Relating to certificates of number and certificates of title issued by and records kept by the Parks and Wildlife Department; creating a criminal offense.

Contracts

• Sales Agreements: Update "As-Is" and disclosure clauses. You cannot contract away the statutory duty to disclose a "Hull Damaged" brand; your agreements must explicitly acknowledge this disclosure to protect against fraud claims.
• Lending & Security Agreements: Update "Events of Default" to include borrower failure to assist in E-Title transition. Floorplan agreements must be revised to cite the new Texas Parks and Wildlife Code sections regarding perfection of security interests in inventory.
• Lien Releases: Terms regarding lien release timelines must be amended to reflect the new statutory requirement to release liens on consumer goods within 30 days automatically, or 20 days upon demand.

Hiring/Training

• Intake & Appraisal Staff: Implement mandatory training on identifying "compromised hull integrity." Negligent failure to identify and report this damage is now a Class C Misdemeanor. Intentional concealment is a Class B Misdemeanor.
• F&I Departments: Staff must be retrained to prioritize speed. The reduction of the filing window from 45 days to 20 days requires a "fund and file" workflow rather than batch processing.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

• Digital Credentials: Designate a compliance officer to manage secure digital logins for the TPWD E-Title system once live.
• Lien Retention: Align document retention policies with TPWD’s new standard; the agency will retain lien records for 10 years post-termination. You should match this to defend against future title disputes.
• Hull Damage Checklists: Create and archive a physical or digital "Hull Integrity Checklist" for every trade-in to prove due diligence against potential criminal negligence charges.

Fees & Costs

• Fee Escalation: Do not budget based on the current statutory minimums ($25). The Commission is authorized to set fees higher by rule to fund the electronic system. Expect significant increases in title transfer and HIN inspection fees in the FY2028 budget.