89R5980 GP-D     By: Menéndez S.B. No. 2718       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to requiring that all vehicle registrations, including   delinquent registrations, are for a 12-month period.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Sections 502.044(a) and (c), Transportation   Code, are amended to read as follows:          (a)  At the time of the first registration of a vehicle, the   [The] department shall designate a vehicle registration year of 12   consecutive months to begin on the first day of a calendar month and   end on the last day of the 12th calendar month. The vehicle must be   registered annually according to the designated vehicle   registration year of 12 consecutive months designated by the   department.          (c)  The department may not designate a registration period   of less than 12 months [to be computed at a rate of one-twelfth the   annual registration fee multiplied by the number of months in the   registration period. The board by rule may allow payment of   registration fees for a designated period not to exceed the amount   of time determined by department rule].          SECTION 2.  Section 502.045, Transportation Code, is amended   by amending Subsections (b), (c), and (d) and adding Subsection   (b-1) to read as follows:          (b)  An applicant for registration who is delinquent but who   complies with the other requirements for registration under this   chapter shall:                (1)  register the vehicle for a 12-month period that   ends on the last day of the 11th month after the month in which the   registration occurs under this subsection; and                (2)  if applicable, pay the additional fee required by   this section.          (b-1)  There is no additional fee for an [An] applicant for   delinquent registration under Subsection (b) who provides evidence   to establish good reason for delinquent registration and who   complies with the other requirements for registration under this   chapter [may register the vehicle for a 12-month period that ends on   the last day of the 11th month after the month in which the   registration occurs under this subsection].          (c)  The additional fee for an [An] applicant for delinquent   registration under Subsection (b) who [is delinquent and] has not   provided evidence acceptable to establish good reason for   delinquent registration but who complies with the other   requirements for registration is an amount equal to one-twelfth the   annual registration fee multiplied by the number of months or any   portion of a month since the expiration of the vehicle's previous   registration period during which the vehicle was not validly   registered [under this chapter shall register the vehicle for a   12-month period without changing the initial month of   registration].          (d)  A person who has been arrested or received a citation   for a violation of Section 502.472 may register the vehicle being   operated at the time of the offense under Subsection (b) [for a   12-month period without change to the initial month of registration   only] if the person:                (1)  meets the other requirements for registration   under this chapter; and                (2)  pays an additional charge equal to the total of:                      (A)  20 percent of the prescribed fee for the   12-month registration period; and                       (B)  an amount equal to one-twelfth the annual   registration fee multiplied by the number of months or any portion   of a month since the expiration of the vehicle's previous   registration period during which the vehicle was not validly   registered.          SECTION 3.  This Act applies only to the registration of a   motor vehicle that is applied for on or after the effective date of   this Act.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.