85R7521 JAM-D     By: Sanford H.B. No. 1309       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to eligibility for and benefits associated with license   plates for certain veterans.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 372.053, Transportation Code, is amended   to read as follows:          Sec. 372.053.  VETERAN WAIVER [DISCOUNT] PROGRAM.  (a)  A   toll project entity shall [may] establish a waiver [discount]   program for electronic toll collection customers that includes [.     The program must include] free [or discounted] use of the entity's   toll project by an electronic toll collection customer whose   account relates to a vehicle registered under Section 504.202 or   Subchapter D, Chapter 504 [504.315(f) or (g)].          (b)  The legislature shall [may] appropriate funds from the   general revenue fund to a toll project entity to defray the cost of   providing free [or discounted] use of the entity's toll project   under this section.          (c)  Notwithstanding Sections 228.057(e), 366.179(d),   370.178(d), and 372.051(a), a toll project entity with an   electronic toll collection customer who participates in the   entity's waiver program shall provide to all other toll project   entities the information necessary for the customer to participate   in the entities' waiver programs.          SECTION 2.  Section 504.202(b), Transportation Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (b)  A veteran of the United States armed forces is entitled   to register, for the person's own use, motor vehicles under this   section if:                (1)  the person has suffered, as a result of military   service,[:                      [(A)]  at least a 30 [50] percent   service-connected disability[; or                      [(B)     a 40 percent service-connected disability   because of the amputation of a lower extremity];                (2)  the person receives compensation from the United   States because of the disability; and                (3)  the motor vehicle:                      (A)  is owned by the person; and                      (B)  has a gross vehicle weight of 18,000 pounds   or less.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.