H.B. No. 3927
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to certain temporary motor vehicle tags.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Sections 503.0626(a) and (c), Transportation
  Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The department shall develop, manage, and maintain a
  secure, real-time database of information on vehicles to which
  dealers and converters have affixed temporary tags. [The database
  shall be managed by the vehicle titles and registration division of
  the department.]
         (c)  Before a dealer's or converter's temporary tag may be
  displayed on a vehicle, the dealer or converter must enter into the
  database through the Internet information on the vehicle and
  information about the dealer or converter as prescribed by the
  department. Except as provided by Section 506.0632(f), the [The]
  department may not deny access to the database to any dealer who
  holds a general distinguishing number issued under this chapter or
  who is licensed under Chapter 2301, Occupations Code, or to any
  converter licensed under Chapter 2301, Occupations Code.
         SECTION 2.  Section 503.063, Transportation Code, is amended
  by adding Subsections (i) and (j) to read as follows:
         (i)  A vehicle may be issued and display a buyer's tag
  without satisfying the inspection requirements of Chapter 548 if:
               (1)  the buyer of the vehicle is not a resident of this
  state; and
               (2)  the vehicle:
                     (A)  at the time of purchase, is not located or
  required to be titled or registered in this state;
                     (B)  will be titled and registered in accordance
  with the laws of the buyer's state of residence; and
                     (C)  will be inspected in accordance with the laws
  of the buyer's state of residence, if the laws of that state require
  inspection.
         (j)  A vehicle may be issued and display a buyer's tag
  without satisfying the inspection requirements of Chapter 548 if
  the vehicle is purchased at public auction in this state and is:
               (1)  an antique vehicle as defined by Section
  683.077(b); or
               (2)  a special interest vehicle as defined by Section
  683.077(b) that:
                     (A)  is at least 12 years of age; and
                     (B)  has been the subject of a retail sale.
         SECTION 3.  Sections 503.0631(a) and (c), Transportation
  Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The department shall develop, manage, and maintain a
  secure, real-time database of information on persons to whom
  temporary buyer's tags are issued that may be used by a law
  enforcement agency in the same manner that the agency uses vehicle
  registration information. [The database shall be managed by the
  vehicle titles and registration division of the department.]
         (c)  Except as provided by Subsection (d), before a buyer's
  temporary tag may be displayed on a vehicle, a dealer must enter
  into the database through the Internet information about the buyer
  of the vehicle for which the tag was issued as prescribed by the
  department and generate a vehicle-specific number for the tag as
  required by Section 503.063(e). Except as provided by Section
  506.0632(f), the [The] department may not deny access to the
  database to any dealer who holds a general distinguishing number
  issued under this chapter or who is licensed under Chapter 2301,
  Occupations Code.
         SECTION 4.  Subchapter C, Chapter 503, Transportation Code,
  is amended by adding Section 503.0632 to read as follows:
         Sec. 503.0632.  DEPARTMENT REGULATION OF TEMPORARY TAGS AND
  ACCESS TO TEMPORARY TAG DATABASES. (a) The department by rule may
  establish the maximum number of temporary tags that a dealer or
  converter may obtain in a calendar year under Section 503.062,
  503.0625, or 503.063.
         (b)  The maximum number of temporary tags that the department
  determines a dealer or converter may obtain under this section must
  be based on the dealer's or converter's anticipated need for
  temporary tags, taking into consideration:
               (1)  the dealer's or converter's:
                     (A)  time in operation;
                     (B)  sales data; and
                     (C)  expected growth;
               (2)  expected changes in the dealer's or converter's
  market;
               (3)  temporary conditions that may affect sales by the
  dealer or converter; and
               (4)  any other information the department considers
  relevant.
         (c)  At the request of a dealer or converter, the department
  may authorize additional temporary tags of any type for the dealer
  or converter if the dealer or converter demonstrates a need for
  additional temporary tags resulting from business operations,
  including anticipated need.
         (d)  The department's denial of a request under Subsection
  (c) may be overturned if a dealer or converter shows by a
  preponderance of the evidence the need for additional temporary
  tags.
         (e)  The department shall monitor the number of temporary
  tags obtained by a dealer or converter.
         (f)  If the department determines that a dealer or converter
  is fraudulently obtaining temporary tags from the temporary tag
  database, the department may, after giving notice electronically
  and by certified mail to the dealer or converter, deny access to a
  temporary tag database to the dealer or converter. A dealer or
  converter denied access to a temporary tag database under this
  subsection may request a hearing on the denial as provided by
  Subchapter O, Chapter 2301, Occupations Code.
         SECTION 5.  Sections 503.067(b) and (d), Transportation
  Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (b)  A person may not operate a vehicle that displays:
               (1)  a temporary tag in violation of this chapter or
  Chapter 502; or
               (2)  any other [an] unauthorized temporary tag.
         (d)  A person may not sell or distribute a temporary tag or an
  item represented to be a temporary tag unless the person is[:
               [(1)]  a dealer issuing the tag in connection with the
  sale of a vehicle[; or
               [(2)  a printer or distributor engaged in the business
  of selling temporary tags solely for uses authorized under this
  chapter].
         SECTION 6.  The changes in law made by this Act apply 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 7.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 3927 was passed by the House on May 7,
  2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 128, Nays 12, 1 present, not
  voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
  No. 3927 on May 28, 2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 125, Nays 16,
  4 present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 3927 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 22, 2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays
  0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor