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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to vehicle registration, license plates, and inspection |
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reports. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 2001.223, Government Code, as effective |
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April 1, 2025, is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 2001.223. EXCEPTIONS FROM DECLARATORY JUDGMENT, COURT |
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ENFORCEMENT, AND CONTESTED CASE PROVISIONS. Section 2001.038 and |
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Subchapters C through H do not apply to: |
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(1) except as provided by Subchapter D, Chapter 545, |
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the granting, payment, denial, or withdrawal of financial or |
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medical assistance or benefits under service programs that were |
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operated by the former Texas Department of Human Services before |
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September 1, 2003, and are operated on and after that date by the |
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Health and Human Services Commission or a health and human services |
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agency, as defined by Section 521.0001; |
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(2) action by the Banking Commissioner or the Finance |
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Commission of Texas regarding the issuance of a state bank or state |
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trust company charter for a bank or trust company to assume the |
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assets and liabilities of a financial institution that the |
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commissioner considers to be in hazardous condition as defined by |
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Section 31.002(a) or 181.002(a), Finance Code, as applicable; |
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(3) a hearing or interview conducted by the Board of |
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Pardons and Paroles or the Texas Department of Criminal Justice |
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relating to the grant, rescission, or revocation of parole or other |
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form of administrative release; [or] |
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(4) the suspension, revocation, or termination of the |
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certification of a breath analysis operator or technical supervisor |
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under the rules of the Department of Public Safety; or |
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(5) the refusal to issue or renew a motor vehicle |
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registration or the cancellation, suspension, or revocation of a |
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motor vehicle registration under Chapter 502, Transportation Code, |
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or rules adopted by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles under |
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that chapter. |
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SECTION 2. Section 502.044, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsection (a-1) and amending Subsection (e) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), the department shall |
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designate a vehicle registration period of 24 consecutive months to |
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begin on the first day of a calendar month and end on the last day of |
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the 24th calendar month for a passenger car or light truck that: |
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(1) is sold in this state or purchased by a commercial |
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fleet buyer described by Section 501.0234(b)(4) for use in this |
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state; |
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(2) has not been previously registered in this or |
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another state; and |
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(3) on the date of sale, is of the current or preceding |
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model year. |
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(e) The department shall use the date of sale of the vehicle |
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in designating the registration period [year] for a vehicle for |
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which registration is applied for under Section 501.0234. |
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SECTION 3. Section 502.048, Transportation Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 502.048. REFUSAL TO REGISTER UNSAFE VEHICLE. (a) |
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Subject to Subsection (b), the [The] department may refuse to |
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register a motor vehicle and may cancel, suspend, or revoke a |
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registration if the department determines that a motor vehicle is |
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unsafe, improperly equipped, or otherwise unfit to be operated on a |
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public highway. |
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(b) The department may take action under Subsection (a): |
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(1) only after providing to the owner of the motor |
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vehicle for which the registration will be refused, canceled, |
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suspended, or revoked notice of the proposed action and an |
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opportunity to respond; and |
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(2) without a hearing. |
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SECTION 4. Section 502.360(b), Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) In addition to other fees authorized under this chapter, |
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at the time of application for registration or renewal of |
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registration of an electric vehicle, the applicant shall pay an |
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additional fee of[: |
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[(1) $400, for the registration of a new vehicle to |
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which Section 548.102 applies; or |
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[(2)] $200[,] for each 12 months of [the] registration |
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[or renewal of registration of a vehicle to which Section 548.101 |
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applies]. |
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SECTION 5. Section 503.008(a), Transportation Code, as |
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effective July 1, 2025, is amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The fee for: |
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(1) a dealer's license plate issued under Section |
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503.061 is $20 a year; and |
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(2) a dealer's temporary license plate issued under |
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Section 503.062 is $10 for an original license plate and $0 for the |
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renewal of the same license plate. |
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SECTION 6. Section 503.0633(f), Transportation Code, as |
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effective July 1, 2025, is amended to read as follows: |
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(f) If the department determines that a dealer is |
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fraudulently obtaining license plates or sets of license plates, |
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[or] fraudulently using the database of dealer-issued license |
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plates, or obtaining or using vehicle inspection reports described |
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by Section 548.603(a)(1), the department may, after giving notice |
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electronically and by certified mail to the dealer, deny access to |
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the database of dealer-issued license plates to the dealer. A |
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dealer denied access to the database of dealer-issued license |
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plates under this subsection may request a hearing on the denial as |
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provided by Subchapter O, Chapter 2301, Occupations Code. |
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SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |