BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1130

By: Hinojosa

Transportation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

There have been calls for specialty license plates that include the phrase "Register to Vote" in order to bring awareness to the importance of voting and increase voter turnout. Further, it has been suggested that the use of fees for the issuance of these plates should be directed toward voter education programs. H.B. 1130 seeks to authorize the issuance of these license plates and provide for such use of fees after deductions for administrative costs.

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. 1130 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) to issue specialty license plates that include the words "Register to Vote." The bill requires the remainder of the fee for issuance of the license plates after deduction of TxDMV administrative costs to be deposited to the credit of an account in a trust fund created by the comptroller of public accounts outside the general revenue fund. The bill restricts the use of money deposited to the account to the secretary of state for Project V.O.T.E. or a successor voter education program administered by the office of the secretary of state.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.