S.B. No. 2075
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to vehicle registration.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 91.905, Natural Resources Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 91.905.  APPLICATION OF OTHER LAW. Section 212.153(e),
  Local Government Code, and Sections 203.092 and[,] 224.008, [and
  502.1981(c)(4),] Transportation Code, apply to saltwater pipeline
  operators and saltwater pipeline facilities in the same manner as
  they apply to utilities and utility facilities.
         SECTION 2.  Section 502.001(2), Transportation Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
               (2)  "Apportioned license plate" means a license plate
  issued in lieu of a truck, motor bus, [license plate] or combination
  license plate to a motor carrier in this state who proportionally
  registers a vehicle owned or leased by the carrier in one or more
  other states.
         SECTION 3.  Section 502.0023, Transportation Code, is
  amended by amending Subsections (c) and (e) and adding Subsection
  (c-1) to read as follows:
         (c)  In addition to the registration fees prescribed by this
  chapter, an owner registering a commercial fleet under this section
  shall pay:
               (1)  a one-time [an annual commercial fleet
  registration] fee of $10 per motor vehicle, semitrailer, or trailer
  in the fleet; and
               (2)  except as provided by Subsection (e), a one-time
  license plate manufacturing fee of $1.50 for each fleet motor
  vehicle, semitrailer, or trailer license plate.
         (c-1)  A fee collected under Subsection (c) shall be
  deposited to the credit of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles
  fund.
         (e)  In addition to all other applicable registration fees,
  an owner registering a commercial fleet under this section shall
  pay a one-time license plate manufacturing fee of $8 for each set of
  plates issued that includes on the legend the name or logo of the
  business entity that owns the vehicle instead of the fee imposed by
  Subsection (c)(2).  A license plate manufacturing fee collected
  under this section shall be deposited to the credit of the Texas
  Department of Motor Vehicles fund.
         SECTION 4.  Section 502.040(b), Transportation Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (b)  The application must be accompanied by personal
  identification as determined by department rule and made in a
  manner prescribed by the department:
               (1)  through the county assessor-collector of the
  county in which the owner resides; or
               (2)  if the office of that assessor-collector is
  closed, or may be closed for a protracted period of time, as defined
  by department rule, through a [if the county in which the owner
  resides has been declared by the governor as a disaster area,
  through the county assessor-collector of a county that is one of the
  closest unaffected counties to a county that asks for assistance
  and:
                     [(A)     continues to be declared by the governor as
  a disaster area because the county has been rendered inoperable by
  the disaster; and
                     [(B)     is inoperable for a protracted period of
  time; or
               [(3)     if the county assessor-collector's office in
  which the owner resides is closed for a protracted period of time as
  defined by the department, to the] county assessor-collector [of a
  county that borders the county in which the owner resides] who is
  willing [agrees] to accept the application.
         SECTION 5.  Section 502.057, Transportation Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         Sec. 502.057.  REGISTRATION RECEIPT. (a)  The department
  shall issue or require to be issued to the owner of a vehicle
  registered under this chapter a registration receipt showing the
  information required by rule.
         (b)  A receipt for the renewed registration of a vehicle
  generated by an online registration system approved by the
  department is proof of the vehicle's registration until the 31st
  day after the date of renewal on the receipt.
         SECTION 6.  Section 502.060(b), Transportation Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (b)  No fee is required under this section if:
               (1)  the replacement fee for a license plate has been
  paid under Section 504.007; or
               (2)  the county assessor-collector determines that the
  owner paid for a registration insignia for the same registration
  period that was mailed to the owner but not received by the owner.
         SECTION 7.  Section 502.091(b), Transportation Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (b)  The department may adopt and enforce rules to carry out
  the International Registration Plan or other agreement under this
  section. The rules may require an applicant to register under the
  unified carrier registration system as defined by Section 643.001
  before the applicant applies for registration under the
  International Registration Plan.
         SECTION 8.  Sections 502.146(a) and (h), Transportation
  Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The department shall issue distinguishing [specialty]
  license plates to a vehicle described by Subsection (b) or (c). The
  fee for the license plates is $5 and shall be deposited to the
  credit of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles fund.
         (h)  A distinguishing [specialty] license plate may not be
  issued or renewed under Subsection (a) to an owner of a vehicle
  described by Subsection (b)(1) unless the vehicle's owner provides
  a registration number issued by the comptroller under Section
  151.1551, Tax Code, or the vehicle is owned by a farmers'
  cooperative society incorporated under Chapter 51, Agriculture
  Code, or a marketing association organized under Chapter 52,
  Agriculture Code. The comptroller shall allow access to the online
  system established under Section 151.1551(l), Tax Code, to verify a
  registration number provided under this subsection.
