By: Eckhardt, West S.B. No. 1182     A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to motor vehicle registration and license plates.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  The heading to Section 502.094, Transportation   Code, is amended to read as follows:          Sec. 502.094.  72- OR 144-HOUR TEMPORARY REGISTRATION   PERMITS.          SECTION 2.  Section 502.094, Transportation Code, is amended   by amending Subsections (a), (b), (c), (e), (f), (g), and (h) and   adding Subsection (i) to read as follows:          (a)  The department may issue a temporary registration   permit [in lieu of registration] for a commercial motor vehicle,   trailer, semitrailer, or motor bus that:                (1)  is owned by a resident of the United States,   Canada, or the United Mexican States;                (2)  is subject to registration in this state; and                (3)  is not authorized to travel on a public highway   because of the lack of registration in this state or the lack of   reciprocity with the state or province in which the vehicle is   registered.          (b)  A temporary registration permit issued under this   section is valid for the period stated on the permit, effective from   the date and time shown on the receipt issued as evidence of   registration under this section.          (c)  A person may obtain a temporary registration permit   under this section by:                (1)  applying to the county assessor-collector or the   department;                (2)  paying a fee of $25 for a 72-hour temporary   registration permit or $50 for a 144-hour temporary registration   permit in the manner prescribed by the department that may include a   service charge for a credit card payment or escrow account;                (3)  furnishing to the county assessor-collector or the   department evidence of financial responsibility for the vehicle   that complies with Sections 502.046(c) and 601.168(a); and                (4)  submitting a copy of the applicable federal   declaration form required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety   Administration or its successor in connection with the importation   of a motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment subject to the federal   motor vehicle safety, bumper, and theft prevention standards.          (e)  A vehicle issued a temporary registration permit under   this section is subject to Subchapters B and F, Chapter 548, unless   the vehicle:                (1)  is registered in another state of the United   States, in a province of Canada, or in a state of the United Mexican   States; or                (2)  is mobile drilling or servicing equipment used in   the production of gas, crude petroleum, or oil, including a mobile   crane or hoisting equipment, mobile lift equipment, forklift, or   tug.          (f)  A commercial motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or   motor bus apprehended for violating a registration law of this   state:                (1)  may not be issued a temporary registration permit   under this section; and                (2)  is immediately subject to registration in this   state.          (g)  A person who operates a commercial motor vehicle,   trailer, or semitrailer with an expired temporary registration   permit issued under this section is considered to be operating an   unregistered vehicle subject to each penalty prescribed by law.          (h)  The department may establish one or more escrow accounts   in the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles fund for the prepayment of   a 72-hour [permit] or [a] 144-hour temporary registration permit.   Any fee established by the department for the administration of   this subsection shall be administered as required by an agreement   entered into by the department.          (i)  A temporary registration permit issued under this   section must be carried in the vehicle, or, if the vehicle is a   trailer or semitrailer, in the motor vehicle pulling the trailer or   semitrailer, at all times during the period in which the permit is   valid, including when the vehicle is being operated.          SECTION 3.  The heading to Section 502.095, Transportation   Code, is amended to read as follows:          Sec. 502.095.  ONE-TRIP OR 30-DAY TEMPORARY REGISTRATION   [TRIP] PERMITS.          SECTION 4.  Section 502.095, Transportation Code, is amended   by amending Subsections (a), (b), (d), (e), (f), and (g) and adding   Subsection (h) to read as follows:          (a)  The department may issue a temporary registration   permit [in lieu of registration] for a vehicle subject to   registration in this state that is not authorized to travel on a   public highway because of the lack of registration in this state or   the lack of reciprocity with the state or country in which the   vehicle is registered.          (b)  A temporary registration permit issued under this   section is valid for:                (1)  one trip, as provided by Subsection (c); or                (2)  30 days, as provided by Subsection (d).          (d)  A 30-day temporary registration permit may be issued   only to a passenger vehicle, a private bus, a trailer or semitrailer   with a gross weight of not more than 10,000 pounds, a light truck,   or a light commercial vehicle with a gross vehicle weight of more   than 10,000 pounds that will operate unladen. A person may obtain   multiple 30-day temporary registration permits. The department may   issue a single registration receipt to apply to all of the periods   for which the vehicle is registered.          (e)  A vehicle issued a 30-day temporary registration permit   under this section is subject to Subchapters B and F, Chapter 548.          (f)  A person may obtain a temporary registration permit   under this section by:                (1)  applying as provided by the department to:                      (A)  the county assessor-collector of the county   in which the vehicle will first be operated on a public highway; or                      (B)  the department in Austin or at one of the   department's vehicle title and registration regional offices;                (2)  paying a fee, in the manner prescribed by the   department including a registration service charge for a credit   card payment or escrow account of:                      (A)  $5 for a one-trip permit; or                      (B)  $25 for each 30-day period; and                (3)  furnishing evidence of financial responsibility   for the vehicle in a form listed under Section 502.046(c).          (g) [(f)]  A registration receipt shall be carried in the   vehicle at all times during the period in which it is valid.  The   temporary registration permit [temporary tag] must contain all   pertinent information required by this section and must be attached   to the vehicle in the license plate display area located at the rear   of the vehicle, so that the entire permit is visible and legible at   all times, including when the vehicle is being operated. If the   vehicle does not have a license plate display area at the rear of   the vehicle, the temporary registration permit [displayed in the   rear window of the vehicle so that the tag is clearly visible and   legible when viewed from the rear of the vehicle.  If the vehicle   does not have a rear window, the temporary tag] must be attached to   [on or carried in] the vehicle to allow ready inspection.  The   registration receipt must be carried, in a manner prescribed by the   department, in the vehicle at all times during the period in which   it is valid.          (h) [(g)]  The department may refuse and may instruct a   county assessor-collector to refuse to issue a temporary   registration permit for any vehicle if, in the department's   opinion, the vehicle or the owner of the vehicle has been involved   in operations that constitute an abuse of the privilege granted by   this section. A registration issued after notice to a county   assessor-collector under this subsection is void.          SECTION 5.  Section 502.146(a), Transportation Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (a)  The department shall issue distinguishing license   plates to a vehicle described by Subsection (b) or (c). The   department may issue distinguishing license plates to a vehicle   with a gross weight of 4,000 pounds or less if the vehicle otherwise   meets the requirements of Subsection (b)(1).  The fee for the   license plates is $5 and shall be deposited to the credit of the   Texas Department of Motor Vehicles fund.          SECTION 6.  Subchapter D, Chapter 502, Transportation Code,   is amended by adding Section 502.147 to read as follows:          Sec. 502.147.  CERTAIN FARM TRAILERS, FARM SEMITRAILERS,   FARM TRACTORS, AND IMPLEMENTS OF HUSBANDRY. 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.          SECTION 7.  Section 502.410(b), Transportation Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (b)  Subsection (a) does not apply to a statement or   application filed or given under Section 502.060, 502.092, 502.093,   502.094, 502.095, 504.201, 504.202(b-1), or 504.508[, or 504.515].          SECTION 8.  Sections 502.413(e) and (f), Transportation   Code, are amended to read as follows:          (e)  The department shall consult with the Health and Human    [Department of Aging and Disability] Services Commission in   performing the department's duties under this section.          (f)  The Special Olympics Texas fund is created as a trust   fund outside the state treasury to be held by the comptroller and   administered by the Health and Human [Department of Aging and   Disability] Services Commission as trustee on behalf of Special   Olympics Texas. The fund is composed of money deposited to the   credit of the fund under this section. Money in the fund shall be   disbursed at least monthly, without appropriation, to Special   Olympics Texas to provide training and athletic competitions for   persons with mental illness and intellectual disabilities.          SECTION 9.  Section 502.474, Transportation Code, is amended   to read as follows:          Sec. 502.474.  OPERATION OF ONE-TRIP PERMIT VEHICLE.  A   person commits an offense if the person operates a vehicle for which   a one-trip permit is required without the registration receipt and   properly displayed permit [temporary tag].          SECTION 10.  Section 504.202(e-1), Transportation Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (e-1)  Other than license plates issued under Subsection   (h), license plates issued under this section may include, on   request,[:                [(1)  the emblem of the veteran's branch of service; or                [(2)]  one emblem or design from another license plate   to which the person is entitled under Subchapter D [Section   504.308, 504.309, 504.310(b), 504.311, 504.312, 504.313, 504.3135,   504.314, 504.315, 504.316, 504.3161, 504.318, 504.319, 504.320,   504.323, 504.325, or 504.327].          SECTION 11.  Section 504.3015(a), Transportation Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (a)  A person applying for a set of license plates under this   subchapter shall pay the registration fee required under Chapter   502 and the applicable special plate fee required under this   section, except that one set of license plates shall be issued   without the payment of the registration fee under:                (1)  Section 504.308;                (2)  Section 504.310(b);                (3)  Section 504.315, other than Subsections (c) and   (q) of that section; [and]                (4)  Section 504.316; and                (5)  Section 504.319.          SECTION 12.  Section 504.414(b), Transportation Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (b)  Notwithstanding Section 504.400, the fee for a set of   license plates under this section is $30. After deduction of the   department's administrative costs in accordance with Section   504.801, the remainder of the fees from the sale of professional   firefighter plates shall be deposited to the credit of an account in   the state treasury to be used by the nominated state agency for the   purpose of making grants to support the activities of an   organization of professional firefighters located in this state   that provides emergency relief and college scholarship funds to the   professional firefighters and their dependents.          SECTION 13.  Section 504.507(b), Transportation Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (b)  There is no fee for issuance of the license plates. The   department shall:                (1)  collect any fee that a county imposes under   Chapter 502 [this chapter] for registration of a forestry vehicle;   and                (2)  send the fee to the appropriate county for   disposition.          SECTION 14.  