Manuel Bill Ends Driver’s License Suspensions For Unpaid Child Support

The text as introduced · 307 words

90R1172 MLH-D

By: Manuel
H.B. No. 938

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the authority of a court or the Title IV-D agency to

order the suspension of an individual's driver's license or motor

vehicle registration for failure to pay delinquent child support.

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

SECTION 1. Section 232.001(1), Family Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(1) "License" means a license, certificate,

registration, permit, or other authorization that:

(A) is issued by a licensing authority;

(B) is subject before expiration to renewal,

suspension, revocation, forfeiture, or termination by a licensing

authority; and

(C) a person must obtain to:

(i) practice or engage in a particular

business, occupation, or profession; or

(ii) [ operate a motor vehicle on a public

highway in this state; or

[ (iii) ] engage in any other regulated

activity, including hunting, fishing, or other recreational

activity for which a license or permit is required.

SECTION 2. Section 232.003, Family Code, is amended by

adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section or

other law, a court or the Title IV-D agency may not render an order

under this chapter:

(1) suspending a driver's license or motor vehicle

registration; or

(2) that would result in the nonrenewal of a driver's

license or motor vehicle registration.

SECTION 3. Sections 232.0022 and 232.011(h), Family Code,

are repealed.

SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to

an order rendered on or after the effective date of this Act. An

order rendered before the effective date of this Act is governed by

the law in effect on the date the order is rendered, and the former

law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2027.