S.B. No. 1729 is a legislative act that amends various sections of the Health and Safety Code and the Transportation Code concerning vehicle registration and inspection fees in Texas. The bill reenacts and modifies Section 382.0622(a) to clarify the Clean Air Act fees, including the designation of amounts for the clean air account and the removal of certain previous fee structures. It also updates Section 382.202(d-2) to establish a three-year emissions inspection period for specific vehicles, contingent upon approval from the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Additionally, the bill introduces a new vehicle registration period of 24 consecutive months for certain passenger cars and light trucks, as specified in the amendments to Section 502.044.

Furthermore, the bill revises the fee structure under Section 548.510, establishing a $7.50 annual fee for vehicle registration while allowing for a one-time fee of $16.75 for initial registrations of qualifying vehicles. It also introduces a new one-time fee of $22.25 for initial registrations under Section 502.0026, with provisions for fee exemptions in subsequent registration years. The act repeals several outdated sections of the Transportation Code, streamlining the vehicle registration and inspection process. The changes outlined in this bill are set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Transportation Code 502.0026, Transportation Code 502.044, Transportation Code 548.510 (Transportation Code 548, Transportation Code 502)
Senate Committee Report: Transportation Code 502.0026, Transportation Code 502.044, Transportation Code 548.510 (Transportation Code 548, Transportation Code 502)
Engrossed: Transportation Code 502.0026, Transportation Code 502.044, Transportation Code 548.510 (Transportation Code 548, Transportation Code 502)
House Committee Report: Transportation Code 502.0026, Transportation Code 502.044, Transportation Code 548.510 (Transportation Code 548, Transportation Code 502)
Enrolled: Transportation Code 502.0026, Transportation Code 502.044, Transportation Code 548.510 (Transportation Code 548, Transportation Code 502)