SB927

Regular Session

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

LowStandard timeline

Low Cost

Effective:2025-09-01

Enforcing Agencies

Texas Department of Motor Vehicles

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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Legislative Timeline

This bill's path through the Texas Legislature

TopicsMilitary & Veterans Vehicles & Traffic Vehicles & Traffic--vehicle Registration License Plates Motor Vehicles, Texas Department of

Official Analysis

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BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 927
89R8442 RDR-D	By: Hancock
	Transportation
	3/20/2025
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

The Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (NAM) is a decoration awarded to members of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps for meritorious service or achievement. The NAM is awarded for sustained performance, specific achievement, professional achievement, and leadership achievement, and was created to honor junior members who are not eligible for the Navy and Marine Corps Medal or the Meritorious Service Medal.

S.B. 927 adds the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal to the list of specialty license plates available in Texas.

As proposed, S.B. 927 amends current law relating to the issuance of Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal specialty license plates.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 504.315, Transportation Code, by adding Subsection (s), as follows:

(s) Requires the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to issue specialty license plates for recipients of the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. Requires that license plates issued under this subsection include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal emblem and include the words "Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal" at the bottom of each plate.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2025.

Senate Authors

Sen. Kelly HancockRepublican · Primary Author

Coauthors (3)

House Sponsor

Rep. John McQueeneyRepublican · Primary Sponsor

Bill Text(with markup)

S.B. No. 927

View bill text in multiple formats on Texas Legislature website

Fiscal NoteView Original

	AN ACT
	relating to the issuance of Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal
	specialty license plates.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Section 504.315, Transportation Code, is amended
	by adding Subsection (s) to read as follows:
	(s) The department shall issue specialty license plates for
	recipients of the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. License
	plates issued under this subsection must include the Navy and
	Marine Corps Achievement Medal emblem and must include the words
	"Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal" at the bottom of each
	plate.
	SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 89TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION


March 24, 2025

TO:	Honorable Robert Nichols, Chair, Senate Committee on Transportation

FROM:	Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board

IN RE:	SB927 by Hancock (Relating to the issuance of Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal specialty license plates.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

It is assumed that any costs associated with the bill could be absorbed using existing resources and 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:

608 Department of Motor Vehicles

LBB Staff:

JMc, AAL, GDZ, TG

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about SB927

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).

Who authored SB927?

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

When was SB927 signed into law?

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

Which agencies enforce SB927?

SB927 is enforced by Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.

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.

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.

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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