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BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

H.B. 5137

By: Wilson

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

The bill author has informed the committee that a constituent of the author was unable to transfer his interest in a motor vehicle to more than one beneficiary, despite the transfer of ownership of personal property to multiple beneficiaries being a common practice. H.B. 5137 seeks to strengthen the rights of property owners by authorizing the owner of a motor vehicle to transfer the owner's interest to more than one beneficiary. 

 

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. 5137 amends the Estates Code to revise the authorization for an owner of a motor vehicle to transfer the owner's interest in the motor vehicle to a sole beneficiary effective on the owner's death by instead authorizing such an owner to transfer the interest to one or more beneficiaries. The bill, with respect to the interest in a motor vehicle being transferred to a designated beneficiary that survives the applicable owner by 120 hours, specifies that the interest is transferred to each surviving designated beneficiary. The bill provides for the share of each beneficiary, if each beneficiary fails to survive the owner by 120 hours, to lapse and pass as if each beneficiary designation were a devise made in a will.

 

H.B. 5137 amends the Transportation Code, with respect to the requirement for the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) to transfer title of a motor vehicle to a designated beneficiary that submits certain documentation to TxDMV, to specify that all beneficiaries jointly submitting the documentation, if applicable, triggers that requirement.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

September 1, 2025.