By: Noble, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Paxton) H.B. No. 198
         (In the Senate - Received from the House May 15, 2023;
  May 15, 2023, read first time and referred to Committee on
  Transportation; May 19, 2023, reported favorably by the following
  vote:  Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 19, 2023, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to vehicle safety inspections of certain travel trailers.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 548, Transportation Code,
  is amended by adding Section 548.054 to read as follows:
         Sec. 548.054.  INSPECTION OF CERTAIN TRAVEL TRAILERS BY
  OWNER. A travel trailer, as defined by Section 501.002, that is not
  exempt from this chapter under Section 548.052(3) meets the safety
  inspection requirements of this chapter if the owner submits to the
  Texas Department of Motor Vehicles or county tax assessor-collector
  at the time of the trailer's registration an affidavit stating
  that:
               (1)  the owner has inspected the trailer during the
  period prescribed by Section 548.101; and
               (2)  the trailer is in proper and safe condition and
  complies with this chapter and the rules adopted under this
  chapter.
         SECTION 2.  The heading to Section 548.510, Transportation
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 548.510.  FEE FOR CERTAIN EXEMPTED VEHICLES [NOT
  SUBJECT TO INSPECTION]; COLLECTION OF FEE DURING REGISTRATION.
         SECTION 3.  Section 548.510(a), Transportation Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  A vehicle described by Section 548.052(3) that has an
  actual gross weight or registered gross weight of more than 4,500
  pounds, and a travel trailer that has been certified by the
  trailer's owner as meeting the safety inspection requirements of
  this chapter under Section 548.054, are each [is] subject to a fee
  in the amount of $7.50.
         SECTION 4.  It is the intent of the legislature that the
  Texas Department of Motor Vehicles and the Department of Public
  Safety implement the provisions of this Act using money
  appropriated to those agencies that may be spent for that purpose.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
 
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