Bill Caption

Relating to the vehicles authorizes to be equipped with a digital license plate.

Fiscal Notes

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB 1105, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted: an impact of $0 through the biennium ended August 31, 2023.

The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

Bill Analysis

HB 1105 would expand current law to allow passenger vehicles to use digital license plates (screens attached to vehicles that display a license plate). Under the bill, drivers would be allowed to place a digital license plate on the rear of the vehicle instead of a physical one. Drivers would still be required to attach a physical license plate to the front of the vehicle unless the vehicle is exempt from displaying two plates. The Texas Department of Transportation would be tasked with creating rules and standards for the attachment and display of the digital plates and would be authorized to charge fees to cover costs of digital license plate issuance that are greater than the costs for the issuance of a physical license plate.

Vote Recommendation Notes

Texas Action supports HB 1105 for promoting the principles of individual liberty and property rights. Current law allows commercial fleet vehicles and vehicles owned by a government entity to use digital license plates. This bill would simply legalize an additional way for Texas drivers to customize passenger vehicles if they wish to do so.