Substitute House Bill No. 5327 with File No. 625 proposes changes to motor vehicle statutes, including a new prohibition against towing occupied vehicles and revisions to the operation and inspection of school buses. The bill requires the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles to review and potentially update regulations to ensure compliance with anti-idling laws during school bus inspections. It also corrects a typographical error by changing "confirm" to "conform" regarding commercial motor vehicles on parkways. The bill could result in minimal costs to the Judicial Department and minimal revenue gains from fines due to the expansion of a class D misdemeanor for towing occupied vehicles. Most provisions are set to take effect on October 1, 2024, except for the school bus idling provisions, which are effective immediately upon passage.

The bill mandates the DMV commissioner to ensure school bus operations adhere to anti-idling regulations and to provide guidance on engine-off inspections. It also prohibits licensed wreckers from allowing occupancy in a vehicle during towing, with penalties for violations including fines and potential imprisonment. The bill has been approved by the Transportation Committee unanimously and by the Judiciary Committee with a majority after a substitute removed a provision regarding increased penalties for certain registration and driver's license offenses. The effective date for the school bus idling provisions is immediate, while other changes will take effect on October 1, 2024.