By: Carona	S.B. No. 1636

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to motor vehicle registration fees.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Section 502.160, Transportation Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	Sec. 502.160.  FEE: MOTORCYCLE OR MOPED. The fee for a
	registration year for registration of a motorcycle or moped is $30.
	SECTION 2.  The heading to Section 502.161, Transportation
	Code, is amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 502.161.  FEE:  VEHICLES THAT WEIGH 6,000 POUNDS OR LESS
	[PASSENGER CAR, MUNICIPAL BUS, PRIVATE BUS].
	SECTION 3.  Subsection (a), Section 502.161, Transportation
	Code, is amended to read as follows:
	(a)  The fee for a registration year for registration of a
	vehicle with a gross weight of [passenger car, a municipal bus, or a
	private bus that weighs] 6,000 pounds or less is $50.75, unless
	otherwise provided in this chapter[:
	[(1)     $40.50 for a vehicle the model year of which is
	more than six years before the year in which the registration year
	begins;
	[(2)     $50.50 for a vehicle the model year of which is
	more than three years but is six years or less before the year in
	which the registration year begins; or
	[(3)     $58.50 for a vehicle the model year of which is
	three years or less before the year in which the registration year
	begins].
	SECTION 4.  The heading to Section 502.162, Transportation
	Code, is amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 502.162.  FEE:  VEHICLES THAT WEIGH MORE THAN 6,000
	POUNDS [COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE OR TRUCK-TRACTOR].
	SECTION 5.  Subsection (a), Section 502.162, Transportation
	Code, is amended to read as follows:
	(a)  The fee for a registration year for registration of a
	vehicle with a gross weight of more than 6,000 pounds is [commercial
	motor vehicle or truck-tractor is $25 plus an amount determined
	according to the vehicle's gross weight and tire equipment,] as
	follows unless otherwise provided in this chapter:
	Weight Classification Fee Schedule
	in pounds
	6,001-10,000 $54.00
	10,001-18,000 $110.00
	18,001-25,999 $205.00
	26,000-40,000 $340.00
	40,001-54,999 $535.00
	55,000-70,000 $740.00
	70,001-80,000 $840.00
	[Gross weight Fee for each 100 pounds or
	[in pounds fraction of 100 pounds
	[Equipped with Equipped with
	[pneumatic tires solid tires
	[1-6,000 $0.44 $0.55
	[6,001-8,000  0.495 0.66
	[8,001-10,000  0.605 0.77
	[10,001-17,000  0.715 0.88
	[17,001-24,000  0.77 0.99
	[24,001-31,000  0.88 1.10
	[31,001 and over  0.99 1.32]
	SECTION 6.  Section 502.165, Transportation Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	Sec. 502.165.  FEE: ROAD TRACTOR. The fee for a
	registration year for registration of a road tractor is the fee
	prescribed by [$25 plus an amount determined according to the
	vehicle's] weight as certified by a public weigher or a license and
	weight inspector of the Department of Public Safety under Section
	502.161 or 502.162, as applicable.[, as follows:
	[Fee for each 100 pounds
	[Gross weight in or
	[pounds fraction of 100 pounds
	[1-4,000 $0.275
	[4,001-6,000 0.55
	[6,001-8,000 0.66
	[8,001-10,000 0.825
	[10,001 and over 1.10]
	SECTION 7.  The heading to Section 502.166, Transportation
	Code, is amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 502.166.  FEE: TRAILER, TRAVEL TRAILER, OR
	SEMITRAILER.
	SECTION 8.  Section 502.166, Transportation Code, is amended
	by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as
	follows:
	(a)  The fee for a registration year for registration of a
	trailer, travel trailer, or semitrailer with a [is $25 plus an
	amount determined according to the vehicle's] gross weight of 6,000
	pounds or less is $45.00.
	(a-1)  The fee for a registration year for registration of a
	trailer, travel trailer, or semitrailer with a gross weight of more
	than 6,000 pounds is calculated by gross weight according to
	Section 502.162. [and tire equipment, as follows:
	[Gross weight Fee for each 100 pounds or
	[in pounds fraction of 100 pounds
	[Equipped with Equipped with
	[pneumatic tires solid tires
	[1-6,000 $0.33 $0.44
	[6,001-8,000  0.44 0.55
	[8,001-10,000  0.55 0.66
	[10,001-17,000  0.66 0.88
	[17,001 and over  0.715 0.99]
	SECTION 9.  Subsections (a), (b), and (c), Section 502.167,
	Transportation Code, are amended to read as follows:
	(a)  This section applies only to a truck-tractor or
	commercial motor vehicle with a gross weight [manufacturer's rated
	carrying capacity] of more than 10,000 pounds [one ton] that is used
	or is to be used in combination with a semitrailer that has a gross
	weight of more than 6,000 pounds.
