BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 3135 By: Smithee Transportation Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Current law provides for the issuance of specialty license plates for various categories of firefighters, including volunteer firefighters, fire protection personnel, and industrial firefighters. However, there is no such designation for Texas' retired firefighters. H.B. 3135 seeks to honor these individuals by requiring the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to design and issue specialty license plates for retired firefighters. 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 H.B. 3135 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to design and issue without a fee specialty license plates for retired firefighters. The bill defines "retired firefighter" as a person who was formerly: a volunteer firefighter certified by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection or the State Firefighters' and Fire Marshals' Association of Texas; or fire protection personnel, as defined by reference to Government Code provisions regarding the regulation of and assistance for firefighters and fire departments. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
H.B. 3135
By: Smithee
Transportation
Committee Report (Unamended)
H.B. 3135
By: Smithee
Transportation
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Current law provides for the issuance of specialty license plates for various categories of firefighters, including volunteer firefighters, fire protection personnel, and industrial firefighters. However, there is no such designation for Texas' retired firefighters. H.B. 3135 seeks to honor these individuals by requiring the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to design and issue specialty license plates for retired firefighters.
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 H.B. 3135 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to design and issue without a fee specialty license plates for retired firefighters. The bill defines "retired firefighter" as a person who was formerly: a volunteer firefighter certified by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection or the State Firefighters' and Fire Marshals' Association of Texas; or fire protection personnel, as defined by reference to Government Code provisions regarding the regulation of and assistance for firefighters and fire departments.
EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2025.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Current law provides for the issuance of specialty license plates for various categories of firefighters, including volunteer firefighters, fire protection personnel, and industrial firefighters. However, there is no such designation for Texas' retired firefighters. H.B. 3135 seeks to honor these individuals by requiring the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to design and issue specialty license plates for retired firefighters.
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
H.B. 3135 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to design and issue without a fee specialty license plates for retired firefighters. The bill defines "retired firefighter" as a person who was formerly:
a volunteer firefighter certified by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection or the State Firefighters' and Fire Marshals' Association of Texas; or
fire protection personnel, as defined by reference to Government Code provisions regarding the regulation of and assistance for firefighters and fire departments.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2025.