89R5980 GP-D
By: Menéndez S.B. No. 2718
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to requiring that all vehicle registrations, including
delinquent registrations, are for a 12-month period.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 502.044(a) and (c), Transportation
Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a) At the time of the first registration of a vehicle, the
[The] department shall designate a vehicle registration year of 12
consecutive months to begin on the first day of a calendar month and
end on the last day of the 12th calendar month. The vehicle must be
registered annually according to the designated vehicle
registration year of 12 consecutive months designated by the
department.
(c) The department may not designate a registration period
of less than 12 months [to be computed at a rate of one-twelfth the
annual registration fee multiplied by the number of months in the
registration period. The board by rule may allow payment of
registration fees for a designated period not to exceed the amount
of time determined by department rule].
SECTION 2. Section 502.045, Transportation Code, is amended
by amending Subsections (b), (c), and (d) and adding Subsection
(b-1) to read as follows:
(b) An applicant for registration who is delinquent but who
complies with the other requirements for registration under this
chapter shall:
(1) register the vehicle for a 12-month period that
ends on the last day of the 11th month after the month in which the
registration occurs under this subsection; and
(2) if applicable, pay the additional fee required by
this section.
(b-1) There is no additional fee for an [An] applicant for
delinquent registration under Subsection (b) who provides evidence
to establish good reason for delinquent registration and who
complies with the other requirements for registration under this
chapter [may register the vehicle for a 12-month period that ends on
the last day of the 11th month after the month in which the
registration occurs under this subsection].
(c) The additional fee for an [An] applicant for delinquent
registration under Subsection (b) who [is delinquent and] has not
provided evidence acceptable to establish good reason for
delinquent registration but who complies with the other
requirements for registration is an amount equal to one-twelfth the
annual registration fee multiplied by the number of months or any
portion of a month since the expiration of the vehicle's previous
registration period during which the vehicle was not validly
registered [under this chapter shall register the vehicle for a
12-month period without changing the initial month of
registration].
(d) A person who has been arrested or received a citation
for a violation of Section 502.472 may register the vehicle being
operated at the time of the offense under Subsection (b) [for a
12-month period without change to the initial month of registration
only] if the person:
(1) meets the other requirements for registration
under this chapter; and
(2) pays an additional charge equal to the total of:
(A) 20 percent of the prescribed fee for the
12-month registration period; and
(B) an amount equal to one-twelfth the annual
registration fee multiplied by the number of months or any portion
of a month since the expiration of the vehicle's previous
registration period during which the vehicle was not validly
registered.
SECTION 3. This Act applies only to the registration of a
motor vehicle that is applied for on or after the effective date of
this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.