By: Thompson of Brazoria, Wu, VanDeaver, H.B. No. 1755
Krause, Flynn, et al.
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to assembled vehicles and former military vehicles,
including the titling and registration of those vehicles.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 2301, Occupations Code, is
amended by adding Section 2301.0045 to read as follows:
Sec. 2301.0045. NONAPPLICABILITY OF CHAPTER TO ASSEMBLED
VEHICLES AND HOBBYIST. This chapter does not apply to an assembled
vehicle or a hobbyist, as those terms are defined by Section
731.001, Transportation Code.
SECTION 2. Subtitle J, Title 7, Transportation Code, is
amended by adding Chapter 731 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 731. ASSEMBLED VEHICLES
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 731.001. DEFINITIONS. (a) In this chapter:
(1) "Assembled vehicle" means a vehicle that:
(A) is assembled from two or more of the
following three basic component parts:
(i) motor;
(ii) frame; and
(iii) body; and
(B) is:
(i) built, assembled, constructed, or
reconstructed from new or used materials and parts by a hobbyist;
(ii) altered or modified to the extent that
the vehicle no longer reflects the original manufacturer's
configuration;
(iii) assembled from a kit; or
(iv) partially built, assembled,
constructed, or reconstructed by a manufacturer licensed under
Chapter 2301, Occupations Code, except for the electrical or
mechanical components, and sold to a hobbyist who completes the
vehicle.
(2) "Board" means the board of the Texas Department of
Motor Vehicles.
(3) "Hobbyist" means a person who:
(A) builds, assembles, constructs, or
reconstructs an assembled vehicle or completes an assembled vehicle
that was partially built, assembled, constructed, or reconstructed
by a manufacturer licensed under Chapter 2301, Occupations Code;
and
(B) is the owner of the assembled vehicle.
(4) "Master technician" means a person who holds a
master technician certification issued by the National Institute
for Automotive Service Excellence.
(5) "Owner" has the meaning assigned by Section
541.001.
(6) "Title" has the meaning assigned by Section
501.002.
(b) For purposes of Subsection (a)(1), the term "assembled
vehicle" includes the following types of assembled vehicles:
(1) kit vehicles;
(2) dune buggies;
(3) sand rails;
(4) glider kits;
(5) replicas;
(6) custom vehicles and street rods, as those terms
are defined by Section 504.501;
(7) assembled motorcycles;
(8) assembled trailers; and
(9) assembled semitrailers.
Sec. 731.002. RULES. The board may adopt rules as necessary
to implement and administer this chapter.
Sec. 731.003. CONFLICT OF LAW. To the extent of a conflict
between this chapter, including a rule adopted under this chapter,
and another law, this chapter controls.
SUBCHAPTER B. TITLE AND REGISTRATION
Sec. 731.051. ELIGIBILITY FOR TITLE AND REGISTRATION. (a)
Except as provided by Subsection (b), an owner of an assembled
vehicle shall title and register the vehicle as provided by
Chapters 501 and 502, as applicable, and in accordance with rules
adopted under this chapter, regardless of whether the vehicle has a
manufacturer's statement of origin, as defined by Section 2301.002,
Occupations Code, or manufacturer's certificate of origin.
(b) An assembled vehicle may not be titled or registered in
this state if the vehicle:
(1) is assembled, constructed, or reconstructed from
the merging of two or more vehicle classes;
(2) uses the frame or body of a vehicle that has been
declared nonrepairable or junked;
(3) contains any electrical or mechanical components
from a flood-damaged vehicle;
(4) is designed for off-highway use only;
(5) is designed by the manufacturer for on-track
racing only;
(6) has been stripped to the extent that the vehicle
loses its original identity; or
(7) uses any parts that do not meet federal motor
vehicle safety standards, if standards have been developed for
those parts.
Sec. 731.052. PROCEDURES AND REQUIREMENTS FOR TITLE AND
REGISTRATION. (a) The board by rule shall establish procedures and
requirements for:
(1) issuance of a title for an assembled vehicle; and
(2) registration of an assembled vehicle.
(b) Rules adopted under Subsection (a):
(1) may not exclude a type of assembled vehicle, other
than an assembled vehicle described by Section 731.051(b), from
eligibility for title and registration;
(2) must establish the form of a title issued for an
assembled vehicle, including the information contained on the
title;
(3) must exempt an assembled vehicle or a type of
assembled vehicle from any provision of Chapter 501 or 502 that an
assembled vehicle or type of assembled vehicle, by its nature,
cannot comply with or otherwise meet the requirements of; and
(4) may require the owner of an assembled vehicle to
provide proof that the vehicle passed an inspection or reinspection
conducted by a master technician in addition to passing any
inspection or reinspection required under Chapter 548.
(c) A rule described by Subsection (b)(4):
(1) may apply to all assembled vehicles or may apply
only to certain types of assembled vehicles;
(2) must specify the items of equipment that must be
inspected by a master technician and may specify different items of
equipment that must be inspected based on the type of assembled
vehicle;
(3) must require a master technician conducting the
inspection to evaluate the structural integrity of the assembled
vehicle, including, as applicable, the connection points of the:
(A) frame, chassis, or body;
(B) steering system;
(C) drive train; and
(D) suspension; and
(4) must require an owner of an assembled vehicle that
is required to have the vehicle inspected or reinspected by a master
technician to pay all fees required for the inspection or
reinspection in addition to all applicable fees required under
Chapter 548 for an inspection or reinspection conducted under that
chapter.
SECTION 3. Section 501.002, Transportation Code, is amended
by amending Subdivisions (1), (8), (24), and (32) and adding
Subdivision (1-a) to read as follows:
(1) "Assembled vehicle" has the meaning assigned by
Section 731.001.
