BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center

S.B. 1001

85R4768 JRR-D

By: Taylor, Larry

 

Transportation

 

3/23/2017

 

As Filed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Under current law, trailers with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 4,501 pounds or more require inspection for registration. As a result, boat trailers and campers are included in the inspection requirement. S.B. 1001 increases the GVWR inspection requirement from 4,500 to 7,500 pounds, meaning larger trailers would fall under the inspection criteria prescribed by statute, but smaller boat trailers and campers would fall below the requirement. This change mirrors other regulations, as police still have discretion to pull over anyone considered to be a threat to safety on the roadways due to a decrepit trailer.

 

S.B. 1001 exempts trailers with a gross weight of less than 7,500 pounds from inspection requirements to bring statute into conformity with current regulations and common practice.

 

As proposed, S.B. 1001 amends current law relating to vehicles exempt from vehicle safety inspections.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. Amends Section 548.052, Transportation Code, to increase from 4,500 pounds or less to 7,500 pounds or less the actual or registered gross weight of a trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, or mobile home to which this chapter (Compulsory Inspection of Vehicles) does not apply.

 

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2017.