| 1 | 1 | | 87R7359 TYPED |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Paxton S.B. No. 490 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating the authorization of digital license plates. |
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| 8 | 8 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 9 | 9 | | SECTION 1. Section 504.154, Subchapter B-1, Chapter 504, |
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| 10 | 10 | | Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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| 11 | 11 | | Sec. 504.154. DIGITAL LICENSE PLATES AUTHORIZED. (a) The |
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| 12 | 12 | | board by rule shall allow a vehicle described by Subsection (b) to |
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| 13 | 13 | | be equipped with a digital license plate that is placed on the rear |
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| 14 | 14 | | of the vehicle in lieu of a physical license plate issued under this |
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| 15 | 15 | | chapter. The rule must require the owner of a vehicle issued a |
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| 16 | 16 | | digital license plate to obtain a physical license plate to be |
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| 17 | 17 | | placed on the front of the vehicle unless the vehicle is of a class |
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| 18 | 18 | | of vehicles that is not required to display two license plates, as |
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| 19 | 19 | | provided by other law. |
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| 20 | 20 | | (b) A vehicle registered under Chapter 502 may be equipped |
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| 21 | 21 | | with a digital license plate. [only if the vehicle: |
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| 22 | 22 | | (1) is part of a commercial fleet, as defined by |
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| 23 | 23 | | Section 502.001; |
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| 24 | 24 | | (2) is owned or operated by a governmental entity; or |
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| 25 | 25 | | (3) is not a passenger vehicle.] |
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| 26 | 26 | | (c) The department may contract with digital license plate |
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| 27 | 27 | | providers for the issuance of digital license plates, including any |
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| 28 | 28 | | services related to the issuance of digital license plates. |
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| 29 | 29 | | (d) Notwithstanding any other law, a rule adopted under this |
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| 30 | 30 | | subchapter may: |
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| 31 | 31 | | (1) authorize the display of the vehicle's |
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| 32 | 32 | | registration insignia on a digital license plate issued for the |
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| 33 | 33 | | vehicle in lieu of attaching the registration insignia to the |
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| 34 | 34 | | inside of the vehicle's windshield as required by Section 502.059; |
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| 35 | 35 | | (2) establish a fee in an amount necessary to cover any |
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| 36 | 36 | | administrative costs incurred that relate to the issuance of a |
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| 37 | 37 | | digital license plate and exceed the administrative costs incurred |
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| 38 | 38 | | for the issuance of a physical license plate; or |
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| 39 | 39 | | (3) prohibit a digital license plate provider from |
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| 40 | 40 | | contracting with the department under Subchapter J. |
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| 41 | 41 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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| 42 | 42 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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| 43 | 43 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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| 44 | 44 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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| 45 | 45 | | Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |
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