Dealers' Choice - Fall 2019

HB 1750 (Leman) Biennial Safety Inspections

The legislation as introduced would require that safety inspections take place biennially.

TADA did not take a formal posi- tion on HB 1750.

HB 1750 was left pending in House committee.

TEXAS EMISSIONS REDUCTION PROGRAM

HB 3745 (C. Bell/Birdwell) TERP

Legislation as introduced would have extended the expiration date of state TERP surcharges and fees from 8/31/19 until the current non-attainment areas come into attainment and created the TERP Fund as a trust fund held outside the state treasury. Legislation as introduced would have repealed the light duty in- centive program for CNG, electric, hydrogen, and liquefied petroleum gas. Legislation as introduced would have included electric motorcycles in the electric vehicle $2,500 incentive program. The legislation as introduced would have required TCEQ to establish and administer the zero-emission vehicle program to award grants to certain govern- mental entities or private non- profit organizations in the state. Legislation as introduced recom- mended the transfer of the driver license program from the DPS to TxDMV for fiscal year 2021, contingent upon the passage of legislation. Legislation as introduced would require a third-party analysis of the opportunities and chal- lenges of transferring the driver license program to the TxDMV and specified the study needed to be completed by 9/1/20 or the program would transfer to TxDMV on 9/1/21. Legislation as introduced called for the transfer of the driver licensing program from the DPS to TxDMV on 9/1/20.

HB 3745 was amended to change the date the fund outside the treasury is established from 9/1/19 to 9/1/21.

HB 3745 was signed by Governor Abbott on June 14 and becomes effective on 9/1/19.

HB 889 (Murphy)

HB 889 was referred to the House Committee on Environmental Regulation on 2/25.

HB 889 never received a hearing.

Light-Duty Lease Incentive Program Repeal

HB 1649 (Kuempel/Watson) Light-Duty Motor Vehicle Eligibility HB 3802 (Guillen) Zero-Emissions Vehicle Program

HB 1649 was amended on the House floor to require that recipi- ents of the $2,500 incentive must give $750 back to the Comptroller for the state highway fund. HB 3802 was amended to require the new program be included within the list of programs for which General Revenue Dedicated Texas Emissions Reduction Plan No. 5071 funds may be appropriated. HB 1 as amended no longer trans- fers the driver’s license program but does appropriate the funds for the study required through SB 616. (see below) SB 616 was amended throughout the process but ultimately the driver’s license transfer piece ended up being the same language provided in the introduced version.

The language added on the House floor was removed, and the bill was voted favorably from Senate Committee. However, the bill was never heard on the Senate floor. HB 3802 was voted favorably out of House Committee on 4/23 but never heard on the House floor.

DRIVER’S LICENSE SERVICE

HB 1 (Zerwas/Nelson) General Appropriations Act/Budget

HB 1 was signed by Governor Greg Abbott on June 15 and becomes effective on 9/1/19.

SB 616 (Birdwell/Paddie) DPS Sunset

SB 616 was signed into law by Governor Abbott on June 10 and most provisions become effective 9/1/19.

HB 11 (E. Thompson) Driver’s License Transfer

HB 11 was amended to change the date on which the transfer is effec- tive from 9/1/20 to 1/1/21.

HB 11 passed the House on April 18 but never received a hearing in Senate Committee.

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