BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 377

By: Oliverson

Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Concerns have been raised that the surviving spouse of a deceased veteran is unable to order certain military specialty license plates. Interested parties contend that this prevents the surviving spouse from honoring their loved one's service to our nation. H.B. 377 seeks to address this issue by allowing the surviving spouse of a deceased veteran to register a vehicle with a military specialty license plate that the veteran would have been able to order, so long as the surviving spouse does not remarry.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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

H.B. 377 amends the Transportation Code to entitle a surviving spouse of a person who would be eligible for a Distinguished Flying Cross medal specialty license plate, a World War II Veteran specialty license plate, a Legion of Merit medal specialty license plate, a Defense Superior Service Medal specialty license plate, or other certain specialty plates for extraordinary military service to register one vehicle for the applicable specialty license plate as long as the spouse remains unmarried.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.