BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 280

By: Zaffirini

Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Since 2003, Texas has allowed veterans of foreign wars to purchase specialty license plates in honor of their service. However, veterans of Operation Freedom's Sentinel (OFS), the mission succeeding Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, are not offered specialty license plates in the same way as are other veterans of the Iraq War or the War in Afghanistan. S.B. 280 seeks to address this issue  and to honor the memory of Marine Lance Corporal David Lee Espinoza, who died in action during OFS, by establishing the Marine Lance Corporal David Lee Espinoza Act to provide for the issuance of specialty license plates for members of the military who served in OFS.

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

S.B. 280 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to issue specialty license plates for persons who served in the U.S. armed services and participated in Operation Freedom's Sentinel. The bill requires the specialty plates to include the words "Freedom's Sentinel." The bill includes one emblem from these license plates among those that may be included on request on a specialty license plate issued to veterans with disabilities.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2023.