BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 2503
88R14076 DIO-D	By: Lujan (Flores)
	Transportation
	5/11/2023
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Constituents have raised concerns over inconsistencies regarding the issuance of specialty license plates for veterans and disabled veterans, as well as military awards that are not represented among those license plates. H.B. 2503 seeks to address these concerns by providing for the issuance and expanding the availability of certain specialty license plates.

H.B. 2503 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) to issue the following specialty license plates:

� specialty license plates for recipients of the Texas Humanitarian Service Medal that include the words "Texas Humanitarian Service Medal" and a depiction of the Texas Humanitarian Service Medal emblem; and

� specialty license plates for recipients of the federal Humanitarian Service Medal that include the words "Humanitarian Service Medal" and a depiction of the federal Humanitarian Service Medal emblem.

The bill includes such emblems and an emblem from a U.S. paratroopers license plate among those that may be included on request on a specialty license plate issued to veterans with disabilities.

H.B. 2503 amends current law relating to the issuance of specialty license plates for veterans with disabilities and recipients of the Texas Humanitarian Service Medal and federal Humanitarian Service Medal.

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 504.202(e-1), Transportation Code, to authorize license plates issued under Section 504.202 (Veterans With Disabilities), other than license plates issued under Subsection (h) (relating to entitling a certain person to receive license plates), to include, on request, one emblem from another license plate to which the person is entitled under certain sections, including Section 504.307 (United States Paratroopers), 504.331, or 504.332.

SECTION 2. Amends Subchapter D, Chapter 504, Transportation Code, by adding Sections 504.331 and 504.332, as follows:

Sec. 504.331. TEXAS HUMANITARIAN SERVICE MEDAL. Requires the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) to issue specialty license plates for recipients of the Texas Humanitarian Service Medal. Requires that the license plates include:

(1) the words "Texas Humanitarian Service Medal"; and

(2) a depiction of the Texas Humanitarian Service Medal emblem.

Sec. 504.332. FEDERAL HUMANITARIAN SERVICE MEDAL. Requires TxDMV to issue specialty license plates for recipients of the federal Humanitarian Service Medal. Requires that the license plates include:

(1) the words "Humanitarian Service Medal"; and

(2) a depiction of the federal Humanitarian Service Medal emblem.

SECTION 3. Provides that it is the intent of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, that the amendments made by this Act be harmonized with another Act of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted codes.

SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2023.