By: West S.B. No. 2243
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the authority of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles
to require that a vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer have a vehicle
identification number inspection.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 501.032, Transportation Code, is amended
by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as
follows:
(a) A [In addition to any requirement established by
department rule, a] motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer must
have an identification number inspection under Section 501.0321 if:
(1) the department does not have a motor vehicle
record for the motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer in the
department's registration and title system, and the owner of the
motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer is filing a bond with the
department under Section 501.053;
(2) the motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer was
last titled or registered outside of the United States and imported
into the United States; or
(3) the owner or person claiming ownership requires an
assigned or reassigned identification number under Section
501.033.
(a-1) The department by rule may establish additional
categories of motor vehicles, trailers, or semitrailers not
specified in Subsection (a) that are required to have vehicle
identification number inspections under Section 501.0321.
SECTION 2. Section 501.0321(a), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) An inspection required under Section 501.032 or a rule
adopted under that section must verify, as applicable, the identity
of:
(1) a motor vehicle;
(2) a trailer or semitrailer;
(3) a frame, body, or motor of a motor vehicle; or
(4) an item of equipment not required to be titled but
that may be registered under Chapter 502 or issued licensed plates
under Chapter 504.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.