	(b)  The [Notwithstanding Section 502.162, the] fee for a
	registration year for registration of a truck-tractor or commercial
	motor vehicle is calculated by gross weight according to Section
	502.162. [$40 plus an amount determined according to the combined
	gross weight of the vehicles, as follows:
	[Fee for each 100 pounds
	[Combined gross weight or
	[in pounds fraction of 100 pounds
	[18,000-36,000      $0.60
	[36,001-42,000      0.75
	[42,001-62,000      0.90
	[62,001 and over      1.00]
	(c)  The [Notwithstanding Section 502.166, the] fee for a
	registration year for registration of a semitrailer used in the
	manner described by Subsection (a), regardless of the date the
	semitrailer is registered, is:
	(1)  $30, for a semitrailer being propelled by a power
	unit for which a permit under Section 623.011 has been issued; or
	(2)  $15, for a semitrailer being propelled by a power
	unit for which a permit under Section 623.011 has not been issued.
	SECTION 10.  Section 502.168, Transportation Code, is
	amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 502.168.  FEE: MOTOR BUS. The fee for a registration
	year for registration of a motor bus is the fee prescribed by
	Section 502.161 or 502.162, as applicable. [$25 plus an amount
	determined according to the vehicle's gross weight, as follows:
	[Fee for each 100 pounds
	[Gross weight or
	[in pounds fraction of 100 pounds
	[1-6,000      $0.44
	[6,001-8,000      0.495
	[8,001-10,000      0.605
	[10,001-17,000      0.715
	[17,001-24,000      0.77
	[24,001-31,000      0.88
	[31,001 and over      0.99]
	SECTION 11.  Subsection (b), Section 502.1705,
	Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows:
	(b)  The department may use money collected under this
	section to provide for or enhance [perform one or more of the
	following]:
	(1)  [enhancing the department's automated
	registration and title system;
	[(2)     providing for the automated on-site production of
	registration insignia; or
	[(3)  providing for] automated on-premises and
	off-premises [self-service] registration; and
	(2)  services related to the titling of vehicles.
	SECTION 12.  The heading to Section 502.184, Transportation
	Code, is amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 502.184.  REPLACEMENT OF [LOST, STOLEN, OR MUTILATED
	LICENSE PLATE OR] REGISTRATION INSIGNIA.
	SECTION 13.  Subsections (a), (b), (e), and (f), Section
	502.184, Transportation Code, are amended to read as follows:
	(a)  The owner of a registered motor vehicle may obtain [from
	the department through the county assessor-collector replacement
	license plates or] a replacement registration insignia by:
	(1)  certifying [filing with the assessor-collector a
	statement:
	[(A)     showing that one or both of the license
	plates or the registration insignia to be replaced has been lost,
	stolen, or mutilated; and
	[(B)  stating] that the replacement [no license
	plate or] registration insignia [to be replaced] will not be used on
	any other vehicle owned or operated by the person making the
	statement;
	(2)  paying a fee of $6 [$5] plus the fees required by
	Section [Sections 502.170(a) and] 502.1705(a) for [each set of
	replacement license plates or] each replacement registration
	insignia, except as provided by other law [Subsection (b), (c), or
	(i)]; and
	(3)  returning [to the assessor-collector] each
	replaced [plate or] registration insignia in the owner's
	possession.
	(b)  No fee is required under this section if the replacement
	fee for a license plate has been paid under Section 502.1841 [for
	the replacement of lost, stolen, or mutilated specialized license
	plates issued under Sections 504.308 and 504.315(e) and (f)].  [The
	fee for replacement of certain specialized license plates is:
	[License plates issued under: Fee:
	[Section 504.411 $2
	[Section 504.409 $9]
	(e)  A county assessor-collector may not issue [replacement
	license plates or] a replacement registration insignia without
	complying with this section.
	(f)  A county assessor-collector shall retain $2.50 of each
	fee collected under this section and shall report and send the
	remainder to the department [as provided by Sections 502.102 and
	502.105].
