H.B. 943 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 943 By: Krusee Transportation Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE TPWD believes that making conservation license plates available to owners of trailers, recreational vehicles, farm equipment and semi trucks will impact revenue in a potentially positive way. HB 1906 in the 76th Legislature allowed the Texas Parks and Wildlife to develop, market and implement their conservation license plate program. Since that time, the TPWD conservation plates have become some of the most popular specialty plates on the road in Texas. This bill would expand the types of vehicles available for conservation plates and would open up a large potential customer base. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS This bill would amend Chapter 502 Sections 502.2734 (a), (c), and (g), of the Transportation Code. The amendment would allow TXDOT to issue specially designed conservation plates for passenger cars and light trucks, as well as: 1.Trailers used primarily for the transport of watercraft as defined by Section 49.01, Penal Code (boat trailers) 2.Vehicles primarily designed as temporary living quarters for recreational camping or travel use, including travel trailers, travel semi trailers, camping trailers, camping semi trailers, and motor homes 3.Farm tractors, farm trailers, and farm semi trailers 4.Truck-tractor, semi trailers, and commercial motor vehicles. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2003.