Starting in 2025, Texas will no longer require annual vehicle safety inspections for non-commercial drivers under House Bill 3297. However, drivers in areas with higher populations, like Harris, Dallas, and Travis counties, will still need to pass emissions tests for vehicle registration. These changes aim to address both environmental concerns and efficiency, as reported by KHOU.
Texas is introducing a $7.50 fee for vehicle registration, replacing the old safety inspection program, with the fee supporting state programs like highway construction. New vehicles will also have an initial $16.75 fee as part of a broader cost recovery plan. The state has also passed the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act, which requires businesses to offer consumers an opt-out option for online data processing, according to NBC5 and KHOU.
Starting in mid-2025, Texas car dealers must use the webDEALER system to electronically process vehicle title and registration, aiming to reduce misuse of paper tags and improve accountability. This change follows NBC 5's "Paper Tag Nation" investigation, and dealers will receive training through webinars and pre-recorded content. In addition, the 477th Judicial District will be established in Denton County, and a revision to the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure will reorganize provisions for clarity without changing their legal effect.
