BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 2705

By: Hagenbuch

Transportation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The bill sponsor has informed the committee that it is inappropriate to register certain vehicles that are only operated temporarily on the highway and to charge for the issuance of certain license plates. S.B. 2705 seeks to discontinue the undesirable collection of fees for certain vehicles.

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

S.B. 2705 amends the Transportation Code to establish that an owner is not required to register a farm trailer or farm semitrailer with a gross weight of 4,000 pounds or less or a farm tractor or an implement of husbandry if the trailer, semitrailer, tractor, or implement is operated only temporarily on the highways.

S.B. 2705 requires one set of military specialty license plates issued to legion of merit medal recipients to be issued without the payment of the vehicle registration fee. The bill establishes that there is no fee for issuance of the following specialty license plates:

· plates issued to Gold Star mothers, fathers, spouses, or family members;

· plates issued to fire protection personnel and certain volunteer firefighters; and

· plates for rental trailers and travel trailers.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2025.