bill setting a 24-month first registration for new cars

The text as introduced · 958 words

89R8428 JXC-D

By: McQueeney
H.B. No. 3528

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the registration and inspection of vehicles.

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

SECTION 1. Section 382.0622(a), Health and Safety Code, as

amended by Chapters 362 (S.B. 2102) and 851 (H.B. 3297), Acts of the

88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, is reenacted and amended

to read as follows:

(a) Clean Air Act fees consist of:

(1) fees collected by the commission under Sections

382.062, 382.0621, 382.202, and 382.302 and as otherwise provided

by law;

(2) each amount designated [ described ] by Section

548.510 [ Sections 548.510(d)(3) and (e)(3) ], Transportation Code ,

for deposit to the credit of the clean air account ; and

[ (3) $6 from the portion of each fee collected for an

inspection of a vehicle and remitted to the state under Section

548.5035, Transportation Code; and ]

(3) fees collected that are required under Section 185

of the federal Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. Section 7511d).

SECTION 2. Section 382.202(d-2), Health and Safety Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(d-2) If approved by the United States Environmental

Protection Agency as part of the state's air quality state

implementation plan , [ provides for a three-year emissions

inspection period for a vehicle described by Section 548.1025(a),

Transportation Code:

[ (1) the system implemented by ] the Department of

Public Safety of the State of Texas shall provide under Subsection

(d) [ shall provide ] for a three-year emissions inspection period

for a vehicle registered under [ described by ] Section 502.0026

[ 548.1025(a) ], Transportation Code . The [ ; and

[ (2) the ] commission shall establish and assess fees

for an [ the ] emissions inspection conducted under this section [ of

a vehicle described by Section 548.1025(a), Transportation Code, ]

in amounts calculated to provide the same revenue that would be

provided if the vehicle was inspected annually or biennially.

SECTION 3. Section 502.0026(b), Transportation Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(b) Payment for all applicable fees, including any optional

fee imposed under Subchapter H and other registration fees and the

fee required by Section 548.510 [ 548.5035 ], for the entire

registration period is due at the time of registration.

SECTION 4. 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 5. The heading to Section 548.510, Transportation

Code, as amended by Chapters 851 (H.B. 3297) and 999 (H.B. 198),

Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, is reenacted

to read as follows:

Sec. 548.510. INSPECTION PROGRAM REPLACEMENT FEE.

SECTION 6. Section 548.510(a), Transportation Code, as

amended by Chapters 851 (H.B. 3297) and 999 (H.B. 198), Acts of the

88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, is reenacted and amended

to read as follows:

(a) In [ Except as provided by Subsections (b) and (c), in ]

addition to other fees imposed at the time of registration, at the

time of application for initial registration or renewal of

registration of a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole

trailer, or mobile home, the applicant shall pay an annual fee of

$7.50.

SECTION 7. Section 548.510, Transportation Code, is amended

by amending Subsections (b) and (c) and adding Subsection (e-1) to

read as follows:

(b) Instead of the fee provided by Subsection (a), an

applicant shall pay a one-time fee of $16.75 if the application is

for the initial registration of a passenger car or light truck under

Section 502.044(a-1) [ 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 model year

or preceding model year ].

[ (c) ] An applicant who pays a fee under this subsection

[ Subsection (b) ] for a registration year is not required to pay a

fee under Subsection (a) for the next registration year for the same

vehicle.

(c) Instead of the fee provided by Subsection (a) or (b), an

applicant shall pay a one-time fee of $22.25 if the application is

for the initial registration of a passenger car or light truck under

Section 502.0026. An applicant who pays a fee under this subsection

for a registration year is not required to pay a fee under

Subsection (a) for the next two registration years for the same

vehicle.

(e-1) Each fee paid under Subsection (c) shall be deposited

by the comptroller after receipt under Section 548.509 as follows:

(1) $16.25 to the credit of the Texas mobility fund;

and

(2) $6 to the credit of the clean air account.

SECTION 8. The following sections of the Transportation

Code are repealed:

(1) 548.051(a) and (c);

(2) 548.052;

(3) 548.054;

(4) 548.1025;

(5) 548.104(d);

(6) 548.501(a); and

(7) 548.5035.

SECTION 9. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.