Several major legal and regulatory changes passed by the 88th Texas Legislature in 2023 will impact residents starting January 1. Here’s what you need to know:
Vehicle Inspections
House Bill 3927 eliminates comprehensive vehicle safety inspections for non-commercial vehicles. Instead, drivers will pay an annual $7.50 fee during registration. While emissions testing remains mandatory in major metropolitan areas like Harris County, safety checks for items like brakes and lights are no longer required. Critics argue this could compromise public safety by allowing vehicles with maintenance issues, such as balding tires, to remain on the road.
Property Taxes
The Property Tax Relief Act (Senate Bill 2) increases homestead exemptions from $40,000 to $100,000, offers protections for seniors, and includes measures to curb tax increases for small businesses. A new “circuit breaker” provision will limit annual appraised-value increases to 20% for non-homestead properties worth under $5 million, aiming to prevent property tax hikes from outpacing homeowners’ ability to pay.
Data Privacy
The Texas Data Privacy and Security Act (House Bill 4) introduces expanded protections for consumers. Starting January, Texans can appoint a registered agent to make data privacy-related decisions on their behalf. Meanwhile, the Attorney General’s office is investigating companies like Discord and Instagram for potential violations of the law, reinforcing the state’s commitment to safeguarding digital privacy.
These updates reflect Texas’s efforts to streamline regulations, provide tax relief, and enhance consumer protections.
