Monitoring the SessionHB 1386
Died in committee
Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade
relating to license plates issued for and displayed on passenger cars and light trucks.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Two plates issued, one required on the car.
The bill lets passenger cars and light trucks in Texas display only a rear license plate, even though the state must still issue owners a set of two plates. It touches every driver of a passenger car or light truck and rewrites the plate-display offense to cover only the plates that the code or a state rule requires. On September 1, 2025, the front plate stops being mandatory for those vehicles, and drivers can no longer be cited for a missing front plate.
Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R HB 1222 by Rep. Metcalf (Did not pass) and this bill (Died in committee). Checked against 88R only.DO-OVER. Reworked text of a bill filed before that died: 88R HB 1222 by Rep. Metcalf (Did not pass). Filed in 2 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R only.TRY NO. 2. Filed in 2 sessions: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Nov 18, 2024 and referred to the House Transportation committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
89R-HB1386 · 2024-11-18
+ 14 coauthors
relating to license plates issued for and displayed on passenger cars and light trucks.
Two plates issued, one required on the car.
The bill lets passenger cars and light trucks in Texas display only a rear license plate, even though the state must still issue owners a set of two plates. It touches every driver of a passenger car or light truck and rewrites the plate-display offense to cover only the plates that the code or a state rule requires. On September 1, 2025, the front plate stops being mandatory for those vehicles, and drivers can no longer be cited for a missing front plate.
[ ] NONE FOUND
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
No verified beat found.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Not tied to this bill.
The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.
Derived itemized flow · Nov 3, 2024 to Oct 21, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
$25,000.00
Also funds 44 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jun 24, 2025 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · on Jun 24, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101012375.
$25,000.00
Also funds 33 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jun 30, 2025 to Oct 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · on Oct 22, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101031736.
$22,500.00
Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Nov 25, 2024 to Jul 13, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 100987242, 101012375, 101060151, 101072158.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
$25,000.00
Also funds 44 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jun 24, 2025 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · on Jun 24, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101012375.
$25,000.00
Also funds 33 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jun 30, 2025 to Oct 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · on Oct 22, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101031736.
$22,500.00
Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamDerived itemized flow · Nov 25, 2024 to Jul 13, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 100987242, 101012375, 101060151, 101072158.
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.
Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.
by Rep. Metcalf, different lead author · Did not pass · reworked
Introduced textLast action, May 11, 2023: Placed on General State Calendar
Relating to a study on authorizing a passenger car or light truck to be operated with only a rear license plate.
Caption, 88R bill history
Texas House · Filed Nov 18, 2024
03/11/2025 H Referred to Transportation: Mar 11 2025 3:26PM
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · Transportation · Final status: Died in committee
HB 1380 by Virdell (duplicate)
Vehicles & Traffic--Vehicle Registration
LICENSE PLATES
MOTOR VEHICLES, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF
The text as introduced · 324 words
By: Virdell H.B. No. 1386 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to license plates issued for and displayed on passenger cars and light trucks. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 504.010, Transportation Code, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: (a) On payment of the prescribed fee, an applicant for motor vehicle registration shall be issued a license plate or set of plates , provided that the department must issue a set of two plates to an applicant for registration of a passenger car or light truck . (d) A rule adopted under Subsection (c) must authorize a passenger car or light truck to display only a rear license plate. SECTION 2. Section 504.943(a), Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) A [ Except as provided by Subsection (b), a ] person commits an offense if the person operates on a public highway, during a registration period, a [ motor ] vehicle that does not display all [ two ] license plates required by this chapter or a rule adopted under this chapter to be displayed on the vehicle that: (1) have been assigned by the department for the period; and (2) comply with department rules regarding the placement of license plates. SECTION 3. Section 504.943(b), Transportation Code, is repealed. SECTION 4. The change in law made 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 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
