Monitoring the Session

SB 2243

bill letting the DMV add more VIN inspection categories

Did not pass

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Sen. Royce WestDSenate 23

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 authority of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to require that a vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer have a vehicle identification number inspection.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Three categories in statute. The department can add more by rule.

The bill rewrites the vehicle identification number inspection law so the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles may, by rule, add more categories of vehicles, trailers, and semitrailers that must get a VIN inspection beyond the three listed in statute. It touches vehicle owners who title or register vehicles, trailers, or equipment in Texas, plus the department that sets the rules. On the ground, the existing loose phrase about department rules becomes an express rulemaking power, and inspections ordered by rule must verify the identity of the vehicle, parts, or equipment, starting September 1, 2025.

Labels

Labels: GOT HALFWAY. Passed the Senate on Apr 16, 2025. Died in the House: voted out of the Transportation committee 11-0, no floor vote.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB2243 · 2025-03-11

SOLD BY

Sen. Royce WestDSenate 23

ITEM

relating to the authority of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to require that a vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer have a vehicle identification number inspection.

WHAT IT DOES

Three categories in statute. The department can add more by rule.

The bill rewrites the vehicle identification number inspection law so the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles may, by rule, add more categories of vehicles, trailers, and semitrailers that must get a VIN inspection beyond the three listed in statute. It touches vehicle owners who title or register vehicles, trailers, or equipment in Texas, plus the department that sets the rules. On the ground, the existing loose phrase about department rules becomes an express rulemaking power, and inspections ordered by rule must verify the identity of the vehicle, parts, or equipment, 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 31, 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 local & uncontested calendar
  12. Laid before the Senate
  13. Read 2nd time & passed to engrossment
  14. Vote recorded in Journal
  15. Three day rule suspended
  16. Record vote
  17. Read 3rd time
  18. Passed
  19. Record vote
  20. Reported engrossed
  21. Received from the Senate
  22. Read first time
  23. Referred to Transportation
  24. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  25. Considered in public hearing
  26. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  27. Left pending in committee
  28. Considered in formal meeting
  29. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  30. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  31. Committee report distributed
  32. Committee report sent to Calendars
  33. Considered in Calendars
  34. Placed on General State Calendar
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

Senate · 29 yea · 2 nay

Sources

Senate: Final passage · Apr 16, 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

Royce West

Donors

Skyview Development LLC$36KTexas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$20KErle Allen Nye Jr.$15,000

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 1, 2024 to Jun 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.

Skyview Development LLC$36,332.00

Skyview Development LLC

$36,332.00

Cash
$0.00
Paid by others
$36,332.00
Total
$36,332.00
Other filed descriptions $32,032.00fundraiser $4,300.00

Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 1, 2024 to Jun 1, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jul 1, 2024 to Jun 1, 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: 100987569, 101009506, 101058878, 101063137.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$20,000.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$20,000.00

Cash
$20,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$20,000.00

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 · Oct 11, 2024 to Oct 10, 2025. 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: 100987569, 101063137.

Erle Allen Nye Jr.$15,000.00
Money

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

×

Skyview Development LLC

$36,332.00

Cash
$0.00
Paid by others
$36,332.00
Total
$36,332.00
Other filed descriptions $32,032.00fundraiser $4,300.00

Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 1, 2024 to Jun 1, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jul 1, 2024 to Jun 1, 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: 100987569, 101009506, 101058878, 101063137.

×

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$20,000.00

Cash
$20,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$20,000.00

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 · Oct 11, 2024 to Oct 10, 2025. 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: 100987569, 101063137.

Votes3

Senate Apr 16, 2025

Final passage

Yea
29
Nay
2
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

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

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

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 2243 (West) Relating to the authority of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to require that a vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer have a vehicle identification number inspection. (viva voce vote) (29-2) "Nays" Hughes, Sparks (29-2) "Nays" Hughes, Sparks

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

  • Yea: 29 (published)
  • Nay: 2 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

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

Senate Apr 16, 2025

Suspension of the three-day rule

Yea
29
Nay
2
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

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

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

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 2243 (West) Relating to the authority of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to require that a vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer have a vehicle identification number inspection. (viva voce vote) (29-2) "Nays" Hughes, Sparks (29-2) "Nays" Hughes, Sparks

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

  • Yea: 29 (published)
  • Nay: 2 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

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

Senate Apr 16, 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 2243 (West) Relating to the authority of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to require that a vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer have a vehicle identification number inspection. (viva voce vote) (29-2) "Nays" Hughes, Sparks (29-2) "Nays" Hughes, Sparks

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.

Witnesses3
For
1
Against
0
On
2
Names

For

  • Texas Independent Automobile Dealers Association1 registration

On

  • Texas Department of Motor Vehicles2 registrations
Sources

3 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.

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 31, 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 Mar 11, 2025

05/27/2025 H Placed on General State Calendar

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

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

Sponsors
Eddie MoralesDHouse 74

House committee · Transportation · Committee vote 11 aye, 0 nay, 2 absent · Out of committee

Senate committee · Transportation · Committee vote 8 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Subjects

Crimes--Against Property

Vehicles & Traffic--Vehicle Registration

TRAILERS

MOTOR VEHICLES, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF

Text

The text as introduced · 303 words

89R5546 GP-F

By: West
S.B. No. 2243

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the authority of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles

to require that a vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer have a vehicle

identification number inspection.

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

SECTION 1. Section 501.032, Transportation Code, is amended

by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as

follows:

(a) A [ In addition to any requirement established by

department rule, a ] motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer must

have an identification number inspection under Section 501.0321 if:

(1) the department does not have a motor vehicle

record for the motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer in the

department's registration and title system, and the owner of the

motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer is filing a bond with the

department under Section 501.053;

(2) the motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer was

last titled or registered outside of the United States and imported

into the United States; or

(3) the owner or person claiming ownership requires an

assigned or reassigned identification number under Section

501.033.

(a-1) The department by rule may establish additional

categories of motor vehicles, trailers, or semitrailers not

specified in Subsection (a) that are required to have vehicle

identification number inspections under Section 501.0321.

SECTION 2. Section 501.0321(a), Transportation Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(a) An inspection required under Section 501.032 or a rule

adopted under that section must verify, as applicable, the identity

of:

(1) a motor vehicle;

(2) a trailer or semitrailer;

(3) a frame, body, or motor of a motor vehicle; or

(4) an item of equipment not required to be titled but

that may be registered under Chapter 502 or issued licensed plates

under Chapter 504.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.