87R12055 JAM-D     By: Bailes H.B. No. 3078       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the registration of certain motor vehicles as farm or   ranch vehicles.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  The heading to Section 502.433, Transportation   Code, is amended to read as follows:          Sec. 502.433.  FEE:  COMMERCIAL FARM OR RANCH MOTOR VEHICLE.          SECTION 2.  Sections 502.433(a) and (d), Transportation   Code, are amended to read as follows:          (a)  The registration fee for a commercial motor vehicle as a   farm vehicle or ranch vehicle is 50 percent of the applicable fee   under Section 502.252 or 502.253, as applicable, if the vehicle's   owner will use the vehicle for commercial purposes only to   transport:                (1)  the person's own poultry, dairy, livestock,   livestock products, timber in its natural state, or farm products   to market or another place for sale or processing;                (2)  laborers from their place of residence to the   owner's farm or ranch; or                (3)  without charge, materials, tools, equipment, or   supplies from the place of purchase or storage to the owner's farm   or ranch exclusively for the owner's use or for use on the farm or   ranch.          (d)  The department shall provide separate distinguishing   license plates for farm and ranch vehicles [a vehicle] registered   under this section. The department shall provide a person who   registers a vehicle under this section the option of designating   the vehicle as a farm vehicle or a ranch vehicle.          SECTION 3.  Section 545.413(e), Transportation Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (e)  It is a defense to prosecution under this section that:                (1)  the person possesses a written statement from a   licensed physician stating that for a medical reason the person   should not wear a safety belt;                (2)  the person presents to the court, not later than   the 10th day after the date of the offense, a statement from a   licensed physician stating that for a medical reason the person   should not wear a safety belt;                (3)  the person is employed by the United States Postal   Service and performing a duty for that agency that requires the   operator to service postal boxes from a vehicle or that requires   frequent entry into and exit from a vehicle;                (4)  the person is engaged in the actual delivery of   newspapers from a vehicle or is performing newspaper delivery   duties that require frequent entry into and exit from a vehicle;                (5)  the person is employed by a public or private   utility company and is engaged in the reading of meters or   performing a similar duty for that company requiring the operator   to frequently enter into and exit from a vehicle;                (6)  the person is operating a commercial vehicle   registered as a farm or ranch vehicle under the provisions of   Section 502.433 that does not have a gross weight, registered   weight, or gross weight rating of 48,000 pounds or more; or                (7)  the person is the operator of or a passenger in a   vehicle used exclusively to transport solid waste and performing   duties that require frequent entry into and exit from the vehicle.          SECTION 4.  Section 622.074, Transportation Code, is amended   to read as follows:          Sec. 622.074.  NONAPPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER.  This   subchapter does not apply to:                (1)  farm equipment used for a purpose other than   construction;                (2)  special mobile equipment owned by a dealer or   distributor;                (3)  a vehicle used to propel special mobile equipment   that is registered as a farm or ranch vehicle under Section 502.433;   or                (4)  equipment while being used by a commercial hauler   to transport special mobile equipment under hire of a person who   derives $500 in gross receipts annually from a farming or ranching   enterprise.          SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.