(a) Except as provided by Chapter 548, the department and the Department of Public Safety shall ensure compliance with motor vehicle inspection requirements under Chapter 548 through a vehicle registration-based enforcement system.
(b) A motor vehicle may not be registered if the department receives from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality or the Department of Public Safety notification that the registered owner of the vehicle has not complied with Chapter 548.
(c) A motor vehicle may not be registered if the vehicle was denied registration under Subsection (b) unless verification is received that the registered vehicle owner is in compliance with Chapter 548.
(d) The department and the Department of Public Safety shall enter into an agreement regarding the timely submission by the Department of Public Safety of inspection compliance information to the department.
(d-1) The department, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and the Department of Public Safety shall enter an agreement regarding the responsibilities for costs associated with implementing this section.
(e) A county tax assessor-collector is not liable to any person for refusing to register a motor vehicle because of the person's failure to provide verification of the person's compliance with Chapter 548.