bill stretching driver’s licenses from eight years to ten

The text as introduced · 572 words

89R16271 MZM-D

By: Hagenbuch
S.B. No. 2809

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the expiration date of certain driver's licenses.

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

SECTION 1. Sections 521.271(a), (a-2), and (b),

Transportation Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) Each original driver's license, provisional license,

learner license, or occupational driver's license issued to an

applicant who is a citizen, national, or legal permanent resident

of the United States or a refugee or asylee lawfully admitted into

the United States expires as follows:

(1) except as provided by Section 521.2711, a driver's

license expires on the first birthday of the license holder

occurring after the 10th [ eighth ] anniversary of the date of the

application;

(2) a provisional license expires on the 18th birthday

of the license holder;

(3) a learner license expires on the 18th birthday of

the license holder;

(4) an occupational driver's license expires on the

first anniversary of the court order granting the license; and

(5) unless an earlier date is otherwise provided, a

driver's license issued to a person whose residence or domicile is a

correctional facility or a parole facility expires on the first

birthday of the license holder occurring after the first

anniversary of the date of issuance.

(a-2) Each original driver's license issued to an applicant

who is not a citizen, national, or legal permanent resident of the

United States or a refugee or asylee lawfully admitted into the

United States expires on:

(1) the earlier of:

(A) the first birthday of the license holder

occurring after the 10th [ sixth ] anniversary of the date of the

application; or

(B) the expiration date of the license holder's

lawful presence in the United States as determined by the

appropriate United States agency in compliance with federal law; or

(2) the first anniversary of the date of issuance, if

there is no definite expiration date for the applicant's authorized

stay in the United States.

(b) Except as provided by Section 521.2711, a driver's

license that is renewed expires on the earlier of:

(1) the 10th [ eighth ] anniversary of the expiration

date before renewal if the applicant is a citizen, national, or

legal permanent resident of the United States or a refugee or asylee

lawfully admitted into the United States;

(1-a) for an applicant not described by Subdivision

(1):

(A) the earlier of:

(i) the 10th [ eighth ] anniversary of the

expiration date before renewal; or

(ii) the expiration date of the applicant's

authorized stay in the United States; or

(B) the first anniversary of the date of

issuance, if there is no definite expiration date for the

applicant's authorized stay in the United States; or

(2) for a renewal driver's license issued to a person

whose residence or domicile is a correctional facility or a parole

facility, the first birthday of the license holder occurring after

the first anniversary of the date of issuance unless an earlier date

is otherwise provided.

SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply to a

driver's license issued on or after the effective date of this Act.

A driver's license issued before the effective date of this Act is

governed by the law in effect on the date the application was

submitted, and the former law is continued in effect for that

purpose.

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