HB630

Regular Session

Relating to certificates of title for certain outboard motors.

LowStandard timeline

Low Cost

Effective:2025-09-01

Enforcing Agencies

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD)

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. (Dealers must continue titling these units until this date. Do not stop processing titles early.)
Agency Rulemaking: TPWD is expected to issue guidance regarding the handling of *existing* titles for exempt motors and acceptable "secondary proof" for motors with missing data plates. Monitor the Texas Register in Summer 2025.

Immediate Action Plan

1. Audit "Title-Pending" Inventory: Identify any motors currently in your possession that meet the 40-year/25HP criteria where titles are lost or difficult to obtain.
2. Hold for September 1: If legally feasible, delay the sale of these specific "problem units" until September 1, 2025, to utilize the exemption and avoid the cost of bonded titles.
3. Update Deal Jackets: Create a "Title Exemption Checklist" for deal files to prove due diligence was performed regarding the motor's age and horsepower.
4. Revise DMS Logic: Contact your Dealership Management System provider to ensure the system allows for a "No Title" sale on outboard motors starting 09/01/2025 without triggering an error.

Operational Changes Required

Contracts

Sales Agreements: Insert a disclaimer clause for qualifying units: *"Purchaser acknowledges that pursuant to Texas Parks & Wildlife Code Sec. 31.055, this outboard motor is exempt from titling requirements. No Certificate of Title will be issued."*
Consignment Agreements: Amend terms to require consignors to provide proof of manufacture year and horsepower rating if a title is not provided at intake.
Lending/Security Agreements: Financing entities can no longer perfect liens on these assets via title entry. Security interests must be perfected via UCC-1 filing and Security Agreements.

Hiring/Training

Intake Staff: Train inventory managers on the "40/25 Rule." They must verify both criteria are met. If a motor is 40 years old but 30 HP, it must still be titled.
Rolling Eligibility: Staff must understand the exemption is dynamic. A 1986 motor is not exempt in 2025, but becomes exempt on January 1, 2026.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

Bill of Sale: The Bill of Sale replaces the Title as the primary chain-of-custody document. It must explicitly list the Model Year and Horsepower Rating.
Audit Defense: Retain a photograph of the manufacturer’s data plate (showing Serial Number and HP) in the transaction file for 4 years. This is your primary defense if a regulator alleges failure to title.
Inventory Management: Update software to flag these units as "Statutory Exempt" to prevent automated compliance holds.

Fees & Costs

Title Fees: Elimination of title application fees for qualifying units.
Administrative Savings: Reduction in time spent researching lost titles for low-value vintage trade-ins.

Strategic Ambiguities & Considerations

Missing Data Plates: The statute does not define acceptable proof of age/capacity if the manufacturer's plate is illegible or missing. Until TPWD rules clarify this, do not apply the exemption to unmarked motors; process them as standard titled units to avoid liability.
Existing Titles: The law is silent on the disposition of *existing* titles for motors that now qualify for exemption. Guidance: If you possess a title for an exempt motor, pass it to the buyer. Do not destroy it until TPWD provides a surrender procedure.
Modifications: It is unclear how TPWD will treat motors modified to exceed 25 HP. Guidance: Rely strictly on the original manufacturer's block rating/serial number, not current performance.

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Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

TopicsParks & Wildlife Parks & Wildlife--water Safety Boats & Boating

Official Analysis

View HRO Analysis View All Bill Documents

BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 630

By: Vasut

Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Current state lawrequiresoutboardmotorstobe titled in order to establish ownership and facilitate legal transactions. However, it can be difficult to track down proper paperwork to obtain a title for an antique outboardmotorgiventhepassageoftimebetweentransfersofownership. In turn, this creates issues for Texans wanting to collect and legally use antique outboard motors on the state's waterways. H.B. 630 seeks to address this issue by exempting certain antique outboard motors from titling requirements.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 630 amends the Parks and Wildlife Code to exempt an outboard motor that is at least 40 years of age with a capacity of not more than 25 horsepower from certificate of title requirements for outboard motors.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2025.

House Authors

Rep. Cody VasutRepublican · Primary Author

Coauthors (2)

Senate Sponsor

Sen. Judith ZaffiriniDemocrat · Primary Sponsor

Bill Text(with markup)

H.B. No. 630

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

	AN ACT
	relating to certificates of title for certain outboard motors.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Section 31.055, Parks and Wildlife Code, is
	amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 31.055. EXCEPTIONS. This subchapter does not apply
	to:
	(1) vessels with a valid marine document issued by the
	United States Coast Guard's National Vessel Documentation Center or
	a federal agency that is a successor to the National Vessel
	Documentation Center; or
	(2) an outboard motor that:
	(A) is at least 40 years of age; and
	(B) has a capacity of not more than 25
	horsepower.
	SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 89TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION


March 17, 2025

TO:	Honorable Will Metcalf, Chair, House Committee on Culture, Recreation & Tourism

FROM:	Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board

IN RE:	HB630 by Vasut (Relating to certificates of title for certain outboard motors.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

It is assumed that any revenue implications associated with the bill would be insignificant.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

802 Parks and Wildlife Department

LBB Staff:

JMc, TUf, MW, RSTE

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about HB630

What does Texas HB630 do?

HB630 deregulates the sale of specific vintage marine equipment by eliminating the certificate of title requirement for outboard motors that are at least 40 years old and have a capacity of 25 horsepower or less. This legislation shifts the burden of ownership verification from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) back to the seller, requiring immediate updates to inventory intake procedures and sales documentation for marine dealers, auctioneers, and repair shops. Implementation Timeline Effective Date: September 1, 2025 Compliance Deadline: September 1, 2025.

Who authored HB630?

HB630 was authored by Texas Representative Cody Vasut during the Regular Session.

When was HB630 signed into law?

HB630 was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on May 28, 2025.

Which agencies enforce HB630?

HB630 is enforced by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD).

How urgent is compliance with HB630?

The compliance urgency for HB630 is rated as "low". Businesses and organizations should review the requirements and timeline to ensure timely compliance.

What is the cost impact of HB630?

The cost impact of HB630 is estimated as "low". This may vary based on industry and implementation requirements.

What topics does HB630 address?

HB630 addresses topics including parks & wildlife, parks & wildlife--water safety and boats & boating.

Legislative data provided by LegiScanLast updated: November 25, 2025

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