Abbott says ‘No’ to paper license plates

Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a bill into law Monday that will end Texas’ paper license plate problem by tearing up the current system. The new law replaces all paper tags with metal ones and goes into effect July 1, 2025.

The new law will require car dealers to be required to issue metal license plates as soon as the vehicle is sold, and will also ensure dealers be able to obtain a sufficient amount of plates in order to sell vehicles. The TxDMV has until December 1, 2024 to come up with a rule to implement the change.

Abbott has also signed HB 914 which clarifies temporary license plates a “government record.” Law enforcement officials say this will make it easier to prosecute tag fraud with tampering charges, and the law goes into effect September 1.

The 2025 deadline gives the TxDMV time to implement the new law and allows the legislature to make necessary “tweaks” to the law during the next session before it goes into effect, according to Rep. Craig Goldman, R-Fort Worth, who introduced HB 718. The bill passed both chambers before Abbott signed it.