H.B. No. 842
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to prohibiting the suspension of a person's driver's
  license or extension of the period of a driver's license suspension
  for certain driving while license invalid convictions; authorizing
  a fee.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 521.292(a), Transportation Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Except as provided by Section 521.457(h), the [The]
  department shall suspend the person's license if the department
  determines that the person:
               (1)  has operated a motor vehicle on a highway while the
  person's license was suspended, canceled, disqualified, or
  revoked, or without a license after an application for a license was
  denied;
               (2)  is a habitually reckless or negligent operator of
  a motor vehicle;
               (3)  is a habitual violator of the traffic laws;
               (4)  has permitted the unlawful or fraudulent use of
  the person's license;
               (5)  has committed an offense in another state or
  Canadian province that, if committed in this state, would be
  grounds for suspension;
               (6)  has been convicted of two or more separate
  offenses of a violation of a restriction imposed on the use of the
  license;
               (7)  has been responsible as a driver for any accident
  resulting in serious personal injury or serious property damage;
               (8)  is under 18 years of age and has been convicted of
  two or more moving violations committed within a 12-month period;
  or
               (9)  has committed an offense under Section 545.421.
         SECTION 2.  Section 521.343(c), Transportation Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (c)  Except as provided by Section 521.457(h), if [If] the
  license holder is convicted of operating a motor vehicle while the
  license to operate a motor vehicle is cancelled, disqualified,
  suspended, revoked, or denied, the period is extended for the same
  term as the original suspension or disqualification, in addition to
  any penalty assessed under this chapter or Chapter 522.
         SECTION 3.  Section 521.457, Transportation Code, is amended
  by adding Subsections (h), (i), and (j) to read as follows:
         (h)  Except as provided by Subsection (i), the department may
  not suspend a person's driver's license under Section
  521.292(a)(1), or extend the period a person's driver's license is
  suspended under Section 521.343(c), for a conviction of an offense
  under this section if:
               (1)  the offense was committed before September 1,
  2019;
               (2)  the person was convicted of the offense after
  August 31, 2023; and
               (3)  the person pays the department the fee required
  under Section 521.313(a) or any other fee required for the
  reinstatement of the person's driver's license in the manner
  prescribed by the department.
         (i)  Subsection (h) does not apply to:
               (1)  a commercial driver's license issued under Chapter
  522; or
               (2)  a person who was transporting hazardous materials
  or operating a commercial motor vehicle at the time of the offense
  under this section.
         (j)  The fee collected under Subsection (h)(3) shall be
  deposited to the credit of the Texas mobility fund.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 842 was passed by the House on April
  13, 2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 147, Nays 0, 2 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 842 was passed by the Senate on May 3,
  2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 1.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor