S.B. No. 1267 amends the Parks and Wildlife Code to update definitions and requirements concerning certificates of number and title for vessels and outboard motors. The bill clarifies the definition of a "vessel," explicitly excluding certain watercraft like seaplanes and stationary floating structures. It introduces new terms such as "certificate of title," "electronic," and "security interest," while modifying the timeline for new owners to apply for a certificate of title from 45 days to 20 days after ownership transfer. The bill also establishes that ownership records are public, with certain personal information exempt from disclosure, and specifies that vessels temporarily using Texas waters or owned by the U.S. government are not required to be numbered.

Additionally, the bill revises the application process for obtaining a certificate of title, detailing the necessary components of a transfer-by-law statement and establishing procedures for the issuance, rejection, and cancellation of certificates. It clarifies the process for perfecting security interests in vessels and outlines the obligations of secured parties regarding termination statements. The bill also mandates that notification of ownership transfers be sent to all interested parties and ensures that transactions established before the bill's effective date remain valid. Overall, these amendments aim to streamline vessel registration and ownership transfer processes while enhancing clarity and maintaining necessary privacy protections. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2028.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Parks and Wildlife Code 31.003, Parks and Wildlife Code 1.203, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.028, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.037, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.039, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.041, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.043, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.045, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.046, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.047, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.049, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.050, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.051, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.052, Parks and Wildlife Code 9.102, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.055 (Parks and Wildlife Code 9, Parks and Wildlife Code 31, Parks and Wildlife Code 1)
Senate Committee Report: Parks and Wildlife Code 31.003, Parks and Wildlife Code 1.203, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.028, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.037, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.039, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.041, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.043, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.045, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.046, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.047, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.049, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.050, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.051, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.052, Parks and Wildlife Code 9.102, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.055 (Parks and Wildlife Code 9, Parks and Wildlife Code 31, Parks and Wildlife Code 1)
Engrossed: Parks and Wildlife Code 31.003, Parks and Wildlife Code 1.203, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.028, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.037, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.039, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.041, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.043, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.045, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.046, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.047, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.049, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.050, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.051, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.052, Parks and Wildlife Code 9.102, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.055 (Parks and Wildlife Code 9, Parks and Wildlife Code 31, Parks and Wildlife Code 1)
House Committee Report: Parks and Wildlife Code 31.003, Parks and Wildlife Code 1.203, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.028, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.037, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.039, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.041, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.043, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.045, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.046, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.047, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.049, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.050, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.051, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.052, Parks and Wildlife Code 9.102, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.055 (Parks and Wildlife Code 9, Parks and Wildlife Code 31, Parks and Wildlife Code 1)
Enrolled: Parks and Wildlife Code 31.003, Parks and Wildlife Code 1.203, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.028, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.037, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.039, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.041, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.043, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.045, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.046, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.047, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.049, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.050, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.051, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.052, Parks and Wildlife Code 9.102, Parks and Wildlife Code 31.055 (Parks and Wildlife Code 9, Parks and Wildlife Code 31, Parks and Wildlife Code 1)