BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2835

By: Canales

Transportation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Concerns have been raised regarding the window following the expiration of a vehicle registration before the vehicle owner is subject to an offense for operating the vehicle with an expired license plate. It has been suggested that this narrow window unfairly penalizes individuals who are unable to access their local tax assessor-collector’s office if the office is closed for an extended period of time, such as following a natural disaster. H.B. 2835 seeks to address this issue by establishing a defense to prosecution for that offense under certain circumstances.

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. 2835 amends the Transportation Code to establish as a defense to prosecution for the offense of operating a motor vehicle with an expired license plate that at the time of the offense the office of the county assessor-collector for the county in which the vehicle owner resided was closed for a protracted period of time and the vehicle's registration was expired for 30 working days or less.       

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.