BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 280
	By: Zaffirini; Hall
	Transportation
	5/24/2023
	Enrolled

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Operation Freedom's Sentinel (OFS) was the mission succeeding Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in Afghanistan. OFS and the war in Afghanistan ended with the withdrawal of U.S. forces in August, 2021. Since 2003, Texas has allowed veterans of foreign wars to purchase specialty license plates in honor of their service. Veterans of OFS, however, are not offered specialty license plates in the same way as are Iraq War or previous Afghanistan War Veterans that served under OEF.

S.B. 280 would honor the memory of Marine Lance Corporal David Lee Espinoza who died in action during OFS by authorizing the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to issue specialty license plates for persons who served in this mission.

S.B. 280 amends current law relating to the issuance of specialty license plates for members of the military who served in Operation Freedom's Sentinel.

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. Authorizes this Act to be cited as the Marine Lance Corporal David Lee Espinoza Act.

SECTION 2. Amends Section 504.202(e-1), Transportation Code, as follows:

(e-1) Authorizes license plates issued under Section 504.202 (Veterans With Disabilities), other than license plates issued under Subsection (h) (relating to a person entitled to license plates electing to receive license plates under Chapter 502 (Registration of Vehicles)), to include, on request:

(1) makes no changes to this subdivision; or

(2) one emblem from another license plate to which the person is entitled under certain sections, including Section 504.331.

SECTION 3. Amends Subchapter D, Chapter 504, Transportation Code, by adding Section 504.331, as follows:

Sec. 504.331. OPERATION FREEDOM'S SENTINEL. Requires the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to issue specialty license plates for persons who served in the United States armed services and participated in Operation Freedom's Sentinel. Requires that the license plates include the words "Freedom's Sentinel."

SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2023.