BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 3928
89R4729 AND-D	By: Thompson (Nichols)
	Transportation
	5/20/2025
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Current law requires a vehicle storage facility to notify owners and lienholders when a vehicle has been towed. The majority of these notices are done through certified mail.

However, if there is no vehicle registration, no address on the registration, or it is an out-of-state registration, a vehicle storage facility is required to provide the notice in a local newspaper where the vehicle is stored.

This is becoming increasingly difficult as the number of local newspapers continues to decline. H.B. 3928 amends Section 2303.152 of the Occupations Code to provide an alternative notice by allowing a vehicle storage facility to post notices on a third party website approved by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). The link to the approved site(s) will also be available on TDLR's website.

H.B. 3928 amends current law relating to providing notice of a vehicle towed to a vehicle storage facility by publication on a third-party Internet website.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 2303.152, Occupations Code, by amending Subsections (a) and (e) and adding Subsection (f), as follows:

(a) Authorizes notice to the registered owner and the primary lienholder of a vehicle towed to a vehicle storage facility to be provided by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the vehicle is stored or on a publicly available Internet website maintained by a Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR)-approved third party if certain conditions exist.

(e) Authorizes notice to the registered owner and the primary lienholder of a vehicle towed to a vehicle storage facility to be provided by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the vehicle is stored or on a publicly available Internet website maintained by a TDLR-approved third party if certain conditions exist.

(f) Requires TDLR to include on TDLR's Internet website a link to any Internet website maintained by a TDLR-approved third party where notice may be provided under Subsection (a) or (e).

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2025.