By: González (Senate Sponsor - RodrĂguez) H.B. No. 75
(In the Senate - Received from the House April 13, 2015;
April 21, 2015, read first time and referred to Committee on
Transportation; May 12, 2015, reported favorably by the following
vote: Yeas 8, Nays 1; May 12, 2015, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the exemption from vehicle registration for certain
farm vehicles owned by a farmers' cooperative society or marketing
association.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 502.146, Transportation Code, is amended
by adding Subsection (c-1) and amending Subsections (e) and (h) to
read as follows:
(c-1) An exemption provided by this section applies to a
vehicle owned by a farmers' cooperative society incorporated under
Chapter 51, Agriculture Code, or a marketing association organized
under Chapter 52, Agriculture Code, and used by members of the
society or association for a fee if the vehicle otherwise meets the
requirements for the exemption.
(e) Except as provided by Subsection (c-1), this [This]
section does not apply to a farm trailer or farm semitrailer that:
(1) is used for hire;
(2) has metal tires operating in contact with the
highway;
(3) is not equipped with an adequate hitch pinned or
locked so that it will remain securely engaged to the towing vehicle
while in motion; or
(4) is not operated and equipped in compliance with
all other law.
(h) A specialty license plate may not be issued under
Subsection (a) to an owner of a vehicle described by Subsection
(b)(1) unless the vehicle's owner provides a registration number
issued by the comptroller under Section 151.1551, Tax Code, or the
vehicle is owned by a farmers' cooperative society incorporated
under Chapter 51, Agriculture Code, or a marketing association
organized under Chapter 52, Agriculture Code. The comptroller
shall allow access to the online system established under Section
151.1551(l), Tax Code, to verify a registration number provided
under this subsection.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
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