LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 88TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
May 18, 2023

TO:
Honorable Robert Nichols, Chair, Senate Committee on Transportation
 
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB198 by Noble (Relating to vehicle safety inspections of certain travel trailers.), As Engrossed

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend Transportation Code, Chapter 548, to specify that a travel trailer meets the safety inspection requirements of Chapter 548 if the owner submits to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) 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 Chapter 548 and the rules adopted under that chapter. The bill would amend Transportation Code, Section 548.510, to make the travel trailer subject to the $7.50 fee established by that section, to be collected by TxDMV or a county tax assessor­-collector at the time of registration of the travel trailer.

Based on the information provided by TxDMV, it is assumed any costs or duties associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be absorbed within the agency's existing resources. Under current law the travel trailers subject to the bill are required to be inspected annually by state-certified inspection stations and pay an inspection fee, the state portion of which is $7.50, at the time of vehicle registration. Under the provisions of the bill, the owner of a travel trailer who submits the affidavit stating that the owner has inspected the trailer during the prescribed period would instead pay an equivalent amount in fees at the time of registration. Therefore, implementation of the provisions of the bill would not impact state revenue.

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.


Source Agencies:
304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 405 Department of Public Safety, 608 Department of Motor Vehicles
LBB Staff:
JMc, AAL, DDel, TG