88R23574 BEE-D By: Metcalf H.B. No. 1222 Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1222: By: Canales C.S.H.B. No. 1222 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to a study on authorizing a passenger car or light truck to be operated with only a rear license plate. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. STUDY. (a) The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles and the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas shall jointly conduct a study on the feasibility, cost, and effect on law enforcement of authorizing a passenger car or light truck to be operated with a rear license plate and a windshield sticker instead of a front and rear license plate. (b) The study must evaluate a license plate and windshield sticker system under which: (1) the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles would: (A) issue a set of two license plates to an applicant for registration of a passenger car or light truck; and (B) adopt rules to: (i) authorize a passenger car or light truck to display only a rear license plate if the motor vehicle is not equipped by the manufacturer with an exterior front feature to which a license plate may be fastened without drilling through the exterior of the vehicle; (ii) require a vehicle that displays only a rear license plate under Subparagraph (i) to display a windshield sticker; (iii) prescribe the manner and form of an application for a windshield sticker; (iv) establish a reasonable fee for a windshield sticker; (v) determine the information and documentation required to demonstrate eligibility for a windshield sticker; and (vi) prescribe the form of the windshield sticker and the manner in which the sticker must be displayed; (2) a person commits an offense that is a Class C misdemeanor if the person operates a passenger car or light truck that displays a windshield sticker and only a rear license plate and: (A) the unmounted license plate issued for the vehicle is not in the vehicle; or (B) the person fails to produce for inspection, on the request of a peace officer, the unmounted license plate issued for the vehicle; (3) a peace officer may not stop a passenger car or light truck that displays a windshield sticker and only a rear license plate solely to enforce the requirements that the unmounted license plate issued for the vehicle be in the vehicle and produced at the request of the officer; and (4) a person commits an offense if the person operates on a public highway, during a registration period, a vehicle that does not display all license plates and any windshield sticker required to be displayed on the vehicle. SECTION 2. REPORT. Not later than October 1, 2024, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles and the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas shall jointly submit to the legislature a report of the results of the study conducted under this Act. SECTION 3. EXPIRATION DATE. This Act expires September 1, 2025. SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.