H.B. No. 282 AN ACT relating to the issuance of specialty license plates for Gold Star family members and recipients of certain Texas military awards. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 504.202(e-1), Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows: (e-1) Other than license plates issued under Subsection (h), license plates issued under this section may include, on request: (1) the emblem of the veteran's branch of service; or (2) one emblem from another license plate to which the person is entitled under Section 504.308, 504.309, 504.310(b), 504.311, 504.312, 504.313, 504.3135, 504.314, 504.315, 504.316, 504.3161, 504.318, 504.319, 504.320, 504.323, 504.325, [or] 504.327, 504.331, 504.332, 504.333, 504.334, or 504.335. SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 504, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Sections 504.331, 504.332, 504.333, 504.334, and 504.335 to read as follows: Sec. 504.331. TEXAS HOMELAND DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL. The department shall issue specialty license plates for recipients of the Texas Homeland Defense Service Medal. The license plates must include the Texas Homeland Defense Service Medal emblem and must include the words "Texas Homeland Defense Service Medal" at the bottom of each plate. Sec. 504.332. TEXAS SUPERIOR SERVICE MEDAL. The department shall issue specialty license plates for recipients of the Texas Superior Service Medal. The license plates must include the Texas Superior Service Medal emblem and must include the words "Texas Superior Service Medal" at the bottom of each plate. Sec. 504.333. LONE STAR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL. The department shall issue specialty license plates for recipients of the Lone Star Distinguished Service Medal. The license plates must include the Lone Star Distinguished Service Medal emblem and must include the words "Lone Star Distinguished Service Medal" at the bottom of each plate. Sec. 504.334. TEXAS OUTSTANDING SERVICE MEDAL. The department shall issue specialty license plates for recipients of the Texas Outstanding Service Medal. The license plates must include the Texas Outstanding Service Medal emblem and must include the words "Texas Outstanding Service Medal" at the bottom of each plate. Sec. 504.335. TEXAS MEDAL OF MERIT. The department shall issue specialty license plates for recipients of the Texas Medal of Merit. The license plates must include the Texas Medal of Merit emblem and must include the words "Texas Medal of Merit" at the bottom of each plate. SECTION 3. Section 504.512(a-1), Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows: (a-1) In this section "immediate family member" means the parent, child, [or] sibling, adoptive parent, adoptive child, foster parent, foster child, stepparent, or stepchild of a person who died while serving in the United States armed forces. SECTION 4. It is the intent of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, that the amendments made by this Act be harmonized with another Act of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted codes. SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. ______________________________ ______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.B. No. 282 was passed by the House on April 20, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 143, Nays 3, 2 present, not voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. No. 282 on May 19, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 140, Nays 0, 2 present, not voting. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.B. No. 282 was passed by the Senate, with amendments, on May 17, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. ______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: __________________ Date __________________ Governor