As the 89th Texas Legislature wraps up, I want to take a moment to recognize the leadership, engagement and grit you continue to bring to the table. Thanks to your involvement — and the strength of our collective voice — TADA remained front and center this session, advocating for policies that protect and strengthen our industry and we served as a resource to the Legislature and their staff on critical policy issues.

Key Wins at the Capitol

Gov. Abbott and legislative leadership achieved their top priorities this session, including property tax relief, teacher pay raises, school choice expansion, bail reform, water infrastructure investment, workforce training and a new cybersecurity hub. These big-picture wins created a backdrop for steady legislative momentum — and TADA was right in the middle of it.

A Smart Fix on Permanent License Plates

One of our top priorities — amending last session’s hard plate law — crossed the finish line. The updated law ensures that license plates follow the person, not the vehicle. It’s a common-sense reform that simplifies processes for everyone involved — customers, dealers and law enforcement — while preserving the public safety goals intended in the original legislation.

The bill is now headed to the Governor’s desk, and implementation is expected to begin in July. We’ve prepared training webinars and resources to help your teams get up to speed — we encourage all dealer groups to participate.

Warranty and Recall Reimbursement: Our Work Continues

Another major push this session involved holding manufacturers accountable for fair reimbursement on warranty and recall work. Although Texas law already requires equal pay for warranty and non-warranty repairs, many OEMs continue to underpay or sidestep compliance altogether.

Our proposed legislative fix ran into roadblocks in the Senate Business & Commerce Committee, where manufacturer-backed amendments would have created more problems than solutions. We stood firm — and while our bill didn’t pass, our fight isn’t over. Over the interim, we’ll be rolling out a strategic plan to engage lawmakers in their districts and ensure this issue is front and center heading into next session. It is critical for us to make clear the consumer protection issues at the heart of this discussion.

Battling Bad Bills — and Advancing Good Ones

With nearly 9,000 bills filed this session, our team stayed busy sifting through dozens of proposals affecting dealers — many of them threatening the franchise model. Fortunately, thanks to great collaboration with legislators and local dealers and our TADA team, we helped stop the worst of them and advanced several measures that will benefit both our industry and our customers.

A couple of major tort reform bills — especially those aimed at reining in runaway verdicts in commercial truck cases — fell short, but we’re not done. We’ll continue to build support through the interim and come back stronger next session.

The Power of Dealer Relationships

We say it every session, and it’s always true: Good policy is built on strong relationships. This year, we launched Regional Dealer Days at the Capitol — bringing in dealer groups from across Texas to meet with their lawmakers face to face. The turnout was outstanding, and the impact was even greater.

If you got a call from our team asking you to reach out to your legislator and you picked up the phone, thank you. Your voice matters. Legislators know their local dealers. They trust you. And it’s your stories, your employees and your commitment to your communities and customers that make the difference.

Federal Updates

On the national front, we saw a major win as President Trump signed legislation overturning California’s ability to set its own vehicle emissions rules. This move protects national uniformity and preserves choice for Texas consumers and dealers alike.

We’re keeping a close eye on federal issues — from emissions and tariffs to supply chain strain — and we’ll continue fighting back against policies that hurt your business and limit customer access to vehicles that fit their needs.

Looking Ahead

There’s no question: Texas franchised dealers are leading the way — in policy, in innovation and in service to your communities. TADA is proud to stand with you in Austin, in Washington and everywhere decisions are being made that affect your business.

As new laws take effect and the dust settles from session, we’ll keep you updated with resources and training to stay compliant and competitive.

Lastly, I would like to take a moment to recognize the TADA team and our Metro Association partners who work long hours to protect your business interests and Texas consumers. Kate, Karen, Rob and everyone within the TADA family once again did outstanding work.

Thanks for all you do — and for keeping Texas moving forward.