Relating to vehicle registration, license plates, and inspection reports.

89(R) SB 1365 - House Committee Report version - Bill Text

By: Nichols

S.B. No. 1365

(Canales)

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to vehicle registration, license plates, and inspection

reports.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 2001.223, Government Code, as effective

April 1, 2025, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 2001.223. EXCEPTIONS FROM DECLARATORY JUDGMENT, COURT

ENFORCEMENT, AND CONTESTED CASE PROVISIONS. Section 2001.038 and

Subchapters C through H do not apply to:

(1) except as provided by Subchapter D, Chapter 545,

the granting, payment, denial, or withdrawal of financial or

medical assistance or benefits under service programs that were

operated by the former Texas Department of Human Services before

September 1, 2003, and are operated on and after that date by the

Health and Human Services Commission or a health and human services

agency, as defined by Section 521.0001;

(2) action by the Banking Commissioner or the Finance

Commission of Texas regarding the issuance of a state bank or state

trust company charter for a bank or trust company to assume the

assets and liabilities of a financial institution that the

commissioner considers to be in hazardous condition as defined by

Section 31.002(a) or 181.002(a), Finance Code, as applicable;

(3) a hearing or interview conducted by the Board of

Pardons and Paroles or the Texas Department of Criminal Justice

relating to the grant, rescission, or revocation of parole or other

form of administrative release; [
or
]

(4) the suspension, revocation, or termination of the

certification of a breath analysis operator or technical supervisor

under the rules of the Department of Public Safety
; or

(5)

the refusal to issue or renew a motor vehicle

registration or the cancellation, suspension, or revocation of a

motor vehicle registration under Chapter 502, Transportation Code,

or rules adopted by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles under

that chapter
.

SECTION 2. Section 502.044, Transportation Code, is amended

by adding Subsection (a-1) and amending Subsection (e) to read as

follows:

(a-1)

Notwithstanding Subsection (a), the department shall

designate a vehicle registration period of 24 consecutive months to

begin on the first day of a calendar month and end on the last day of

the 24th calendar month for a passenger car or light truck that:

(1)

is sold in this state or purchased by a commercial

fleet buyer described by Section 501.0234(b)(4) for use in this

state;

(2)

has not been previously registered in this or

another state; and

(3)

on the date of sale, is of the current or preceding

model year.

(e) The department shall use the date of sale of the vehicle

in designating the registration
period
[
year
] for a vehicle for

which registration is applied for under Section 501.0234.

SECTION 3. Section 502.048, Transportation Code, is amended

to read as follows:

Sec. 502.048. REFUSAL TO REGISTER UNSAFE VEHICLE.
(a)

Subject to Subsection (b), the
[
The
] department may refuse to

register a motor vehicle and may cancel, suspend, or revoke a

registration if the department determines that a motor vehicle is

unsafe, improperly equipped, or otherwise unfit to be operated on a

public highway.

(b) The department may take action under Subsection (a):

(1)

only after providing to the owner of the motor

vehicle for which the registration will be refused, canceled,

suspended, or revoked notice of the proposed action and an

opportunity to respond; and

(2) without a hearing.

SECTION 4. Section 502.360(b), Transportation Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(b) In addition to other fees authorized under this chapter,

at the time of application for registration or renewal of

registration of an electric vehicle, the applicant shall pay an

additional fee of[
:

[
(1)

$400, for the registration of a new vehicle to

which Section 548.102 applies; or

[
(2)
] $200[
,
] for
each 12 months of
[
the
] registration

[
or renewal of registration of a vehicle to which Section 548.101

applies
].

SECTION 5. Section 503.008(a), Transportation Code, as

effective July 1, 2025, is amended to read as follows:

(a) The fee for:

(1) a dealer's license plate issued under Section

503.061 is $20 a year; and

(2) a dealer's temporary license plate issued under

Section 503.062 is $10
for an original license plate and $0 for the

renewal of the same license plate
.

SECTION 6. Section 503.0633(f), Transportation Code, as

effective July 1, 2025, is amended to read as follows:

(f) If the department determines that a dealer is

fraudulently obtaining license plates or sets of license plates
,

[
or
] fraudulently using the database of dealer-issued license

plates,
or obtaining or using vehicle inspection reports described

by Section 548.603(a)(1),
the department may, after giving notice

electronically and by certified mail to the dealer, deny access to

the database of dealer-issued license plates to the dealer. A

dealer denied access to the database of dealer-issued license

plates under this subsection may request a hearing on the denial as

provided by Subchapter O, Chapter 2301, Occupations Code.

SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.