88R3481 SRA-D By: Eckhardt S.B. No. 479 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the exemption from registration fees of certain vehicles used by nonprofit disaster relief organizations. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Sections 502.454(a), (b), and (f), Transportation Code, are amended to read as follows: (a) The owner of a commercial motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer may apply for registration under Section 502.451 and is exempt from the payment of the registration fee that would otherwise be required by this chapter if the vehicle is: (1) owned [and used exclusively for emergencies] by a nonprofit disaster relief organization; and (2) used by the organization exclusively for emergencies, training, equipment maintenance, transportation of disaster relief supplies, or other activities related to disaster relief. (b) An application for registration under this section must include: (1) a statement by the owner of the vehicle that the vehicle is used exclusively as [for] described by Subsection (a) [emergencies] and has not been used for any other purpose; (2) a statement signed by an officer of the nonprofit disaster relief organization that the vehicle has [not] been used exclusively as described by Subsection (a) [for any purpose other than emergencies] and qualifies for registration under this section; and (3) a reasonable description of the vehicle and the emergency equipment included in the vehicle. (f) A vehicle registered under this section that is used [for any purpose] other than as described by Subsection (a) [an emergency] may not again be registered under this section. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.