TITLE: 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.

SUMMARY: 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.

FULL TEXT:
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.