By: Nichols S.B. No. 1365     A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to vehicle registration, license plates, and inspection   reports.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 2001.223, Government Code, as effective   April 1, 2025, is amended to read as follows:          Sec. 2001.223.  EXCEPTIONS FROM DECLARATORY JUDGMENT, COURT   ENFORCEMENT, AND CONTESTED CASE PROVISIONS. Section 2001.038 and   Subchapters C through H do not apply to:                (1)  except as provided by Subchapter D, Chapter 545,   the granting, payment, denial, or withdrawal of financial or   medical assistance or benefits under service programs that were   operated by the former Texas Department of Human Services before   September 1, 2003, and are operated on and after that date by the   Health and Human Services Commission or a health and human services   agency, as defined by Section 521.0001;                (2)  action by the Banking Commissioner or the Finance   Commission of Texas regarding the issuance of a state bank or state   trust company charter for a bank or trust company to assume the   assets and liabilities of a financial institution that the   commissioner considers to be in hazardous condition as defined by   Section 31.002(a) or 181.002(a), Finance Code, as applicable;                (3)  a hearing or interview conducted by the Board of   Pardons and Paroles or the Texas Department of Criminal Justice   relating to the grant, rescission, or revocation of parole or other   form of administrative release; [or]                (4)  the suspension, revocation, or termination of the   certification of a breath analysis operator or technical supervisor   under the rules of the Department of Public Safety; or                (5)  the refusal to issue or renew a motor vehicle   registration or the cancellation, suspension, or revocation of a   motor vehicle registration under Chapter 502, Transportation Code,   or rules adopted by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles under   that chapter.          SECTION 2.  Section 502.044, Transportation Code, is amended   by adding Subsection (a-1) and amending Subsection (e) to read as   follows:          (a-1)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a), the department shall   designate a vehicle registration period of 24 consecutive months to   begin on the first day of a calendar month and end on the last day of   the 24th calendar month for a passenger car or light truck that:                (1)  is sold in this state or purchased by a commercial   fleet buyer described by Section 501.0234(b)(4) for use in this   state;                (2)  has not been previously registered in this or   another state; and                (3)  on the date of sale, is of the current or preceding   model year.          (e)  The department shall use the date of sale of the vehicle   in designating the registration period [year] for a vehicle for   which registration is applied for under Section 501.0234.          SECTION 3.  Section 502.048, Transportation Code, is amended   to read as follows:          Sec. 502.048.  REFUSAL TO REGISTER UNSAFE VEHICLE. (a)   Subject to Subsection (b), the [The] department may refuse to   register a motor vehicle and may cancel, suspend, or revoke a   registration if the department determines that a motor vehicle is   unsafe, improperly equipped, or otherwise unfit to be operated on a   public highway.          (b)  The department may take action under Subsection (a):                (1)  only after providing to the owner of the motor   vehicle for which the registration will be refused, canceled,   suspended, or revoked notice of the proposed action and an   opportunity to respond; and                (2)  without a hearing.          SECTION 4.  Section 502.360(b), Transportation Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (b)  In addition to other fees authorized under this chapter,   at the time of application for registration or renewal of   registration of an electric vehicle, the applicant shall pay an   additional fee of[:                [(1)  $400, for the registration of a new vehicle to   which Section 548.102 applies; or                [(2)]  $200[,] for each 12 months of [the] registration   [or renewal of registration of a vehicle to which Section 548.101   applies].          SECTION 5.  Section 503.008(a), Transportation Code, as   effective July 1, 2025, is amended to read as follows:          (a)  The fee for:                (1)  a dealer's license plate issued under Section   503.061 is $20 a year; and                (2)  a dealer's temporary license plate issued under   Section 503.062 is $10 for an original license plate and $0 for the   renewal of the same license plate.          SECTION 6.  Section 503.0633(f), Transportation Code, as   effective July 1, 2025, is amended to read as follows:          (f)  If the department determines that a dealer is   fraudulently obtaining license plates or sets of license plates,   [or] fraudulently using the database of dealer-issued license   plates, or obtaining or using vehicle inspection reports described   by Section 548.603(a)(1), the department may, after giving notice   electronically and by certified mail to the dealer, deny access to   the database of dealer-issued license plates to the dealer. A   dealer denied access to the database of dealer-issued license   plates under this subsection may request a hearing on the denial as   provided by Subchapter O, Chapter 2301, Occupations Code.          SECTION 7.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.