Menéndez Bill Adds A Back Fee For Every Unregistered Month

The text as introduced · 602 words

89R5980 GP-D

By: Menéndez
S.B. No. 2718

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to requiring that all vehicle registrations, including

delinquent registrations, are for a 12-month period.

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

SECTION 1. Sections 502.044(a) and (c), Transportation

Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) At the time of the first registration of a vehicle, the

[ The ] department shall designate a vehicle registration year of 12

consecutive months to begin on the first day of a calendar month and

end on the last day of the 12th calendar month. The vehicle must be

registered annually according to the designated vehicle

registration year of 12 consecutive months designated by the

department.

(c) The department may not designate a registration period

of less than 12 months [ to be computed at a rate of one-twelfth the

annual registration fee multiplied by the number of months in the

registration period. The board by rule may allow payment of

registration fees for a designated period not to exceed the amount

of time determined by department rule ].

SECTION 2. Section 502.045, Transportation Code, is amended

by amending Subsections (b), (c), and (d) and adding Subsection

(b-1) to read as follows:

(b) An applicant for registration who is delinquent but who

complies with the other requirements for registration under this

chapter shall:

(1) register the vehicle for a 12-month period that

ends on the last day of the 11th month after the month in which the

registration occurs under this subsection; and

(2) if applicable, pay the additional fee required by

this section.

(b-1) There is no additional fee for an [ An ] applicant for

delinquent registration under Subsection (b) who provides evidence

to establish good reason for delinquent registration and who

complies with the other requirements for registration under this

chapter [ may register the vehicle for a 12-month period that ends on

the last day of the 11th month after the month in which the

registration occurs under this subsection ].

(c) The additional fee for an [ An ] applicant for delinquent

registration under Subsection (b) who [ is delinquent and ] has not

provided evidence acceptable to establish good reason for

delinquent registration but who complies with the other

requirements for registration is an amount equal to one-twelfth the

annual registration fee multiplied by the number of months or any

portion of a month since the expiration of the vehicle's previous

registration period during which the vehicle was not validly

registered [ under this chapter shall register the vehicle for a

12-month period without changing the initial month of

registration ].

(d) A person who has been arrested or received a citation

for a violation of Section 502.472 may register the vehicle being

operated at the time of the offense under Subsection (b) [ for a

12-month period without change to the initial month of registration

only ] if the person:

(1) meets the other requirements for registration

under this chapter; and

(2) pays an additional charge equal to the total of:

(A) 20 percent of the prescribed fee for the

12-month registration period; and

(B) an amount equal to one-twelfth the annual

registration fee multiplied by the number of months or any portion

of a month since the expiration of the vehicle's previous

registration period during which the vehicle was not validly

registered .

SECTION 3. This Act applies only to the registration of a

motor vehicle that is applied for on or after the effective date of

this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.