BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 1262
86R4188 AF-D	By: Bell, Keith et al. (Nichols)
	Transportation
	5/2/2019
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Concerns have been raised about the registration requirements of certain trailers not subject to state inspection, many of which are farm and ranch trailers used by individuals for agricultural purposes. It has been suggested that the frequency with which these trailers must be registered creates a burden on trailer owners, state agencies, and local governmental agencies. H.B. 1262 seeks to address this issue by providing for an extended registration period for these vehicles.

H.B. 1262 requires the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to develop and implement a system of registration to allow an owner of a trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer not subject to state inspection and having an actual gross weight or registered gross weight of 7,500 pounds or less to register the vehicle for an extended registration period of not more than five years. The bill authorizes the owner to select the number of years for extended registration within that range and register the vehicle for that period. The bill makes payment for all applicable fees, including registration fees and the fee required for certain inspection-exempt vehicles, for the entire registration period selected due at the time of registration. The bill requires the $7.50 fee collected at the time of registration of a trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer not subject to state inspection that has an actual gross weight or registered gross weight of more than 4,500 pounds to be remitted to the comptroller of public accounts of the State of Texas for deposit in the Texas mobility fund, the general revenue fund, and the clean air account in amounts proportionate to the allocation prescribed by statutory provisions relating to that fee.

H.B. 1262 amends current law relating to the extended registration of certain vehicles not subject to inspection.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles in SECTION 2 of this bill.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 502, Transportation Code, by adding Section 502.0024, as follows:

Sec. 502.0024. EXTENDED REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN VEHICLES NOT SUBJECT TO INSPECTION. (a) Requires the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV), notwithstanding Section 502.044(c) (relating to authorizing TxDMV to designate a registration period of less than 12 months to be computed at a rate of one‑twelfth the annual registration fee multiplied by the number of months in the registration period), to develop and implement a system of registration to allow an owner of a vehicle described by Section 548.052(3) (relating to a provision that this chapter (Compulsory Inspection of Vehicles) does not apply to a trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, or mobile home having an certain gross weights) other than a mobile home to register the vehicle for an extended registration period of not more than five years. Authorizes the owner to select the number of years for registration under this section within that range and register the vehicle for that period. Provides that payment for all applicable fees, including registration fees and the fee required by Section 548.510 (Fee For Certain Vehicles Not Subject to Inspection; Collection of Fee During Registration), for the entire registration period selected is due at the time of registration.

(b) Requires the fee required by Section 548.510 (Fee For Certain Vehicles Not Subject To Inspection; Collection of Fee During Registration) to be remitted to comptroller of public accounts of the State of Texas for deposit in the Texas mobility fund, the general revenue fund, and the clean air account in amounts proportionate to the allocation prescribed by Subsection (b) (relating to requiring TxDMV or a county assessor-collector that registers a certain vehicle described to collect a certain fee) of that section.

SECTION 2. Requires TXDMV, not later than February 1, 2020, to adopt the system required by Section 502.0024, Transportation Code, as added by this Act, and any rules necessary to implement that section.

SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2019.