bill letting drivers skip the front plate for $50

The text as introduced · 417 words

89R1738 CS-D

By: Morales of Maverick
H.B. No. 3046

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the display of a license plate only on the rear of a

motor vehicle; authorizing a fee.

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

SECTION 1. Section 504.010, Transportation Code, is amended

by adding Subsections (d) and (e) to read as follows:

(d) Rules adopted under Subsection (c) must:

(1) authorize a motor vehicle to display only a rear

license plate if the applicant for the vehicle's registration pays

to the department an annual fee of $50; and

(2) require a motor vehicle that displays only a rear

license plate as authorized by Subdivision (1) to display on the

vehicle's windshield a distinctive insignia issued by the

department for validation of that authorization.

(e) The department shall deposit a fee collected under

Subsection (d) to the credit of the state highway fund.

SECTION 2. Sections 504.943(a) and (d), Transportation

Code, are amended to read as follows:

(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 :

(1) display two license plates that:

(A) [ (1) ] have been assigned by the department

for the period; and

(B) [ (2) ] comply with department rules regarding

the placement of license plates ; or

(2) display:

(A) a rear license plate that:

(i) has been assigned by the department for

the period; and

(ii) complies with department rules

regarding the placement of a rear license plate; and

(B) a windshield insignia described by Section

504.010(d) that complies with department rules .

(d) A court may dismiss a charge brought under Subsection

(a)(1)(A), (a)(2)(A)(i), or (a)(2)(B) [ (a)(1) ] if the defendant:

(1) remedies the defect before the defendant's first

court appearance; and

(2) pays a reimbursement fee not to exceed $10.

SECTION 3. 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 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.