. |
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Sec. 504.334. TEXAS OUTSTANDING SERVICE MEDAL. The |
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department shall issue specialty license plates for recipients of |
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the Texas Outstanding Service Medal. License plates issued under |
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this subsection must include the Texas Outstanding Service Medal |
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emblem and must include the words "Texas Outstanding Service Medal" |
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at the bottom of each plate. |
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Sec. 504.335. TEXAS MEDAL OF MERIT. The department shall |
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issue specialty license plates for recipients of the Texas Medal of |
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Merit. License plates issued under this subsection must include |
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the Texas Medal of Merit emblem and must include the words "Texas |
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Medal of Merit" at the bottom of each plate. |
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SECTION 5. It is the intent of the 88th Legislature, Regular |
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Session, 2023, that the amendments made by this Act be harmonized |
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with another Act of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, |
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relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted |
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codes. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |