The bill, H.B. No. 3046, proposes amendments to the Transportation Code regarding the display of license plates on motor vehicles. It introduces new provisions that allow a motor vehicle to display only a rear license plate, provided the vehicle's owner pays an annual fee of $50. Additionally, vehicles displaying only a rear license plate must have a distinctive insignia on the windshield for validation, which will be issued by the department. The fees collected from this provision will be deposited into the state highway fund.

Furthermore, the bill modifies existing regulations concerning offenses related to license plate display. It specifies that a person can be charged with an offense if they operate a vehicle without displaying either two license plates or a rear license plate along with the required windshield insignia. The bill also allows courts to dismiss certain charges if the defendant remedies the defect before their first court appearance and pays a reimbursement fee of up to $10. The changes will take effect on September 1, 2025, and will only apply to offenses committed after that date.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Transportation Code 504.010, Transportation Code 504.943 (Transportation Code 504)