🟡Relating to providing notice of a vehicle towed to a vehicle storage facility by publication on a third-party Internet website.

HB 3928

🟡 HB 3928: Digital towing notices may leave Texans guessing

What it says it does:
HB 3928 allows vehicle storage facilities to notify the public about towed vehicles online instead of in newspapers when the owner or lienholder cannot be reached. It is framed as a modernization effort in response to the decline of local print media.

What it actually changes:
It removes the long-standing requirement to post notices in a newspaper of general circulation and lets operators use any third-party website approved by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. There is no requirement for one centralized website or for public-facing standards like searchability or mobile access.

Who is pushing for it:
According to the files, the Texas Towing & Storage Association, Southside Wrecker Inc, and T-Miller Inc appeared in support. No consumer protection or public access groups are listed.

Who benefits:
Towing and storage companies save on advertising costs and gain flexibility in where they post notices. Approved website operators gain a new stream of business. TDLR expands its administrative control over which platforms are allowed.

Who gets left out or exposed:
Consumers lose a predictable, single place to check for towed vehicle notices. Small-town newspapers lose a source of revenue. Texans without reliable internet access risk missing legally required notices, which can lead to mounting fees or losing their vehicle.

Why this matters long term:
This bill sets a precedent for moving legal notices from public-facing forums into a fragmented, vendor-controlled environment. Without a centralized, state-run system, public transparency erodes quietly while operators gain discretion over how and where notices appear.

What to watch next:
Look for future bills that shift other types of legal notices from newspapers to private websites, such as foreclosure or tax sale notices. Watch for whether TDLR sets meaningful standards for approved platforms or leaves it vague.

Bottom line:
HB 3928 updates an old process but leaves a gap in public access. Without a single, state-run site, this digital shift may make it harder, not easier, for everyday Texans to locate their towed vehicles.

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