HB 3531

vehicle registration adds an optional armed forces question

Companion SB 2007 became law

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review

Initial review · graded Oct 22, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to the voluntary disclosure by an applicant for registration of a motor vehicle of the applicant's military status.

Caption from analyzed text · version H.

Summary

Say yes and it shows up in vehicle reports the department releases.

When Texans register or renew a vehicle, the state motor vehicle department must offer them a way to say whether they are a member of the U.S. armed forces. Anyone who says yes has that status added to the vehicle's registration record. That status then shows up in any record information or vehicle report the department releases about that vehicle, starting September 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: ACROSS THE AISLE. Joint authors: 3 Republicans, 1 Democrat. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB3531 · 2025-02-28

SOLD BY

Rep. Matt MorganRHouse 26

Rep. Richard Peña RaymondDHouse 42

Rep. David SpillerRHouse 68

+ 1 more author, 4 coauthors

ITEM

relating to the voluntary disclosure by an applicant for registration of a motor vehicle of the applicant's military status.

WHAT IT DOES

Say yes and it shows up in vehicle reports the department releases.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

Net to General Revenue · FY 2026$0

LBB estimate, flow · fiscal note version I · ( ) = negative · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · March 30, 2025

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB3531, As Introduced: an impact of $0 through the biennium ending August 31, 2027. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

First year · FY 2026 · $0

Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

Feb 28, 2025Filed
Mar 24, 2025Read first time
Mar 24, 2025Referred to s/c on Defense & Veterans' Affairs by Speaker
Mar 31, 2025Scheduled for public hearing in s/c on . . .
Mar 31, 2025Considered by s/c in public hearing
Mar 31, 2025Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in subcommittee
Mar 31, 2025Left pending in subcommittee
Apr 15, 2025Recalled from subcommittee
Apr 15, 2025Considered in formal meeting
Apr 15, 2025Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
Apr 22, 2025Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
Apr 22, 2025Committee report distributed
Apr 23, 2025Committee report sent to Calendars
Apr 30, 2025Considered in Calendars
May 2, 2025Placed on General State Calendar
May 5, 2025Read 2nd time
May 5, 2025Postponed 5/7/25 8:00 AM
May 7, 2025Laid out as postponed business
May 7, 2025Postponed 5/9/25 8:00 AM
May 9, 2025Companion considered in lieu of SB 2007
May 9, 2025Laid on the table subject to call

FILED UNDER

SURVEILLANCE STATE

THE TEXT

“with any record information released by the department relating to the department's vehicle registration records for the vehicle described by Subsection (a), including a report issued by the department for the vehicle”

Bill text, House committee report version (H)

A driver's voluntary military status becomes part of the registration file and goes out with any vehicle record or report the department releases.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Matt Morgan

Donors

Texas Conservative Majority PAC$199K Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$150K Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC$55K

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Oct 27, 2024 to Oct 20, 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.

Texas Conservative Majority PAC$199,350.00

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$199,350.00

Cash: $125,000.00
Paid by others: $74,350.00
Total: $199,350.00

canvassing $58,100.00polling $16,250.00

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jan 23, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Aug 17, 2026 to Oct 8, 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: 101067971, 101072248.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$150,123.30

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$150,123.30

Cash: $105,000.00
Paid by others: $45,123.30
Total: $150,123.30

mail $28,873.30polling $16,250.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Aug 20, 2026 to Oct 5, 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: 101067971, 101072248.

Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC$55,000.00

Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC

$55,000.00

Cash: $55,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $55,000.00

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.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 24, 2025 to Sep 30, 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: 101006291, 101067971, 101072248.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

Texas Conservative Majority PAC

$199,350.00

Cash: $125,000.00
Paid by others: $74,350.00
Total: $199,350.00

canvassing $58,100.00polling $16,250.00

Also funds 42 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jan 23, 2026 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Aug 17, 2026 to Oct 8, 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: 101067971, 101072248.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$150,123.30

Cash: $105,000.00
Paid by others: $45,123.30
Total: $150,123.30

mail $28,873.30polling $16,250.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Aug 20, 2026 to Oct 5, 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: 101067971, 101072248.

Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC

$55,000.00

Cash: $55,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $55,000.00

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.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 24, 2025 to Sep 30, 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: 101006291, 101067971, 101072248.

Votes

No floor vote loaded for this bill.

Witnesses7

For: 6
Against: 0
On: 1

Names

For

Self1 registration
Self; Tow King1 registration
Self; VFW Dept of Texas1 registration
Southside wrecker1 registration
Texas Towing & Storage Association1 registration
The American Legion, Dept of Texas1 registration

On

Texas Department of Motor Vehicles1 registration

Sources

7 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

House witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

Net to General Revenue · FY 2026$0

LBB estimate, flow · fiscal note version I · ( ) = negative · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · March 30, 2025

First year · FY 2026 · $0

Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version H by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 22, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas House · Filed Feb 28, 2025

05/09/2025 H Laid on the table subject to call

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:19 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Coauthors

Stan GerdesRHouse 17

Stan KitzmanRHouse 85

Mitch LittleRHouse 65

Don McLaughlinRHouse 80

House committee · Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs · Committee vote 11 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee

Companion

SB 2007 by Hagenbuch (identical)

Subjects

Military & Veterans

Occupational Regulation--Other Trades & Professions

Vehicles & Traffic--General

Vehicles & Traffic--Vehicle Registration

MOTOR VEHICLES, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF

TRANSPORTATION, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF

Text

The text as introduced · 204 words

89R4313 JRR-D

By: Morgan
H.B. No. 3531

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the voluntary disclosure by an applicant for

registration of a motor vehicle of the applicant's military status.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 502, Transportation Code,

is amended by adding Section 502.013 to read as follows:

Sec. 502.013. VOLUNTARY DISCLOSURE OF MILITARY STATUS BY

REGISTRATION APPLICANT. (a) When a person registers or renews the

registration of a motor vehicle under this chapter, the department

shall provide the person with the option to indicate whether the

person is a member of the United States armed forces.

(b) If a person indicates under Subsection (a) that the

person is a member of the United States armed forces, the department

shall include the person's status as a member of the United States

armed forces:

(1) in the department's vehicle registration records

for the vehicle described by Subsection (a); and

(2) with any record information released by the

department relating to the department's vehicle registration

records for the vehicle described by Subsection (a), including a

report issued by the department for the vehicle.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.