HB 4966

dealers can lose plate database access over inspection reports

Did not pass

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review

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 denial of access to the database of dealer-issued license plates maintained by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

One more way a dealer gets cut off from the database.

The bill adds one more reason the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles can cut a car dealer off from the state database used to issue dealer license plates. Besides fraudulently getting plates or misusing the database, a dealer can now lose access for obtaining or using vehicle inspection reports described by Section 548.603(a)(1) of the Transportation Code. Dealers still get notice by email and certified mail and can request a hearing, and the change takes effect September 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: STALLED AFTER COMMITTEE. Voted out of the House Transportation committee 10-0 on May 1, 2025. Placed on the General State Calendar on May 14, 2025. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB4966 · 2025-03-13

SOLD BY

Rep. Terry CanalesDHouse 40

ITEM

relating to the denial of access to the database of dealer-issued license plates maintained by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.

WHAT IT DOES

One more way a dealer gets cut off from the database.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 27, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

Mar 13, 2025Filed
Apr 3, 2025Read first time
Apr 3, 2025Referred to Transportation
Apr 25, 2025Posting rule suspended
Apr 29, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Apr 29, 2025Considered in public hearing
Apr 29, 2025Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
Apr 29, 2025Left pending in committee
May 1, 2025Considered in public hearing
May 1, 2025Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
May 9, 2025Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
May 9, 2025Committee report distributed
May 10, 2025Committee report sent to Calendars
May 12, 2025Considered in Calendars
May 14, 2025Placed on General State Calendar

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Terry Canales

Donors

Associated General Contractors of Texas PAC$65K Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$35KCurtis E. Ford$30,605

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 · Aug 9, 2024 to Oct 24, 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.

Associated General Contractors of Texas PAC$65,000.00

Associated General Contractors of Texas PAC

$65,000.00

Cash: $65,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $65,000.00

Also funds 120 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 19, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 6, 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.

Report IDs: 100986692, 101072185.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$35,000.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$35,000.00

Cash: $35,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $35,000.00

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.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Aug 9, 2024 to Sep 29, 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: 100986692, 101030306, 101068017, 101072185.

Curtis E. Ford$30,605.00

Money

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

Associated General Contractors of Texas PAC

$65,000.00

Cash: $65,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $65,000.00

Also funds 120 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 19, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 6, 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.

Report IDs: 100986692, 101072185.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$35,000.00

Cash: $35,000.00
Paid by others: $0.00
Total: $35,000.00

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.

Team

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Aug 9, 2024 to Sep 29, 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: 100986692, 101030306, 101068017, 101072185.

Votes

No floor vote loaded for this bill.

Witnesses5

For: 3
Against: 1
On: 1

Names

For

Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT)1 registration
Dallas Police Association1 registration
Harris County Deputies' Organization FOP #391 registration

Against

Frazer LTD.1 registration

On

Texas Department of Motor Vehicles1 registration

Sources

5 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

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 27, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

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 13, 2025

05/14/2025 H Placed on General State Calendar

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

House committee · Transportation · Committee vote 10 aye, 0 nay, 3 absent · Out of committee

Subjects

Occupational Regulation--Other Trades & Professions

Vehicles & Traffic--Vehicle Registration

LICENSE PLATES

VEHICLE INSPECTIONS

MOTOR VEHICLES, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF

Text

The text as introduced · 169 words

89R5552 JAM-F

By: Canales
H.B. No. 4966

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the denial of access to the database of dealer-issued

license plates maintained by the Texas Department of Motor

Vehicles.

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

SECTION 1. Section 503.0633(f), Transportation Code, as

effective July 1, 2025, is amended to read as follows:

(f) If the department determines that a dealer is

fraudulently obtaining license plates or sets of license plates ,

[ or ] fraudulently using the database of dealer-issued license

plates, or obtaining or using vehicle inspection reports described

by Section 548.603(a)(1), the department may, after giving notice

electronically and by certified mail to the dealer, deny access to

the database of dealer-issued license plates to the dealer. A

dealer denied access to the database of dealer-issued license

plates under this subsection may request a hearing on the denial as

provided by Subchapter O, Chapter 2301, Occupations Code.

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