By: Springer S.B. No. 261
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to titling and registration of assembled trailers.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 501.002, Transportation Code, is amended
  by amending Subdivisions (1), (1-a), (8), (19), and (31) and adding
  Subdivisions (1-b) and (8-a) to read as follows:
               (1)  "Assembled trailer" means a trailer, semitrailer,
  or travel trailer that is built or assembled by a hobbyist.
               (1-a) "Assembled vehicle" has the meaning assigned by
  Section 731.001.
               (1-b) [(1-a)]  "Certificate of title" means a printed
  record of title issued under Section 501.021.
               (8)  "First sale" means:
                     (A)  the bargain, sale, transfer, or delivery of a
  motor vehicle, other than an assembled trailer or assembled
  vehicle, that has not been previously registered or titled, with
  intent to pass an interest in the motor vehicle, other than a lien,
  regardless of where the bargain, sale, transfer, or delivery
  occurred; and
                     (B)  the registration or titling of that vehicle.
               (8-a)  "Hobbyist" means a person who:
                     (A)  builds or assembles an assembled trailer for
  personal use;
                     (B)  does not engage in the continuous sale of
  vehicles, as defined by the department; and
                     (C)  is not the maker of a kit or a manufacturer,
  as defined by Section 2301.002, Occupations Code.
               (19)  "Owner" means:
                     (A)  a person, other than a manufacturer,
  importer, distributor, or dealer, claiming title to or having a
  right to operate under a lien a motor vehicle that has been subject
  to a first sale; or
                     (B)  a hobbyist who constructed an assembled
  trailer.
               (31)  "Used motor vehicle" means:
                     (A)  a motor vehicle that has been the subject of a
  first sale; [or]
                     (B)  an assembled vehicle that has been issued a
  title; or
                     (C)  an assembled trailer that has been issued a
  title or has been registered under Chapter 502.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter A, Chapter 501, Transportation Code,
  is amended by adding Section 501.009 to read as follows:
         Sec. 501.009.  ASSEMBLED TRAILER. For purposes of this
  chapter, an assembled trailer is considered to be, as applicable, a
  trailer, semitrailer, or travel trailer, including a farm trailer
  or farm semitrailer.
         SECTION 3.  Section 502.001, Transportation Code, is amended
  by adding Subdivision (2-a) to read as follows:
               (2-a)  "Assembled trailer" has the meaning assigned by
  Section 501.002.
         SECTION 4.  Subchapter A, Chapter 502, Transportation Code,
  is amended by adding Section 502.006 to read as follows:
         Sec. 502.006.  ASSEMBLED TRAILER. For purposes of this
  chapter, an assembled trailer is considered to be, as applicable, a
  trailer, semitrailer, or travel trailer, including a farm trailer
  or farm semitrailer.
         SECTION 5.  Section 502.040(a), Transportation Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Not more than 30 days after purchasing a vehicle, [or]
  becoming a resident of this state, or completing construction of an
  assembled trailer, the owner of a motor vehicle, trailer, [or]
  semitrailer, or assembled trailer shall apply for the registration
  of the vehicle for:
               (1)  each registration year in which the vehicle is
  used or to be used on a public highway; and
               (2)  if the vehicle is unregistered for a registration
  year that has begun and that applies to the vehicle and if the
  vehicle is used or to be used on a public highway, the remaining
  portion of that registration year.
         SECTION 6.  Section 731.001(a)(4), Transportation Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
               (4)  "Assembled vehicle" means:
                     (A)  an assembled motor vehicle;
                     (B)  an assembled motorcycle;
                     (C)  [an assembled trailer;
                     [(D)]  a custom vehicle;
                     (D) [(E)]  a street rod;
                     (E) [(F)]  a replica; or
                     (F) [(G)]  a glider kit.
         SECTION 7.  Section 731.001(a)(3), Transportation Code, is
  repealed.
         SECTION 8.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2023.