(1-a) "Certificate of title" means a printed record of
title issued under Section 501.021.
(8) "First sale" means:
(A) the bargain, sale, transfer, or delivery of a
motor vehicle, other than an assembled vehicle, that has not been
previously registered or titled, with intent to pass an interest in
the motor vehicle, other than a lien, regardless of where the
bargain, sale, transfer, or delivery occurred; and
(B) the registration or titling of that vehicle.
(24) "Serial number" means a vehicle identification
number that is affixed to a part of a motor vehicle and that is:
(A) the manufacturer's permanent vehicle
identification number;
(B) a derivative number of the manufacturer's
permanent vehicle identification number;
(C) the motor number; [or]
(D) the vehicle identification number assigned
by the department; or
(E) the vehicle identification number assigned
by the maker of a kit, if the vehicle is an assembled vehicle that is
assembled from a kit.
(32) "Vehicle identification number" means:
(A) the manufacturer's permanent vehicle
identification number affixed by the manufacturer to the motor
vehicle that is easily accessible for physical examination and
permanently affixed on one or more removable parts of the vehicle;
or
(B) a serial number affixed to a part of a motor
vehicle that is:
(i) a derivative number of the
manufacturer's permanent vehicle identification number;
(ii) the motor number; [or]
(iii) a vehicle identification number
assigned by the department; or
(iv) the vehicle identification number
assigned by the maker of a kit, if the vehicle is an assembled
vehicle that is assembled from a kit.
SECTION 4. Section 501.035(b), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(b) In this section, "former military vehicle" has the
meaning assigned by Section 502.001 [504.502(i)].
SECTION 5. Section 501.0721, Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 501.0721. DELIVERY OF RECEIPT AND TITLE TO PURCHASER
OF USED MOTOR VEHICLE OR ASSEMBLED VEHICLE. A person, whether
acting for that person or another, who sells, trades, or otherwise
transfers a used motor vehicle or an assembled vehicle shall
deliver to the purchaser at the time of delivery of the vehicle a
properly assigned title or other evidence of title as required
under this chapter.
SECTION 6. Section 501.145(a), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) Not later than the later of the 30th day after the date
of assignment on the documents or the date provided by Section
152.069, Tax Code, the purchaser of the used motor vehicle or
assembled vehicle shall file with the county assessor-collector:
(1) the certificate of title or other evidence of
title; or
(2) if appropriate, a document described by Section
502.457 and the title or other evidence of ownership.
SECTION 7. Section 502.001, Transportation Code, is amended
by adding Subdivision (17-a) to read as follows:
(17-a) "Former military vehicle" means a vehicle,
including a trailer, that:
(A) was manufactured for use in any country's
military forces; and
(B) is not operated on continuous tracks.
SECTION 8. Subchapter D, Chapter 502, Transportation Code,
is amended by adding Section 502.141 to read as follows:
Sec. 502.141. OFF-HIGHWAY FORMER MILITARY VEHICLES. (a)
Except as provided by Subsections (b) and (c), a person may not
register a former military vehicle designated for off-highway use,
with or without design alterations, for operation on a public
highway.
(b) A former military vehicle may be registered for on-road
use if the vehicle:
(1) is a high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle
designated for off-highway use; and
(2) has a gross vehicle weight rating of less than
10,000 pounds.
(c) A former military vehicle issued specialty license
plates under Section 504.502 may be operated on a public highway in
accordance with that section.
SECTION 9. Subchapter A, Chapter 503, Transportation Code,
is amended by adding Section 503.013 to read as follows:
Sec. 503.013. DEALER TRANSFER OF CERTAIN ASSEMBLED VEHICLES
PROHIBITED. (a) In this section:
(1) "Assembled vehicle" has the meaning assigned by
Section 731.001.
(2) "Replica" means an assembled vehicle that uses a
manufactured prefabricated body or a body constructed from
materials not original to the vehicle and that resembles an
established make of a previous year vehicle model. The term may
include a custom vehicle or street rod, as those terms are defined
by Section 504.501.
(b) Ownership of an assembled vehicle, other than a replica,
may not be transferred to or by a dealer under this chapter.
SECTION 10. Section 504.502(i), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(i) In this section, "former military vehicle" means a
vehicle, including a trailer, regardless of the vehicle's size,
weight, or year of manufacture, that:
(1) was manufactured for use in any country's military
forces; [and]
(2) is maintained to represent its military design and
markings accurately; and
(3) is not operated on continuous tracks.
SECTION 11. Subchapter C, Chapter 547, Transportation Code,
is amended by adding Section 547.209 to read as follows:
Sec. 547.209. NONAPPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER TO ASSEMBLED
VEHICLES. This subchapter does not apply to an item of vehicle
equipment intended for an assembled vehicle, as defined by Section
731.001.
SECTION 12. Subchapter A, Chapter 548, Transportation Code,
is amended by adding Section 548.009 to read as follows:
Sec. 548.009. ASSEMBLED VEHICLES. (a) In this section,
"assembled vehicle" has the meaning assigned by Section 731.001.
(b) A provision of this chapter does not apply to an
assembled vehicle if the provision:
(1) conflicts with Chapter 731 or a rule adopted under
that chapter; or
(2) is a provision that an assembled vehicle, by its
nature, cannot comply with or otherwise meet.
SECTION 13. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the board of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles
shall:
(1) adopt the rules required by Chapter 731,
Transportation Code, as added by this Act; and
(2) adopt or modify any rules necessary to implement
the changes in law made by this Act.
SECTION 14. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.