HB 4600

Animal Friendly Plate Bill Names One Private Group As Design Consultant

Died in committee

Verdict: Smells

SmellsInitial review

Rep. Pat CurryRHouse 56

Both charges, and why

Caption mismatch

THE TEXT

…“specialty license plates designed to benefit animal welfare and”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The caption covers only Animal Friendly plates, but the body also orders the department to issue other, unnamed animal-welfare plates. This is a modest widening the caption does not mention.

Caption mismatch

Carve-out

THE TEXT

…“in consultation with the Texas Humane Legislation”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The statute names one private advocacy group as the required design consultant. That gives a single named entity a formal role in a state program.

Carve-out

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

Caption

relating to the issuance of Animal Friendly specialty license plates.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

The state must consult the Texas Humane Legislation Network on design. Plus unnamed animal-welfare plates.

The bill rewrites the state law on Animal Friendly specialty license plates. It tells the Department of Motor Vehicles to keep issuing the Animal Friendly plate, adds a duty to issue other plates meant to benefit animal welfare and spay-neuter programs, and names the Texas Humane Legislation Network as the group the department must consult on design. Drivers get more animal-themed plate choices, and one named private group gets a formal role in how they look, starting September 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: QUICK READ: 102 WORDS. The bill as filed runs 102 words, counting the existing law it amends and the text it strikes. The median 89R bill as filed runs 441 words (derived, 8,702 graded bills, snapshot Oct 19, 2026).

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB4600 · 2025-03-12

SOLD BY

Rep. Pat CurryRHouse 56

ITEM

relating to the issuance of Animal Friendly specialty license plates.

WHAT IT DOES

The state must consult the Texas Humane Legislation Network on design. Plus unnamed animal-welfare plates.

CHARGES

[x] CAPTION MISMATCHanalysis confidence 40%

THE TEXT

…“specialty license plates designed to benefit animal welfare and”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The caption covers only Animal Friendly plates, but the body also orders the department to issue other, unnamed animal-welfare plates. This is a modest widening the caption does not mention.

[x] CARVE-OUTanalysis confidence 35%

THE TEXT

…“in consultation with the Texas Humane Legislation”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The statute names one private advocacy group as the required design consultant. That gives a single named entity a formal role in a state program.

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

Mar 12, 2025Filed
Apr 3, 2025Read first time
Apr 3, 2025Referred to Transportation

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Pat Curry

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$192KDavid Jessup$68,092Texas Sands PAC$37K

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 31, 2024 to Oct 23, 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.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$192,192.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$192,192.00

Cash: $65,000.00
Paid by others: $127,192.00
Total: $192,192.00

advertising $108,442.00polling $18,750.00

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 · Jun 24, 2025 to Sep 17, 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: 101010834, 101033425, 101040992, 101069649.

David Jessup$68,091.82

Texas Sands PAC$37,000.00

Texas Sands PAC

$37,000.00

Cash: $37,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $37,000.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 9, 2024 to Oct 12, 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: 101012342, 101040992, 101072660.

Money

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

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$192,192.00

Cash: $65,000.00
Paid by others: $127,192.00
Total: $192,192.00

advertising $108,442.00polling $18,750.00

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 · Jun 24, 2025 to Sep 17, 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: 101010834, 101033425, 101040992, 101069649.

Texas Sands PAC

$37,000.00

Cash: $37,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $37,000.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 9, 2024 to Oct 12, 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: 101012342, 101040992, 101072660.

Votes

No floor vote loaded for this bill.

Fiscal

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas House · Filed Mar 12, 2025

04/03/2025 H Referred to Transportation: Apr 3 2025 12:38PM

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

Companion

SB 1568 by Zaffirini (identical)

Subjects

Animals

Vehicles & Traffic--Equipment

LICENSE PLATES

TEXAS HUMANE LEGISLATION NETWORK (ST5Q2)

MOTOR VEHICLES, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF

Text

The text as introduced · 102 words

By: Curry
H.B. No. 4600

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the issuance of Animal Friendly specialty license

plates.

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

SECTION 1. Section 504.605(a), Transportation Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(a) The department shall issue specialty license plates

including the words "Animal Friendly . " and shall issue other

specialty license plates designed to benefit animal welfare and

spay-neuter programs in Texas. The department shall design the

license plates in consultation with the Texas Humane Legislation

Network .

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