By: King, Hagenbuch S.B. No. 2001     A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the registration of vehicles, the issuance of disabled   parking placards, and certain benefits associated with that   registration or issuance for certain peace officers with   disabilities; authorizing a fee.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  The heading to Section 372.053, Transportation   Code, is amended to read as follows:          Sec. 372.053.  PEACE OFFICER AND VETERAN DISCOUNT PROGRAM.          SECTION 2.  Section 372.053(a-1), Transportation Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (a-1)  A program established under Subsection (a) 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, 504.2025, or 504.315(f)   or (g).          SECTION 3.  Section 502.410(b), Transportation Code, as   effective July 1, 2025, is amended to read as follows:          (b)  Subsection (a) does not apply to a statement or   application filed or given under Section 502.060, 502.093, 502.094,   502.095, 504.201, 504.202(b-1), 504.2025(d), 504.508, or 504.515.          SECTION 4.  Subchapter C, Chapter 504, Transportation Code,   is amended by adding Section 504.2025 to read as follows:          Sec. 504.2025.  PEACE OFFICERS WITH DISABILITIES. (a) In   this section, "peace officer" means an individual described by   Article 2A.001, Code of Criminal Procedure.           (b)  A person entitled to specialty license plates under this   section may register, for the person's own use, one vehicle without   payment of any fee paid for or at the time of registration except   the fee for the license plates. Registration under this section is   valid for one year.          (c)  A peace officer is entitled to register, for the   person's own use, motor vehicles under this section if:                (1)  the person is disabled as a result of an injury   suffered during the course and scope of the person's employment as a   peace officer; and                (2)  the motor vehicle:                      (A)  is owned by the person; and                      (B)  has a gross vehicle weight of 18,000 pounds   or less or is a motor home.          (d)  A person described by Subsection (c) who is eligible to   receive license plates under Section 504.201 may elect to receive   license plates under this section that include the symbol described   by Section 504.201(f). The initial application for license plates   under this subsection must be accompanied by:                (1)  the written statement required by Section   504.201(d) certifying that the applicant has a mobility problem   that substantially impairs the person's ability to ambulate;                (2)  a written statement completed by the chief law   enforcement officer of the law enforcement agency that employed the   person, certifying that the person is disabled as a result of an   injury suffered during the course and scope of the person's   employment as a peace officer; and                (3)  any other information required for an application   under this section.          (e)  Other than license plates issued under Subsection (h),   license plates issued under this section must include:                (1)  the letters "DPO" on the plate if the plate is   issued for a vehicle other than a motorcycle; and                (2)  the words "Disabled Peace Officer" at the bottom   of each license plate.          (f)  The fee for the first set of license plates is $3. There   is no fee for each additional set of license plates.          (g)  A person who receives license plates under Subsection   (d) may receive a disabled parking placard under Section 681.004   for each set of license plates.          (h)  A person entitled to license plates under this section   may elect to receive license plates issued under Chapter 502 under   the same conditions for the issuance of license plates under this   section.          (i)  A license plate with the letters "DPO" may be   personalized with up to four characters.          (j)  A person entitled to license plates under this section   may instead use, for a vehicle that meets the requirements of   Section 504.501 or 504.502, disabled peace officer license plates   issued by this state that:                (1)  are embossed with an alphanumeric pattern;                (2)  are of a plate design that was issued in the same   year as the model year of the vehicle;                (3)  are approved for use by the department; and                (4)  include the symbol described by Section   504.201(f), if the person satisfies the requirements for the   issuance of license plates under Subsection (d) and elects to   include the symbol on the plates.          (k)  A reference in law to license plates issued under   Subsection (d) includes disabled peace officer license plates   described by Subsection (j)(4).          SECTION 5.  Section 681.004(a), Transportation Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (a)  A person with a permanent disability may receive:                (1)  two disabled parking placards, if the person does   not receive a set of special license plates under Section 504.201;                (2)  one disabled parking placard, if the person   receives a set of special license plates under Section 504.201; or                (3)  two disabled parking placards, if the person   receives two sets of special license plates under Section   504.202(b-1) or 504.2025(d).          