SB 1729 Texas Senate · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to the registration and inspection of vehicles.

This bill extends emissions inspections for eligible vehicles to every three years (instead of annually or biennially) if approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It creates a new 24-month registration period for new passenger cars or light trucks sold in Texas or purchased by commercial fleets meeting specific criteria. Vehicle owners must pay all registration fees, inspection fees, and optional fees upfront at the time of registration. These changes apply to most passenger vehicles but require EPA approval for the extended inspection period.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Feb 27, 2025 Signed May 24, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed Enrolled · 5 edits · May 13, 2025
MODERATE
This bill updates vehicle registration and inspection fee structures in the Texas Transportation Code, primarily to accommodate a new three-year emissions inspection period for certain vehicles while maintaining revenue neutrality. The changes clarify fee amounts, update section references, and repeal outdated code sections related to inspection programs.
Scope change
The bill expands eligibility for a three-year emissions inspection period to vehicles sold in Texas or purchased by commercial fleet buyers that have not been previously registered in any state and are of the current or preceding model year.
REQUIREMENT

Added provisions for a three-year emissions inspection period for qualifying vehicles instead of the previous annual or biennial inspection requirements.

Repealed several outdated Transportation Code sections related to inspection programs, including sections 548.051, 548.052, 548.054, 548.1025, 548.104(d), 548.501(a), and 548.5035.

FISCAL

Adjusted fee amounts and deposit allocations, including a one-time fee of $16.75 for initial registration of qualifying passenger cars or light trucks and a $22.25 fee for other initial registrations.

DEFINITION

Updated references to Transportation Code sections and clarified eligibility criteria for commercial fleet buyers and vehicle registration periods.

TIMELINE

Established an effective date of September 1, 2025, for the new provisions.

Floor votes · House May 9, 2025

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
46
Key actions
13
Committee
9
May 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed in the House
lower
May 13, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed in the Senate
upper
May 12, 2025
Upper · Passed
House passage reported
upper
May 10, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
May 9, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (136-0-8)
house
May 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
May 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
May 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Committee
Referred to Transportation
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
Apr 14, 2025
Introduced
Received from the Senate
lower
Apr 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
Mar 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report printed and distributed
upper
Mar 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendments
upper
Mar 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
Vote taken in committee
upper
Mar 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
Testimony taken in committee
upper
Mar 13, 2025
Committee
Referred to Transportation
upper
Mar 13, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
2 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors