Amend HB 1959 by adding the following appropriately numbered SECTION to the bill and renumbering subsequent SECTIONS of the bill accordingly:

SECTION ____.  (a) In this section, "department" means the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.

(b)  The department, in consultation with a state agency or research division of an institution of higher education in this state, shall establish a pilot program at no cost to the state that identifies, implements, and assesses alternative technologies to replace license plates, permits, and other existing documentation and registration methods currently in use for the registration of commercial motor vehicles in this state.

(c)  The pilot program must:

(1)  evaluate the safety and suitability of the alternative technologies identified under Subsection (b) of this section for use on roadways; and

(2)  be funded through contributions by participants who voluntarily opt into the pilot program.

(d)  Not later than December 21, 2018, the department shall submit a report on the results of the pilot program to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and presiding officer of each legislative standing committee with primary jurisdiction over transportation.

(e)  This section expires January 1, 2019.