BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3531

By: Morgan

Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) temporarily adjusts or suspends certain civil obligations to enable service members to devote their full attention to their military duties and relieve stress on their families. One key protection provided by the SCRA is the prohibition against lenders repossessing service members' vehicles without a court order if the service member made at least one payment before entering military service, even if the service member is behind on payments while on active duty. The bill author has informed the committee that vehicle storage facilities' lack of ability to identify vehicles owned by members of the U.S. armed forces can create a material impediment to these facilities' ability to comply with the SCRA, but the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) does not have a method by which TxDMV can identify active members of the U.S. armed forces within its vehicle registration records. H.B. 3531 seeks to address this issue by requiring TxDMV to provide a person registering or renewing the registration of their motor vehicle with the option to voluntarily disclose their military status.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 3531 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV), when a person registers or renews the registration of a motor vehicle, to provide the person with the option to indicate whether the person is a member of the U.S. armed forces. The bill requires TxDMV, if a person indicates at such time that the person is a U.S. armed forces member, to include that military status:

· in TxDMV's vehicle registration records for the applicable vehicle; and

· with any record information released by TxDMV relating to those records, including a report issued by TxDMV for the vehicle.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2025.