Bill Text: TX SB1729 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Enrolled

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Bill Title: Relating to the registration and inspection of vehicles.

Sponsorship: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)

Status: (Passed) 2025-05-24 - Effective on 9/1/25 [SB1729 Detail]

Download: Texas-2025-SB1729-Enrolled.html

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S.B. No. 1729

AN ACT
relating to the registration and inspection of vehicles.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 382.0622(a), Health and Safety Code, as
amended by Chapters 362 (S.B. 2102) and 851 (H.B. 3297), Acts of the
88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, is reenacted and amended
to read as follows:
(a) Clean Air Act fees consist of:
(1) fees collected by the commission under Sections
382.062, 382.0621, 382.202, and 382.302 and as otherwise provided
by law;
(2) each amount designated [described] by Section
548.510 [Sections 548.510(d)(3) and (e)(3)], Transportation Code,
for deposit to the credit of the clean air account; and
[(3) $6 from the portion of each fee collected for an
inspection of a vehicle and remitted to the state under Section
548.5035, Transportation Code; and]
(3) fees collected that are required under Section 185
of the federal Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. Section 7511d).
SECTION 2. Section 382.202(d-2), Health and Safety Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(d-2) If approved by the United States Environmental
Protection Agency as part of the state's air quality state
implementation plan, [provides for a three-year emissions
inspection period for a vehicle described by Section 548.1025(a),
Transportation Code:
[(1) the system implemented by] the Department of
Public Safety of the State of Texas shall provide under Subsection
(d) [shall provide] for a three-year emissions inspection period
for a vehicle registered under [described by] Section 502.0026
[548.1025(a)], Transportation Code. The[; and
[(2) the] commission shall establish and assess fees
for an [the] emissions inspection conducted under this section [of
a vehicle described by Section 548.1025(a), Transportation Code,]
in amounts calculated to provide the same revenue that would be
provided if the vehicle was inspected annually or biennially.
SECTION 3. Section 502.0026(b), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(b) Payment for all applicable fees, including any optional
fee imposed under Subchapter H and other registration fees and the
fee required by Section 548.510 [548.5035], for the entire
registration period is due at the time of registration.
SECTION 4. Section 502.044, Transportation Code, is amended
by adding Subsection (a-1) and amending Subsection (e) to read as
follows:
(a-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), the department shall
designate a vehicle registration period of 24 consecutive months to
begin on the first day of a calendar month and end on the last day of
the 24th calendar month for a passenger car or light truck that:
(1) is sold in this state or purchased by a commercial
fleet buyer described by Section 501.0234(b)(4) for use in this
state;
(2) has not been previously registered in this or
another state; and
(3) on the date of sale is of the current or preceding
model year.
(e) The department shall use the date of sale of the vehicle
in designating the registration period [year] for a vehicle for
which registration is applied [for] under Section 501.0234.
SECTION 5. The heading to Section 548.510, Transportation
Code, as amended by Chapters 851 (H.B. 3297) and 999 (H.B. 198),
Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, is reenacted
to read as follows:
Sec. 548.510. INSPECTION PROGRAM REPLACEMENT FEE.
SECTION 6. Section 548.510(a), Transportation Code, as
amended by Chapters 851 (H.B. 3297) and 999 (H.B. 198), Acts of the
88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, is reenacted and amended
to read as follows:
(a) In [Except as provided by Subsections (b) and (c), in]
addition to other fees imposed at the time of registration, at the
time of application for initial registration or renewal of
registration of a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole
trailer, or mobile home, the applicant shall pay an annual fee of
$7.50.
SECTION 7. Section 548.510, Transportation Code, is amended
by amending Subsections (b) and (c) and adding Subsection (e-1) to
read as follows:
(b) Instead of the fee provided by Subsection (a), an
applicant shall pay a one-time fee of $16.75 if the application is
for the initial registration of a passenger car or light truck under
Section 502.044(a-1) [that:
[(1) is sold in this state or purchased by a commercial
fleet buyer described by Section 501.0234(b)(4) for use in this
state;
[(2) has not been previously registered in this or
another state; and
[(3) on the date of sale is of the current model year
or preceding model year].
[(c)] An applicant who pays a fee under this subsection
[Subsection (b)] for a registration year is not required to pay a
fee under Subsection (a) for the next registration year for the same
vehicle.
(c) Instead of the fee provided by Subsection (a) or (b), an
applicant shall pay a one-time fee of $22.25 if the application is
for the initial registration of a passenger car or light truck under
Section 502.0026. An applicant who pays a fee under this subsection
for a registration year is not required to pay a fee under
Subsection (a) for the next two registration years for the same
vehicle.
(e-1) Each fee paid under Subsection (c) shall be deposited
by the comptroller after receipt under Section 548.509 as follows:
(1) $16.25 to the credit of the Texas mobility fund;
and
(2) $6 to the credit of the clean air account.
SECTION 8. The following sections of the Transportation
Code are repealed:
(1) 548.051(a) and (c);
(2) 548.052;
(3) 548.054;
(4) 548.1025;
(5) 548.104(d);
(6) 548.501(a); and
(7) 548.5035.
SECTION 9. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1729 passed the Senate on
April 10, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1729 passed the House on
May 10, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 116, Nays 0, two
present not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
______________________________
Date
______________________________
Governor