The end-of-session deadlines are beginning to take effect. Yesterday was the last day for House bills to be placed on a House Calendar. Those House bills must pass on second reading by midnight tomorrow. Local bills have an additional day. The Senate’s first official deadline is still two weeks away but in order for Senate bills to have time to travel through the House process, those bills should be passed and in the House sometime next week.
The House has passed House bill 500, a bill that attempts to reduce the burden of the state’s franchise tax on businesses. House Bill 500 provides $667 million in tax relief over two years. The bill now heads to the Senate.
Changes could be coming to the vehicle inspection process in Texas. Under current law, Texas issues a vehicle inspection certificate that is attached to the windshield of the vehicle in addition to the vehicle registration certificate. The Texas Senate has passed Senate Bill 1350 which would create a single sticker representing both inspection and registration. Verification of a valid vehicle inspection will be included in the information collected and maintained electronically for vehicle registration each year. Senate Bill 1350 now moves to the Texas House for consideration.