The bill amends the Transportation Code to establish new regulations regarding the registration of motor vehicles in certain counties, specifically those that border the United Mexican States and contain a municipality with a population exceeding 500,000. It introduces a new section, 502.0101, which allows county assessor-collectors to refuse vehicle registration if the owner has outstanding fines, fees, or taxes that are past due, or if they have failed to appear in court for related offenses. The bill also mandates that the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) develop a system for counties to report this information, and it allows for a $20 reimbursement fee to be imposed on individuals who fail to pay their dues or appear in court.

Additionally, the bill includes provisions for waiving the reimbursement fee for individuals who demonstrate economic hardship, and it prohibits counties from refusing registration based on income levels below 250% of the federal poverty guidelines. The new regulations will take effect on September 1, 2026, with the TxDMV required to implement the reporting system by September 1, 2025. The bill also clarifies that applications for vehicle registration received before the effective date will be governed by the previous law.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Transportation Code 502.010 (Transportation Code 502)