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SB927

Regular Session

Relating to the issuance of Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal specialty license plates.

Low
Low Cost
Effective:2025-09-01
SB927
Low
Relating to the issuance of Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal specialty license plates.
Low Compliance Urgency
Requires routine attention
Cost Impact
Low
Effective
2025-09-01
Enforcing Agencies
Texas Department of Motor Vehicles
Primary Author: Sen. Kelly Hancock
89th Texas Legislature
jdkey.com
01

Compliance Analysis

Key implementation requirements and action items for compliance with this legislation

Implementation Timeline

  • Effective Date: September 1, 2025
  • Compliance Deadline: September 1, 2025 (Dealerships must be prepared to process requests on this date).
  • Agency Rulemaking: TxDMV must finalize the plate design and assign a specific inventory code prior to the effective date. Expect a "regulatory gray zone" regarding physical plate availability at county tax offices between September 1 and November 1, 2025, due to manufacturing lead times.

Immediate Action Plan

  • Update Internal Codes: Direct T&R managers to watch for the TxDMV bulletin releasing the specific code for the Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal plate in August 2025.
  • Brief Sales Staff: Issue a memo to sales teams clarifying that while the plate is legal on September 1, 2025, physical availability may take 30-60 days.
  • Review Document Checklists: Add "DD-214/Award Citation" to the required document list for any deal involving this specific plate request.

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

No amendments to Master Service Agreements, vendor contracts, or employment agreements are required.

Hiring/Training

  • Title & Registration (T&R) Clerks: Staff must be trained to identify the new plate code in the webDEALER system.
  • Sales & Finance: Staff must be instructed *not* to promise immediate physical delivery of the plate on September 1, as distribution to county offices often lags.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

  • Proof of Eligibility: If your business provides "white glove" registration services (physically handling registration for the buyer), you must collect a copy of the customer's DD-214 or the specific citation award at the time of sale. Without this documentation, the county tax assessor-collector will reject the application.

Fees & Costs

  • No Direct Business Cost: There are no new fees levied on the business.
  • Customer Fees: The customer will be responsible for applicable specialty plate fees unless TxDMV rulemaking categorizes this under specific fee-exempt statutes (unlikely for this medal tier).

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

  • Fee Classification: The statute does not explicitly designate this as a fee-exempt plate (e.g., like Purple Heart or Medal of Honor). Businesses should assume standard specialty plate fees apply until TxDMV publishes the final fee schedule.
  • Design Approval: The specific graphic design is pending TxDMV Board approval. Until the design is finalized and manufactured, the plate exists only in statute, not in inventory.

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Information presented is for general knowledge only and is provided without warranty, express or implied. Consult qualified government affairs professionals and legal counsel before making compliance decisions.

02

Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

Filed
Jan 24, 2025
Passed Senate
Apr 10, 2025
Passed House
May 20, 2025
Signed
May 30, 2025
TopicsMilitary & VeteransVehicles & TrafficVehicles & Traffic--vehicle RegistrationLicense PlatesMotor Vehicles, Texas Department of
03

Senate Authors

Sen. Kelly HancockRepublican · Primary Author
Coauthors (3)

House Sponsor

Rep. John McQueeneyRepublican · Primary Sponsor

Bill Text(with markup)

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

Related Legislation

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More from Sen. Kelly Hancock

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Related by Topic

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Quick Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about SB927

Q

What does Texas SB927 do?

SB927 amends the Texas Transportation Code to require the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) to issue specialty license plates for recipients of the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. While the regulatory burden is minimal, automotive dealerships and title service companies must update registration workflows and inventory codes to accommodate this new option. Implementation Timeline Effective Date: September 1, 2025 Compliance Deadline: September 1, 2025 (Dealerships must be prepared to process requests on this date).

Q

Who authored SB927?

SB927 was authored by Texas Senator Kelly Hancock during the Regular Session.

Q

When was SB927 signed into law?

SB927 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on May 30, 2025.

Q

Which agencies enforce SB927?

SB927 is enforced by Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.

Q

How urgent is compliance with SB927?

The compliance urgency for SB927 is rated as "low". Businesses and organizations should review the requirements and timeline to ensure timely compliance.

Q

What is the cost impact of SB927?

The cost impact of SB927 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

Q

What topics does SB927 address?

SB927 addresses topics including military & veterans, vehicles & traffic, vehicles & traffic--vehicle registration, license plates and motor vehicles, texas department of.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: November 25, 2025

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