The bill, S.B. No. 1175, amends Section 2308.0575 of the Occupations Code to establish a biennial adjustment process for certain towing fees and maximum charges. The new language specifies that the Texas commission will adjust these fees every odd-numbered year, based on the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U). The adjustments will be calculated by multiplying the current fee or charge amount by the percentage change in the CPI during the preceding state fiscal biennium. Additionally, if a fee is decreased, towing companies must implement the new fee immediately, while increases can be adopted at any time after the effective date.

The bill also includes provisions for the commission to publish the adjusted fees on the department's website and clarifies that the adjusted fees will take effect on January 1 following the adoption of the rule. Notably, the bill removes previous requirements for the commission to contract for a study on towing fees and the confidentiality of information related to such studies, streamlining the process for fee adjustments. The act will take effect immediately if it receives a two-thirds vote from both houses; otherwise, it will take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Occupations Code 2308.0575 (Occupations Code 2308)