BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3505

By: Spiller

Homeland Security & Public Safety

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

A constituent in House District 68 who owns and operates a business that issues state inspections for motor vehicles expressed concerns about rising costs, inflation, and labor shortages that make it difficult for such businesses to stay in operation and meet demand. H.B. 3505 would allow each inspection business to set its own rate for state inspections so that each station may charge what it needs to stay in operation.

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. 3505 amends the Transportation Code to prohibit the Department of Public Safety (DPS), in adopting rules to administer and enforce state law providing for the compulsory inspection of vehicles, from adopting a rule that prohibits a vehicle inspection station license holder from refusing to inspect a vehicle.

H.B. 3505 removes provisions requiring DPS to set the fee for the initial two-year inspection of a passenger car or light truck and provisions otherwise setting the fee for the inspection of a noncommercial motor vehicle at $12.50 and the fee for the inspection of a moped at $5.75. The bill authorizes the operator of a vehicle inspection station instead to set the fee the station will charge for performing any such inspection.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.