This report covers the responses Texas Department of Motor Vehicles received for their RFI on Charge 1, regarding the monitoring and implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 86th Legislature; relating to the Sunset bill and other bills concerning dealer licensing, oversize and overweight vehicle permitting, vehicle titles, registrations, and license plates. The RFI for this charge can be found here and a complete list of respondents can be found here.

 

The HillCo report below is a summary of information intended to give you an overview and highlight of the various topics included in the responses. This report does not cover the entirety of each response, but aims to provide an overview of the testimony submitted.

 

Texas Department of Motor Vehicles

  • The 86th Texas Legislature passed almost 40 bills directly impacting the DMV
  • Of the recommendations made by the board, three bills passed and one was vetoed
  • SB 604 requires a system to act on complaints and notify parties of complaint status and ends representative and salvage vehicle agent licensing/endorsements
  • SB 604 allows salvage dealer license terms to be set and cease-and-desist orders for non-licensed salvage vehicles to be issued, counties use of automated titling system, and consumer refunds for violations by dealers and household goods carriers
  • SB 604 allows the department to determine who is granted access to its systems, changes the name of the burglary and theft unit  and grants it ability to fund its efforts, and allows license information to be confidential  under certain circumstances
  • These bills are either fully implemented or will be shortly after final rule adoptions
  • Digital license plate proposals from vendors wishing to supply plates are being evaluated
  • SB 604 requires a study on the impact of alternatively fueled vehicles on the state and alternatives for assessing fees on these vehicles
  • HB 2620 will be fully implemented after some final rule adoptions, and concerns overweight and oversize vehicles; it includes standards for escorts and flaggers used with oversize/overweight vehicles, grants ability to deny permits for noncompliance, requires shippers provide a weight certification if requested and/ or the total load exceeds 200,000 pounds
  • HB 3842 has been fully implemented and contains recommendations to repeal conflicting provisions related to consignment sales by dealers that conflicted with other laws
  • HB 2835 does not require implementation steps, and it allows a defense for having expired vehicle registration if tax assessor-collector’s office is closed for a protracted period (e.g. natural disaster)
  • HB 61 will be adopted soon, and it addresses lighting requirements for escort flag vehicles
  • HB 1262 allows trailers 7,500 pounds and under to register for up to 5 years and has been implemented
  • HB 1548 defines “off-highway vehicles” and requires license plates for them and golf carts when used on roads; customers are currently using this option
  • HB 1631 ends registration blocks for red-light camera violations and was implemented June 2019
  • HB 1755, implemented June 2019, defines “assembled vehicle” and allows them to be titled and registered
  • HB 2310 requires coordinating with FEMA to update title records of vehicles receiving FEMA payout, several options to address this have been identified
  • HB 3068, which is fully implemented, allows order-style license plates to be used on classic motor vehicles, travel trailers, custom vehicles, street rods, and certain exhibition vehicles
  • HB 3163 required documentation explaining privileged parking be provided to customers with disable license platers or parking placards; these documents have been created and distributed to county tax offices
  • HB 3760, which will be adopted in October, allows governmental agencies disposing of their surplus vehicles to issue temporary tags to buyers
  • Specialty license plates were created by the 86th legislature
    • Both Purple Heart license plates and military-related specialty plates are available to eligible customers
    • The specialty license plates that require a deposit before creation, the “Register to Vote” and “F-35 Fighter Jet”, are available