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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to requiring that all vehicle registrations, including |
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delinquent registrations, are for a 12-month period. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 502.044(a) and (c), Transportation |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) At the time of the first registration of a vehicle, the |
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[The] department shall designate a vehicle registration year of 12 |
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consecutive months to begin on the first day of a calendar month and |
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end on the last day of the 12th calendar month. The vehicle must be |
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registered annually according to the designated vehicle |
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registration year of 12 consecutive months designated by the |
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department. |
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(c) The department may not designate a registration period |
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of less than 12 months [to be computed at a rate of one-twelfth the |
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annual registration fee multiplied by the number of months in the |
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registration period. The board by rule may allow payment of |
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registration fees for a designated period not to exceed the amount |
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of time determined by department rule]. |
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SECTION 2. Section 502.045, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by amending Subsections (b), (c), and (d) and adding Subsection |
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(b-1) to read as follows: |
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(b) An applicant for registration who is delinquent but who |
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complies with the other requirements for registration under this |
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chapter shall: |
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(1) register the vehicle for a 12-month period that |
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ends on the last day of the 11th month after the month in which the |
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registration occurs under this subsection; and |
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(2) if applicable, pay the additional fee required by |
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this section. |
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(b-1) There is no additional fee for an [An] applicant for |
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delinquent registration under Subsection (b) who provides evidence |
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to establish good reason for delinquent registration and who |
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complies with the other requirements for registration under this |
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chapter [may register the vehicle for a 12-month period that ends on |
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the last day of the 11th month after the month in which the |
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registration occurs under this subsection]. |
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(c) The additional fee for an [An] applicant for delinquent |
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registration under Subsection (b) who [is delinquent and] has not |
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provided evidence acceptable to establish good reason for |
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delinquent registration but who complies with the other |
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requirements for registration is an amount equal to one-twelfth the |
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annual registration fee multiplied by the number of months or any |
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portion of a month since the expiration of the vehicle's previous |
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registration period during which the vehicle was not validly |
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registered [under this chapter shall register the vehicle for a |
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12-month period without changing the initial month of |
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registration]. |
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(d) A person who has been arrested or received a citation |
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for a violation of Section 502.472 may register the vehicle being |
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operated at the time of the offense under Subsection (b) [for a |
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12-month period without change to the initial month of registration |
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only] if the person: |
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(1) meets the other requirements for registration |
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under this chapter; and |
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(2) pays an additional charge equal to the total of: |
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(A) 20 percent of the prescribed fee for the |
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12-month registration period; and |
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(B) an amount equal to one-twelfth the annual |
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registration fee multiplied by the number of months or any portion |
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of a month since the expiration of the vehicle's previous |
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registration period during which the vehicle was not validly |
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registered. |
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SECTION 3. This Act applies only to the registration of a |
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motor vehicle that is applied for on or after the effective date of |
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this Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |