| 1 | 1 | | 89R1815 AJZ-F |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Metcalf H.B. No. 4578 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | |
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| 6 | 6 | | |
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| 7 | 7 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 8 | 8 | | AN ACT |
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| 9 | 9 | | relating to the titling, registration, and operation of a miniature |
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| 10 | 10 | | vehicle. |
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| 11 | 11 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 12 | 12 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 501, Transportation Code, |
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| 13 | 13 | | is amended by adding Section 501.039 to read as follows: |
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| 14 | 14 | | Sec. 501.039. TITLE FOR MINIATURE VEHICLE. (a) In this |
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| 15 | 15 | | section, "miniature vehicle" has the meaning assigned by Section |
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| 16 | 16 | | 502.001. |
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| 17 | 17 | | (b) For the purposes of issuing a title under this chapter, |
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| 18 | 18 | | a miniature vehicle is considered to be a motor vehicle. |
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| 19 | 19 | | (c) This section applies only to a miniature vehicle that: |
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| 20 | 20 | | (1) was 25 years of age or older at the time of import |
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| 21 | 21 | | into the United States; or |
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| 22 | 22 | | (2) at the time of the issuance of the title, is 25 |
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| 23 | 23 | | years of age or older and has previously been issued a valid title |
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| 24 | 24 | | in the United States. |
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| 25 | 25 | | SECTION 2. Section 502.001, Transportation Code, is amended |
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| 26 | 26 | | by adding Subdivision (21-a) to read as follows: |
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| 27 | 27 | | (21-a) "Miniature vehicle" means a miniature car, |
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| 28 | 28 | | truck, van, or bus manufactured in Japan that: |
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| 29 | 29 | | (A) is powered by an internal combustion engine |
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| 30 | 30 | | with a displacement of 1,200 cubic centimeters or less; |
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| 31 | 31 | | (B) has a width of 60 inches or less; |
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| 32 | 32 | | (C) has a length of 140 inches or less; |
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| 33 | 33 | | (D) has a height of 80 inches or less; |
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| 34 | 34 | | (E) has a top speed of at least 50 miles per hour; |
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| 35 | 35 | | (F) is designed to propel itself with four or |
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| 36 | 36 | | more tires in contact with the ground; |
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| 37 | 37 | | (G) is equipped with: |
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| 38 | 38 | | (i) a speedometer; and |
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| 39 | 39 | | (ii) all equipment required for miniature |
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| 40 | 40 | | vehicles under Section 547.106 or rules adopted by the Department |
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| 41 | 41 | | of Public Safety under Section 547.106; and |
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| 42 | 42 | | (H) has a manufacturer's permanent vehicle |
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| 43 | 43 | | identification number, as defined by Section 501.002. |
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| 44 | 44 | | SECTION 3. Subchapter A, Chapter 502, Transportation Code, |
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| 45 | 45 | | is amended by adding Section 502.006 to read as follows: |
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| 46 | 46 | | Sec. 502.006. REGISTRATION OF MINIATURE VEHICLE. (a) For |
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| 47 | 47 | | purposes of registering a vehicle under this chapter, a miniature |
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| 48 | 48 | | vehicle is considered to be a motor vehicle. |
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| 49 | 49 | | (b) This section applies only to a miniature vehicle that: |
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| 50 | 50 | | (1) was 25 years of age or older at the time of import |
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| 51 | 51 | | into the United States; or |
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| 52 | 52 | | (2) at the time of registration is 25 years of age or |
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| 53 | 53 | | older and has previously been issued a valid title in the United |
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| 54 | 54 | | States. |
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| 55 | 55 | | SECTION 4. Subchapter I, Chapter 545, Transportation Code, |
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| 56 | 56 | | is amended by adding Section 545.429 to read as follows: |
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| 57 | 57 | | Sec. 545.429. OPERATION OF MINIATURE VEHICLE. (a) In this |
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| 58 | 58 | | section, "miniature vehicle" has the meaning assigned by Section |
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| 59 | 59 | | 502.001. |
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| 60 | 60 | | (b) A person may operate a miniature vehicle on a public |
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| 61 | 61 | | highway only if: |
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| 62 | 62 | | (1) the vehicle has been registered and titled in |
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| 63 | 63 | | accordance with the laws of this state; and |
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| 64 | 64 | | (2) the vehicle is capable of operating in compliance |
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| 65 | 65 | | with applicable traffic laws in this title. |
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| 66 | 66 | | SECTION 5. Subchapter B, Chapter 547, Transportation Code, |
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| 67 | 67 | | is amended by adding Section 547.106 to read as follows: |
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| 68 | 68 | | Sec. 547.106. MINIATURE VEHICLE EQUIPMENT STANDARDS. (a) |
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| 69 | 69 | | In this section, "miniature vehicle" has the meaning assigned by |
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| 70 | 70 | | Section 502.001. |
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| 71 | 71 | | (b) A miniature vehicle must be equipped with the following |
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| 72 | 72 | | items in compliance with this chapter: |
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| 73 | 73 | | (1) headlamps; |
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| 74 | 74 | | (2) stoplamps; |
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| 75 | 75 | | (3) turn signal lamps; |
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| 76 | 76 | | (4) tail lamps; |
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| 77 | 77 | | (5) parking brake; |
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| 78 | 78 | | (6) rearview mirror; and |
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| 79 | 79 | | (7) windshield wipers. |
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| 80 | 80 | | (c) A provision of this chapter that requires equipment not |
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| 81 | 81 | | listed in Subsection (b) does not apply to a miniature vehicle |
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| 82 | 82 | | unless the department by rule specifically applies the provision to |
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| 83 | 83 | | miniature vehicles. |
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| 84 | 84 | | SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
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