Section 504.512, Transportation Code, is   amended by adding Subsection (b) to read as follows:          (b)  There is no fee for issuance of the license plates.          SECTION 15.  Section 504.513, Transportation Code, is   amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to   read as follows:          (a)  The department shall issue specialty license plates   for:                (1)  volunteer firefighters certified by:                      (A)  the Texas Commission on Fire Protection; or                      (B)  the State Firefighters' [Firemen's] and Fire   Marshals' Association of Texas; and                (2)  fire protection personnel as that term is defined   by Section 419.021, Government Code.          (c)  There is no fee for issuance of the license plates.          SECTION 16.  Section 504.516, Transportation Code, is   amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:          (c)  There is no fee for issuance of the license plates.          SECTION 17.  Section 504.602(b), Transportation Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (b)  After deduction of the department's administrative   costs, the remainder of the fee for issuance of the license plates   shall be used in connection with the Texas Department of   Transportation's [department's] litter prevention and community   beautification programs.          SECTION 18.  The heading to Section 504.610, Transportation   Code, is amended to read as follows:          Sec. 504.610.  TEXAS AEROSPACE AND AVIATION [COMMISSION]   LICENSE PLATES.          SECTION 19.  Section 504.610(a), Transportation Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (a)  The department may issue specialty license plates in   recognition of [the] Texas aerospace and aviation [Aerospace   Commission]. The department shall design the license plates in   consultation with the aerospace and aviation office of the Texas   Economic Development and Tourism Office [Aerospace Commission].          SECTION 20.  Section 504.619, Transportation Code, is   amended to read as follows:          Sec. 504.619.  [TEXAS COMMISSION FOR THE] DEAF AND HARD OF   HEARING SERVICES LICENSE PLATES. (a) The department shall issue   specialty license plates in support of services for persons who are   deaf [the Texas Commission for the Deaf] and hard [Hard] of hearing   [Hearing]. The department shall design the license plates in   consultation with the Health and Human Services [Texas] Commission   [for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing].          (b)  After deduction of the department's administrative   costs, the remainder of the fee for issuance of the license plates:                (1)  shall be deposited to the credit of the general   revenue fund; and                (2)  may be appropriated only to the Health and Human   Services [Texas] Commission [for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing] for   direct services programs, training, and education for persons who   are deaf and hard of hearing.          SECTION 21.  Section 504.642(b), Transportation Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (b)  After deduction of the department's administrative   costs, the remainder of the fee for issuance of the license plates   shall be deposited to the credit of an [a special] account created   by the comptroller in the manner provided by Section 504.6012(b)    [for abused and neglected children established at the Department of   Protective and Regulatory Services]. Money deposited to that [in   the] account may be used only by the Department of Family and   Protective [and Regulatory] Services to fund programs and services   supporting abused and neglected children under Section 264.004,   Family Code.          SECTION 22.  Section 504.851(c), Transportation Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (c)  Except as otherwise provided by law, the [The] board by   rule shall establish the fees for the issuance or renewal of   souvenir license plates, specialty license plates, or souvenir or   specialty license plates that are personalized that are marketed   and sold by the private vendor or hosted on the private vendor's   website. The state's portion of the personalization fee may not be   less than $40 for each year issued. Other fees must be reasonable   and not less than the amounts necessary to allow the department to   recover all reasonable costs to the department associated with the   evaluation of the competitive sealed proposals received by the   department and with the implementation and enforcement of the   contract, including direct, indirect, and administrative costs. A   fee established under this subsection is in addition to:                (1)  the registration fee and any optional registration   fee prescribed by this chapter for the vehicle for which specialty   license plates are issued;                (2)  any additional fee prescribed by this subchapter   for the issuance of specialty license plates for that vehicle; and                (3)  any additional fee prescribed by this subchapter   for the issuance of personalized license plates for that vehicle.          SECTION 23.  Section 504.943(b), Transportation Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (b)  A person commits an offense if the person operates on a   public highway during a registration period a road tractor, truck   tractor, motorcycle, trailer, or semitrailer that does not display   a license plate that:                (1)  has been assigned by the department for the   period; and                (2)  complies with department rules regarding the   placement of license plates.          SECTION 24.  Section 504.515, Transportation Code, is   repealed.          SECTION 25.  Section 504.943, Transportation Code, as   amended by this Act, applies only to an offense committed on or   after the effective date of this Act. An offense committed before   the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on   the date the offense was committed, and the former law is continued   in effect for that purpose. For purposes of this section, an   offense was committed before the effective date of this Act if any   element of the offense occurred before that date.          SECTION 26.  To the extent of any conflict, this Act prevails   over another Act of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023,   relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted   codes.          SECTION 27.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.