Monitoring the Session

SB 1227

bill ends the $3 military plate fee

Became law, effective Sep 1, 2025

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Sen. Pete FloresRSenate 24

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 fees for the issuance of certain military specialty license plates.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

One set, no $3.

The bill ends the $3 fee for one set of the military specialty license plates issued under Section 504.315(d) or (g) of the Transportation Code. It touches veterans and military-connected drivers who apply for those plates, along with the state agency that issues them. Applicants still pay the regular registration fee unless already exempt, but they no longer owe a separate specialty plate fee under this subchapter unless another part of it says otherwise, starting September 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: CROSS-PARTY HANDOFF. Lead author Pete Flores (R) in the Senate. Lead sponsor Ray Lopez (D) in the House. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB1227 · 2025-02-11

SOLD BY

Sen. Pete FloresRSenate 24

+ 2 coauthors

ITEM

relating to fees for the issuance of certain military specialty license plates.

WHAT IT DOES

One set, no $3.

The bill ends the $3 fee for one set of the military specialty license plates issued under Section 504.315(d) or (g) of the Transportation Code. It touches veterans and military-connected drivers who apply for those plates, along with the state agency that issues them. Applicants still pay the regular registration fee unless already exempt, but they no longer owe a separate specialty plate fee under this subchapter unless another part of it says otherwise, starting September 1, 2025.

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 · March 25, 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

  1. Received by the Secretary of the Senate
  2. Filed
  3. Read first time
  4. Referred to Transportation
  5. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  6. Considered in public hearing
  7. Vote taken in committee
  8. Reported favorably w/o amendments
  9. Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
  10. Committee report printed and distributed
  11. Placed on intent calendar
  12. Co-author authorized
  13. Not again placed on intent calendar
  14. Co-author authorized
  15. Placed on local & uncontested calendar
  16. Laid before the Senate
  17. Read 2nd time & passed to engrossment
  18. Vote recorded in Journal
  19. Three day rule suspended
  20. Record vote
  21. Read 3rd time
  22. Passed
  23. Record vote
  24. Reported engrossed
  25. Received from the Senate
  26. Read first time
  27. Referred to s/c on Defense & Veterans' Affairs by Speaker
  28. Scheduled for public hearing in s/c on . . .
  29. Subcommittee meeting cancelled
  30. Scheduled for public hearing in s/c on . . .
  31. Considered by s/c in public hearing
  32. Left pending in subcommittee
  33. Recalled from subcommittee
  34. Considered in public hearing
  35. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  36. Vote reconsidered in committee
  37. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  38. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  39. Committee report distributed
  40. Committee report sent to Calendars
  41. Considered in Calendars
  42. Placed on General State Calendar
  43. Read 2nd time
  44. Passed to 3rd reading
  45. Record vote RV#2958
  46. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  47. Read 3rd time
  48. Passed
  49. Record vote RV#3028
  50. House passage reported
  51. Reported enrolled
  52. Signed in the Senate
  53. Signed in the House
  54. Sent to the Governor
  55. Signed by the Governor
  56. Effective on 9/1/25
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 147 yea · 0 nay

Senate · 30 yea · 0 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 20, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · Apr 10, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Pete Flores

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$55KMorris Jaffe$25,000Justin Jaffe$25,000

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 · Jul 12, 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.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$55,000.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$55,000.00

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

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 · Dec 13, 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.

Report IDs: 100985131, 101008112, 101072110.

Morris Jaffe$25,000.00
Justin Jaffe$25,000.00
Money

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

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$55,000.00

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

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 · Dec 13, 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.

Report IDs: 100985131, 101008112, 101072110.

Votes5

House May 20, 2025

Yea
147
Nay
0
Present, not voting
2
Absent
0
Excused
1
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 3028

SB 1227 was passed by (Record 3028): 147 Yeas, 0 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 147 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House May 19, 2025

Yea
142
Nay
0
Present, not voting
2
Absent
2
Excused
4
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 2958

SB 1227 was passed to third reading by (Record 2958): 142 Yeas, 0 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 142 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 2 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 4 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate Apr 10, 2025

Final passage

Yea
30
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records final passage. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Sources

SB 1227 (Flores) Relating to fees for the issuance of certain military specialty license plates. (viva voce vote) (30-0) (30-0)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 30 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate Apr 10, 2025

Suspension of the three-day rule

Yea
30
Nay
0
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records suspension of the three-day rule. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Sources

SB 1227 (Flores) Relating to fees for the issuance of certain military specialty license plates. (viva voce vote) (30-0) (30-0)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 30 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate Apr 10, 2025

Passage to engrossment

Yea
Not printed
Nay
Not printed
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records passage to engrossment. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.

Sources

SB 1227 (Flores) Relating to fees for the issuance of certain military specialty license plates. (viva voce vote) (30-0) (30-0)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: Not printed
  • Nay: Not printed
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses1
For
0
Against
0
On
1
Names

On

  • TxDMV1 registration
Sources

1 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

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

Senate 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 · March 25, 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 Senate · Filed Feb 11, 2025

05/29/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · Senate Committee Report · Engrossed · House Committee Report · Enrolled

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

Coauthors
César BlancoDSenate 29 Royce WestDSenate 23
Sponsors
Ray LopezDHouse 125

House committee · Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs · Committee vote 10 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Senate committee · Transportation · Committee vote 9 aye, 0 nay · Out of committee

Subjects

Fees & Other Nontax Revenue--State

Military & Veterans

Vehicles & Traffic--Vehicle Registration

LICENSE PLATES

Text

The text as introduced · 184 words

89R11553 CXP-D

By: Flores
S.B. No. 1227

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to fees for the issuance of certain military specialty

license plates.

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

SECTION 1. Sections 504.3015(a) and (b), Transportation

Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) A person applying for a set of license plates under this

subchapter shall pay the registration fee required under Chapter

502 [ and the applicable special plate fee required under this

section ], except that one set of license plates shall be issued

without the payment of the registration fee under:

(1) Section 504.308;

(2) Section 504.310(b);

(3) Section 504.315, other than Subsections (c) and

(q) of that section; and

(4) Section 504.319.

(b) Except as otherwise provided by this subchapter, there

[ The fee for the issuance of one set of specialty license plates

issued under Section 504.315(d) or (g) is $3. There ] is no

additional fee for a specialty license plate issued under [ another

provision of ] this subchapter.

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