BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 2141 By: Zaffirini Transportation 4/3/2025 As Filed AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT Current law requires specialty license plates issued to state and federal judges to display "State Judge" or "U.S. Judge," providing clear identification. This requirement, however, creates security risks by making judges easily identifiable. Judicial security officials, particularly the United States Marshals Service, have raised concerns that this visibility could make judges more vulnerable to targeting. S.B. 2141 would allow judges to choose a "State Official" plate without a judicial designation. This would give judges three options for their license plates: "State Official" plates issued under this bill without any additional designation, "State Official" plates displaying "State Judge" or "U.S. Judge," or standard Texas license plates. Regardless of the chosen plate, law enforcement would still be able to identify the vehicle as belonging to a state official when run through the Texas Law Enforcement Telecommunication System (TLETS). This bill would provide judges with more choices while improving judicial security and maintaining law enforcement's ability to identify official vehicles. As proposed, S.B. 2141 amends current law relating to issuance of specialty license plates for state and federal judges. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 504.403(a), Transportation Code, to authorize specialty license plates to include, rather than requiring that the license plates include, for a current or visiting state or federal judge, the words "State Judge" or "U.S. Judge," as appropriate. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 2141
By: Zaffirini
Transportation
4/3/2025
As Filed
Senate Research Center
S.B. 2141
By: Zaffirini
Transportation
4/3/2025
As Filed
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Current law requires specialty license plates issued to state and federal judges to display "State Judge" or "U.S. Judge," providing clear identification. This requirement, however, creates security risks by making judges easily identifiable. Judicial security officials, particularly the United States Marshals Service, have raised concerns that this visibility could make judges more vulnerable to targeting.
S.B. 2141 would allow judges to choose a "State Official" plate without a judicial designation. This would give judges three options for their license plates: "State Official" plates issued under this bill without any additional designation, "State Official" plates displaying "State Judge" or "U.S. Judge," or standard Texas license plates. Regardless of the chosen plate, law enforcement would still be able to identify the vehicle as belonging to a state official when run through the Texas Law Enforcement Telecommunication System (TLETS). This bill would provide judges with more choices while improving judicial security and maintaining law enforcement's ability to identify official vehicles.
As proposed, S.B. 2141 amends current law relating to issuance of specialty license plates for state and federal judges.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 504.403(a), Transportation Code, to authorize specialty license plates to include, rather than requiring that the license plates include, for a current or visiting state or federal judge, the words "State Judge" or "U.S. Judge," as appropriate.
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2025.