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AN ACT
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relating to providing notice of a vehicle towed to a vehicle storage |
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facility by publication on a third-party Internet website. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 2303.152, Occupations Code, is amended |
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by amending Subsections (a) and (e) and adding Subsection (f) to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) Notice to the registered owner and the primary |
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lienholder of a vehicle towed to a vehicle storage facility may be |
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provided by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in |
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the county in which the vehicle is stored or on a publicly available |
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Internet website maintained by a department-approved third party |
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if: |
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(1) the vehicle is registered in another state; |
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(2) the operator of the storage facility submits to |
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the governmental entity responsible for maintaining the motor |
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vehicle title and registration database for the state in which the |
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vehicle is registered a request for information relating to the |
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identity of the registered owner and any lienholder of record that |
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is either: |
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(A) written; or |
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(B) electronic, through the governmental |
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entity's secure access portal; |
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(3) the identity of the registered owner cannot be |
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determined; |
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(4) the registration does not contain an address for |
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the registered owner; or |
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(5) the operator of the storage facility cannot |
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reasonably determine the identity and address of each lienholder. |
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(e) Notice to the registered owner and the primary |
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lienholder of a vehicle towed to a vehicle storage facility may be |
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provided by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in |
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the county in which the vehicle is stored or on a publicly available |
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Internet website maintained by a department-approved third party |
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if: |
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(1) the vehicle does not display a license plate or a |
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vehicle inspection certificate indicating the state of |
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registration; |
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(2) the identity of the registered owner cannot |
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reasonably be determined by the operator of the storage facility; |
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or |
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(3) the operator of the storage facility cannot |
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reasonably determine the identity and address of each lienholder. |
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(f) The department shall include on the department's |
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Internet website a link to any Internet website maintained by a |
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department-approved third party where notice may be provided under |
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Subsection (a) or (e). |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 3928 was passed by the House on May 2, |
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2025, by the following vote: Yeas 132, Nays 0, 1 present, not |
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voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 3928 was passed by the Senate on May |
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26, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: _____________________ |
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Date |
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_____________________ |
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Governor |