Sec. 31.052.  SECURITY INTEREST LIENS.  (a)  Except as provided by this section and Section 31.050(c), and except for statutory liens, security interests in a vessel or outboard motor shall be noted on the certificate of title of the vessel or outboard motor to which the security interest applies.  On recordation of a security interest on the certificate of title, the recorded security interest owner and assignees under Subsection (c) obtain priority over the rights of a lien creditor, as defined by Section 9.102, Business & Commerce Code, for so long as the security interest is recorded on the certificate of title.
(b)  In case of any conflict between this code and Chapters 1 through 9 of the Business & Commerce Code, the provisions of the Business & Commerce Code control.
(c)  A security interest owner may assign a security interest recorded under this chapter without making any filing or giving any notice under this chapter.  The security interest assigned remains valid and perfected and retains its priority, securing the obligation assigned to the assignee, against transferees from and creditors of the debtor, including lien creditors, as defined by Section 9.102, Business & Commerce Code.
(d)  An assignee or assignor may, but need not to retain the validity, perfection, and priority of the security interest assigned, as evidence of the assignment of the security interest recorded under this chapter, apply to the department or a county assessor-collector for the assignee to be named as security interest owner on the certificate of title and notify the debtor of the assignment.  Failure to make application under this subsection or notify a debtor of an assignment does not create a cause of action against the recorded security interest owner, the assignor, or the assignee or affect the continuation of the perfected status of the assigned security interest in favor of the assignee against transferees from and creditors of the debtor, including lien creditors, as defined by Section 9.102, Business & Commerce Code.
Added by Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 1255, ch. 484, Sec. 1(e), eff. Sept. 1, 1977.  Amended by Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 669, ch. 152, Sec. 2, eff. Aug. 29, 1983;  Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 4062, ch. 636, Sec. 3, eff. Aug. 29, 1983;  Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 16, Sec. 15.01, eff. Aug. 26, 1991;  Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 450, Sec. 21, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.
Amended by: 
Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 814 (S.B. 1592), Sec. 3, eff. June 19, 2009.