Bill Caption

Fiscal Notes

Bill Analysis

• the mandatory vehicle safety inspection program;
• safety inspection related requirements for seat belts;
• safety inspection related requirements for vehicle inspection reports;
• the requirement that a vehicle that is inspected and subsequently involved in an accident must be reinspected following repair;
• the requirement for Department of Public Safety (DPS) to implement a commercial vehicle safety inspection program, unless such a program is necessary to comply with federal regulations;
• an offense relating to a person seeking an inspection of a vehicle at an uncertified station with the intent to circumvent the emission inspection requirements; and
• an offense relating to a person operating or moving certain vehicles in a mechanical condition that endangers a person or property
  

New fees would be created and imposed at the time of application for registration or renewal of registration of a motor vehicle. Fee amounts would be:

• $9.25 for certain noncommercial vehicles;
• $5.50 for all other noncommercial vehicles; and
• $20 for commercial vehicles

These fees would be deposited to the Texas Mobility Fund, the clean air account, the state highway fund, the Texas emissions reduction plan fund. The TxDMV or the county tax assessor-collector that registers a motor vehicle subject to an emissions related inspection fee would be required to collect the fee at the time of registration, and to remit the fee to the comptroller. 

If a vehicle is required to be inspected for emissions, the vehicle must pass the required inspection not earlier than 90 days before the vehicle registration expiration date. The DPS would be allowed to impose an emissions inspection fee in addition to the emissions inspection fees adopted previously.

Vote Recommendation Notes

Due the inconsequential impact motor vehicle safety inspections have had on road safety, eliminating this regulatory requirement would save Texas residents time and money. While the imposition of new fees will counter some of these monetary savings, the elimination of these antiquated programs would still be beneficial to Texas motorists who have clocked in an average of 50,000 trips to inspection stations every day. 

Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the individual, not the state, to determine how to best maintain the safety of his/her vehicle, as long as it does not pose a risk to others. SB 1588 upholds our principles of limited government, personal responsibility, and individual liberty, so for these reasons, we support this legislation.