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Commerce committee amends towing law cleanup, restores U.S. Mail as notice option and reduces private-property wait time
Summary
House Bill 972, described by the sponsor as a cleanup to last year's towing law, was amended to allow U.S. Mail as a notice option under certain timing conditions and to shorten the time a vehicle may remain on private property before tow from 48 to 12 hours (with exceptions); the bill was sent to Government Operations on a recorded vote.
House Bill 972, presented by Representative McCalmon, was described as a cleanup to last year’s towing legislation. The Commerce Committee attached two drafting amendments and then approved the bill to advance to Government Operations.
The sponsor said the bill restores the U.S. Postal Service as an acceptable notification method for abandonment and lien notices, provided the mailings occur within a three-day window or sooner. The sponsor explained this change was made in response to challenges with proof of delivery and timeliness when last year the committee required a nationally recognized carrier such as UPS or FedEx.
The bill also changes the allowed times before vans/vehicles on private property can be towed: the sponsor said vehicles on private property would now be subject to towing after 12 hours — down from 48 hours — unless the vehicle creates a hazard, blocks access, or is parked illegally, in which case immediate towing remains authorized. The sponsor described last year’s law as intended to prohibit “predatory booting” while preserving lawful tows for safety and access issues.
Committee members from districts with multiunit residential properties asked whether booting for private multiunit residential lots was still prohibited; the sponsor said last year’s statute generally banned booting unless a local ordinance conformed to last year’s law, and no localities adopted such ordinances. Under the amended bill, illegally parked vehicles on private property could be towed immediately at the owner’s expense.
The clerk reported a recorded vote of 19 ayes and 2 nos, and the committee voted to send the bill to Government Operations.
Votes at a glance: House Bill 972 — amendments 003869 and 004157 attached; recorded vote 19–2; forwarded to Government Operations.
Ending: Sponsor said the changes respond to concerns raised last year about predatory practices and make notification options more practical for tow companies and vehicle owners.
