Texas House Bill HB1074

Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

• Filed: 11/12/24

Caption

Relating to the registration, ownership, and operation of certain motor vehicles.

Impact

The bill is set to have a significant impact on state laws regulating motor vehicles. By defining and outlawing the registration of vehicles with remote disabling features, it aims to protect consumer rights and ensure that vehicle owners maintain control of their vehicles. Additionally, the provision that prohibits restrictions on owning or operating an internal combustion engine vehicle regardless of existing automation laws emphasizes a potential pushback against increasing regulations that favor automated driving systems. This could affect future regulatory considerations on automated versus traditional vehicles in Texas.

Summary

House Bill 1074 aims to amend the existing transportation code in Texas regarding the registration, ownership, and operation of certain motor vehicles. The bill stipulates specific categories of vehicles that cannot be registered for operation on public highways, including power sweepers, motorized mobility devices, and electric bicycles. Notably, it introduces a new category for vehicles equipped with remote vehicle disabling technology, which can be disabled remotely, and thus cannot be registered for public road use. This aspect raises concerns about the implications for vehicle ownership and control by vehicle manufacturers versus owners.

Contention

Discussions around HB 1074 may spark debates regarding the balance of regulatory power between state mandates and the rights of vehicle owners. While proponents argue that the bill secures individual control over personal vehicles, opponents might raise concerns about safety, technological advancements, and whether restricting vehicle registration will lead to a greater number of unregulated or unsafe vehicles on the road. The inclusion of the remote vehicle disabling technology clause could also draw scrutiny, as it may be perceived as enabling a certain degree of surveillance over vehicle users by manufacturers.

Texas Constitutional Statutes Affected

Transportation Code

• Chapter 5. Duties And Liabilities Of Common Carriers
  • Section: New Section

• Chapter 502. Registration Of Vehicles
  • Section: 143