	SECTION 14.  Subchapter D, Chapter 502, Transportation Code,
	is amended by adding Section 502.1841 to read as follows:
	Sec. 502.1841.  REPLACEMENT LICENSE PLATES. (a)  The owner
	of a registered motor vehicle may obtain replacement license plates
	for the vehicle by:
	(1)  certifying that the replacement plates will not be
	used on any other vehicle owned or operated by the person making the
	statement;
	(2)  paying a fee of $6 plus the fee required by Section
	502.1705(a) for each set of replacement license plates, unless
	otherwise specified by law; and
	(3)  returning to the department each license plate in
	the owner's possession for which a replacement license plate is
	obtained.
	(b)  Replacement license plates may not be issued except as
	provided by this section.
	(c)  A county assessor-collector shall retain $2.50 of each
	fee collected under this section and forward the remainder of the
	fee to the department.
	(d)  The fee required by this section applies to the issuance
	of license plates for a transferred used vehicle for which the
	registration and license plates were not transferred under
	Subchapter I.
	SECTION 15.  Subsection (d), Section 504.101,
	Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows:
	(d)  The department may not issue a replacement set of
	personalized license plates to the same person before the sixth
	anniversary of the date of issuance unless the applicant for
	issuance of replacement plates pays the [an additional] fee
	required by Section 502.1841 [of $30].
	SECTION 16.  Section 504.501, Transportation Code, is
	amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 504.501.  CLASSIC MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAVEL TRAILERS.
	(a)  The department shall issue specialty license plates for a
	motor vehicle that is at least 25 years old. The license plates
	must include the word "Classic" [words "Classic Auto," "Classic
	Motorcycle," or "Classic Truck"] or a similar designation, as
	appropriate.
	(b)  A person eligible for the license plates may instead use
	license plates that were issued by this state in the same year as
	the model year of the vehicle and are approved by the department if
	the plates are approved for the vehicle before January 1, 2011. The
	department may require the attachment of a registration insignia to
	the license plate in a manner that does not affect the display of
	information originally on the license plate.
	(c)  There is no [The] fee for issuance or approval of
	license plates under this section [is $15].
	SECTION 17.  Subsection (c), Section 504.505,
	Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows:
	(c)  There is no [The initial] fee for issuance of the
	license plates [is $8].  The license plates may be renewed without
	payment of a fee.
	SECTION 18.  Subsection (b), Section 504.507,
	Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows:
	(b)  There is no [The] fee for issuance of the license plates
	[is $8].  The department shall:
	(1)  [also] collect any [additional] fee that a county
	imposes under this chapter for registration of a forestry vehicle;
	and
	(2)  send the fee to the appropriate county for
	disposition.
	SECTION 19.  Subsection (b), Section 504.508,
	Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows:
	(b)  There is no [The] fee for issuance of the license plates
	[is $15].
	SECTION 20.  Section 504.509, Transportation Code, is
	amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 504.509.  VEHICLES CARRYING MOBILE AMATEUR RADIO
	EQUIPMENT. [(a)]  The department shall issue specialty license
	plates for a person who holds an amateur radio station license
	issued by the Federal Communications Commission and who operates
	receiving and transmitting mobile amateur radio equipment. The
	license plates shall include the person's amateur call letters as
	assigned by the Federal Communications Commission. A person may
	register more than one vehicle equipped with mobile amateur radio
	equipment under this section, and the department shall issue
	license plates that include the same amateur call letters for each
	vehicle.
	[(b)     The fee for issuance of the license plates is $2 for the
	first year and $1 for each subsequent year.]
	SECTION 21.  Subsection (b), Section 504.510,
	Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows:
	(b)  The fee for issuance of the license plates is $6 [$10].
	SECTION 22.  Subsection (a), Section 504.801,
	Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows:
	(a)  The department may create new specialty license plates
	on its own initiative or on receipt of an application from a
	potential sponsor. A new specialty license plate created under
	this section must comply with each requirement of Section 504.702
	unless the license is created by the department on its own
	initiative. The department may permit a specialty license plate
	created under this section to be personalized. The redesign of an
	existing specialty license plate at the request of a sponsor shall
	be treated like the issuance of a new specialty license plate,
	except that the department may require a nonrefundable design fee
	[lower deposit amount to reflect the actual costs of redesigning
	the license plate].
	SECTION 23.  The following provisions of the Transportation
	Code are repealed:
	(1)  Section 502.007;
	(2)  Subsection (b), Section 502.161;
	(3)  Section 502.170;
	(4)  Subsection (c), Section 502.1705;
	(5)  Section 502.187;
	(6)  Subsection (c), Section 502.201;
	(7)  Section 502.453;
	(8)  Subsection (b), Section 504.409; and
	(9)  Section 504.5011.
	SECTION 24.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.