SECTION 6.  The heading to Section 681.008, Transportation   Code, is amended to read as follows:          Sec. 681.008.  PARKING PRIVILEGES: CERTAIN PEACE OFFICERS,   VETERANS, AND MILITARY AWARD RECIPIENTS.          SECTION 7.  Sections 681.008(a) and (b), Transportation   Code, are amended to read as follows:          (a)  A vehicle may be parked for an unlimited period in a   parking space or area that is designated specifically for persons   with physical disabilities if:                (1)  the vehicle:                      (A)  displays special license plates issued under   Section 504.202(b-1) or 504.2025(d); and                      (B)  is being operated by or for the   transportation of the person to whom the plates were issued; or                (2)  the vehicle displays license plates issued by   another state of the United States that indicate on the face of the   license plates that the owner or operator of the vehicle is a   disabled veteran of the United States armed forces.          (b)  A vehicle on which license plates described by   Subsection (a)(2) or issued under Section 504.202, 504.2025,   504.308, 504.310, 504.315, 504.316, or 504.319 are displayed is   exempt from the payment of a parking fee collected through a parking   meter charged by a governmental authority other than a branch of the   federal government, when being operated by or for the   transportation of:                (1)  the person who registered the vehicle under   Section 504.202(a), 504.2025(b), 504.308, 504.310, 504.315,   504.316, or 504.319;                (2)  a person described in Section 504.202(b) or   504.2025(c) if the vehicle is registered under that subsection; or                (3)  the owner or operator of a vehicle displaying   license plates described by Subsection (a)(2).          SECTION 8.  Section 681.009(e), Transportation Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (e)  Parking spaces or areas designated for the exclusive use   of vehicles transporting persons with disabilities may be used by   vehicles displaying a white on blue shield disabled parking   placard, license plates issued under Section 504.201, [or]   504.202(b-1), or 504.2025(d), or a white on red shield disabled   parking placard.          SECTION 9.  Sections 681.011(a), (b), (l), and (m),   Transportation Code, are amended to read as follows:          (a)  A person commits an offense if:                (1)  the person stands a vehicle on which are displayed   license plates issued under Section 504.201, [or] 504.202(b-1), or   504.2025(d) or a disabled parking placard in a parking space or area   designated specifically for persons with disabilities by:                      (A)  a political subdivision; or                      (B)  a person who owns or controls private   property used for parking as to which a political subdivision has   provided for the application of this section under Subsection (f);   and                (2)  the standing of the vehicle in that parking space   or area is not authorized by Section 681.006, 681.007, or 681.008.          (b)  A person commits an offense if the person stands a   vehicle on which license plates issued under Section 504.201, [or]   504.202(b-1), or 504.2025(d) are not displayed and a disabled   parking placard is not displayed in a parking space or area   designated specifically for individuals with disabilities by:                (1)  a political subdivision; or                (2)  a person who owns or controls private property   used for parking as to which a political subdivision has provided   for the application of this section under Subsection (f).          (l)  A person commits an offense if the person:                (1)  stands a vehicle on which are displayed license   plates issued under Section 504.201, [or] 504.202(b-1), or   504.2025(d) or a disabled parking placard in a parking space or area   for which this chapter creates an exemption from payment of a fee or   penalty imposed by a governmental unit;                (2)  does not have a disability;                (3)  is not transporting a person with disability; and                (4)  does not pay any applicable fee related to   standing in the space or area imposed by a governmental unit or   exceeds a limitation on the length of time for standing in the space   or area.          (m)  Subsections (n) and (o) apply only to a person who   commits an offense under Subsection (b) when the vehicle:                (1)  displays special license plates issued under:                      (A)  Section 504.202 other than special license   plates issued under Section 504.202(b-1); or                      (B)  Section 504.2025 other than a special license   plate issued under Section 504.2025(d); and                (2)  does not display a disabled parking placard.          SECTION 10.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.