         SECTION 9.  Section 502.198, Transportation Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         Sec. 502.198.  DISPOSITION OF FEES GENERALLY. (a)  Except
  as provided by Sections 502.058, 502.060, 502.1911, 502.192,
  502.356, and 502.357 and Subchapter H, this section applies to all
  fees collected by a county assessor-collector under this chapter.
         (b)  Each Tuesday [Monday], a county assessor-collector
  shall credit to the county road and bridge fund an amount equal to
  the net collections made during the preceding week until the amount
  so credited for the calendar year equals the total of:
               (1)  $60,000; and
               (2)  $350 for each mile of county road maintained by the
  county, according to the most recent information available from the
  department, not to exceed 500 miles[; and
               [(3)     an additional amount of fees equal to the amount
  calculated under Section 502.1981].
         (c)  After the credits to the county road and bridge fund
  equal the total computed under Subsection (b), each Tuesday
  [Monday] the county assessor-collector shall:
               (1)  credit to the county road and bridge fund an amount
  equal to 50 percent of the net collections made during the preceding
  week, until the amount so credited for the calendar year equals
  $125,000; and
               (2)  send to the department an amount equal to 50
  percent of those collections for deposit to the credit of the state
  highway fund.
         (d)  After the credits to the county road and bridge fund
  equal the total amounts computed under Subsections (b) and (c)(1),
  each Tuesday [Monday] the county assessor-collector shall send to
  the department all collections made during the preceding week for
  deposit to the credit of the state highway fund.
         SECTION 10.  Section 502.1983(a), Transportation Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  A [Except as provided by Section 502.357, a] county
  assessor-collector may:
               (1)  deposit the fees subject to Section 502.198 in an
  interest-bearing account or certificate in the county depository;
  and
               (2)  send the fees to the department not later than the
  34th day after the date the fees are due under Section 502.198
  [502.357].
         SECTION 11.  Section 502.433(a-1), Transportation Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a-1)  A commercial motor vehicle registration may not be
  issued or renewed [registered] under this section unless the
  vehicle's owner provides a registration number issued by the
  comptroller under Section 151.1551, Tax Code. The comptroller
  shall allow access to the online system established under Section
  151.1551(l), Tax Code, to verify a registration number provided
  under this subsection.
         SECTION 12.  Section 504.007, Transportation Code, is
  amended by adding Subsection (g) to read as follows:
         (g)  No fee is required under this section if the county
  assessor-collector determines that the owner paid for license
  plates for the same vehicle that were mailed to the owner but not
  received by the owner.
         SECTION 13.  Section 504.202(b), Transportation Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (b)  A veteran of the United States armed forces is entitled
  to register, for the person's own use, motor vehicles under this
  section if:
               (1)  the person has suffered, as a result of military
  service:
                     (A)  at least a 50 percent service-connected
  disability; or
                     (B)  a 40 percent service-connected disability
  because of the amputation of a lower extremity;
               (2)  the person receives compensation from the United
  States because of the disability; and
               (3)  the motor vehicle:
                     (A)  is owned by the person; and
                     (B)  has a gross vehicle weight of 18,000 pounds
  or less or is a motor home.
         SECTION 14.  Section 520.006(a-1), Transportation Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a-1)  A county assessor-collector collecting fees on behalf
  of a county assessor-collector whose office [that has been declared
  as a disaster area or that] is closed or may be closed for a
  protracted period of time as defined by the department for purposes
  of Section 501.023 or 502.040 may retain the commission for fees
  collected, but shall allocate the fees to the county [declared as a
  disaster area or] that is closed or may be closed for a protracted
  period of time.
         SECTION 15.  Section 623.144, Transportation Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 623.144.  REGISTRATION OF VEHICLE. (a)  A person may
  not operate a vehicle permitted under this subchapter on a public
  highway unless the vehicle is registered under Chapter 502 for the
  maximum gross weight applicable to the vehicle under Section
  621.101 or has distinguishing [specialty] license plates as
  provided by Section 502.146 if applicable to the vehicle.
         (b)  The department may not issue distinguishing [specialty]
  license plates to a vehicle described by Section 502.146(b)(3)
  unless the applicant complies with the requirements of that
  subsection.
         SECTION 16.  Sections 502.1585 and 502.1981, Transportation
  Code, are repealed.
         SECTION 17.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 2075 passed the Senate on
  April 26, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 1.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 2075 passed the House on
  May 24, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 146, Nays 0, two
  present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
              Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor