88R3138 BEE-D

By: Metcalf H.B. No. 1222

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to license plates issued for and displayed on a vehicle.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 504.010, Transportation Code, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:

(a) On payment of the prescribed fee, an applicant for motor vehicle registration shall be issued a license plate or set of plates, provided that the department must issue a set of two plates to an applicant for registration of a passenger car or light truck.

(d) Rules adopted under Subsection (c) must authorize a passenger car or light truck to display only a rear license plate if the motor vehicle is not equipped by the manufacturer with an exterior front feature to which a license plate may be fastened without drilling through the exterior of the vehicle.

SECTION 2. Section 504.943(a), Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) A [Except as provided by Subsection (b), a] person commits an offense if the person operates on a public highway, during a registration period, a [motor] vehicle that does not display all [two] license plates required by this chapter or a rule adopted under this chapter to be displayed on the vehicle that:

(1) have been assigned by the department for the period; and

(2) comply with department rules regarding the placement of license plates.

SECTION 3. Section 504.943(b), Transportation Code, is repealed.

SECTION 4. The change in law made by this Act applies only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred before that date.

SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.