BILL ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 1126 By: Gmez Transportation Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The bill author has informed the committee that there have been incidents where judges have been followed in their cars, putting their safety at risk. Current law restricts the use of certain sunscreening devices on motor vehicle windows, particularly regarding window tint, and provides for limited exemptions. C.S.H.B. 1126 seeks to enhance the security and privacy of judges by extending this exemption to a vehicle that displays or qualifies for the issuance of judicial license plates, thus allowing them to use window tint. CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 1126 amends the Transportation Code to exempt a motor vehicle that displays or qualifies for the issuance of a "State Judge," "U.S. Judge," "U.S. A. L. Judge," or "County Judge" specialty license plate from application of the misdemeanor offense for the following: operating a motor vehicle that has an object or material that is placed on or attached to the windshield or side or rear window and that obstructs or reduces the operator's clear view; or placing on or attaching to the windshield or side or rear window of a motor vehicle a transparent material that alters the color or reduces the light transmission. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2025. COMPARISON OF INTRODUCED AND SUBSTITUTE While C.S.H.B. 1126 may differ from the introduced in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill. Whereas the exemption in the introduced applied to a motor vehicle that displays an applicable judicial specialty license plate, the exemption in the substitute applies to a motor vehicle that displays or qualifies for the issuance of such a license plate.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
C.S.H.B. 1126
By: Gmez
Transportation
Committee Report (Substituted)
C.S.H.B. 1126
By: Gmez
Transportation
Committee Report (Substituted)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The bill author has informed the committee that there have been incidents where judges have been followed in their cars, putting their safety at risk. Current law restricts the use of certain sunscreening devices on motor vehicle windows, particularly regarding window tint, and provides for limited exemptions. C.S.H.B. 1126 seeks to enhance the security and privacy of judges by extending this exemption to a vehicle that displays or qualifies for the issuance of judicial license plates, thus allowing them to use window tint.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 1126 amends the Transportation Code to exempt a motor vehicle that displays or qualifies for the issuance of a "State Judge," "U.S. Judge," "U.S. A. L. Judge," or "County Judge" specialty license plate from application of the misdemeanor offense for the following: operating a motor vehicle that has an object or material that is placed on or attached to the windshield or side or rear window and that obstructs or reduces the operator's clear view; or placing on or attaching to the windshield or side or rear window of a motor vehicle a transparent material that alters the color or reduces the light transmission.
EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2025.
COMPARISON OF INTRODUCED AND SUBSTITUTE While C.S.H.B. 1126 may differ from the introduced in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill. Whereas the exemption in the introduced applied to a motor vehicle that displays an applicable judicial specialty license plate, the exemption in the substitute applies to a motor vehicle that displays or qualifies for the issuance of such a license plate.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
The bill author has informed the committee that there have been incidents where judges have been followed in their cars, putting their safety at risk. Current law restricts the use of certain sunscreening devices on motor vehicle windows, particularly regarding window tint, and provides for limited exemptions. C.S.H.B. 1126 seeks to enhance the security and privacy of judges by extending this exemption to a vehicle that displays or qualifies for the issuance of judicial license plates, thus allowing them to use window tint.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
C.S.H.B. 1126 amends the Transportation Code to exempt a motor vehicle that displays or qualifies for the issuance of a "State Judge," "U.S. Judge," "U.S. A. L. Judge," or "County Judge" specialty license plate from application of the misdemeanor offense for the following:
operating a motor vehicle that has an object or material that is placed on or attached to the windshield or side or rear window and that obstructs or reduces the operator's clear view; or
placing on or attaching to the windshield or side or rear window of a motor vehicle a transparent material that alters the color or reduces the light transmission.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2025.
COMPARISON OF INTRODUCED AND SUBSTITUTE
While C.S.H.B. 1126 may differ from the introduced in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.
Whereas the exemption in the introduced applied to a motor vehicle that displays an applicable judicial specialty license plate, the exemption in the substitute applies to a motor vehicle that displays or qualifies for the issuance of such a license plate.