25 LC 39 4766S
The Senate Committee on Public Safety offered the following
substitute to HB 208:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Article 3 of Chapter 2 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,1
relating to prestige license plates and special plates for certain persons and vehicles, so as to2
provide for the issuance of two free license plates for veterans who are totally disabled or3
disabled; to provide for application; to provide for conforming changes; to establish a4
specialty license plate honoring the Shepherd Center; to establish a specialty license plate5
benefiting the Georgia Veterans Service Foundation; to establish a specialty license plate6
honoring Southern University Alumni; to establish a specialty license plate honoring Delta7
Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; to establish a specialty license plate supporting the state parks8
and historic sites division of the Department of Natural Resources; to establish a specialty9
license plate promoting conservation and enhancement of black bass populations; to provide10
for related matters; to provide for effective dates; to provide for compliance with11
constitutional requirements; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.12
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:13
SECTION 1.14
Article 3 of Chapter 2 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to15
prestige license plates and special plates for certain persons and vehicles, is amended by16
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revising Code Section 40-2-69, relating to license plates for veterans qualifying as totally17
disabled, as follows:18
"40-2-69.19
(a) Any disabled veteran who is a citizen and resident of this state shall, upon application20
therefor, be issued a free motor vehicle license plate. As used in this Code section, the21
term 'disabled veteran' shall have the same meaning as that term is defined in 'totally22
disabled veteran' means an individual who qualifies as a disabled veteran pursuant to23
paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of Code Section 48-5-48.24
(b) Any totally disabled veteran shall, upon proper application therefor, be issued a free25
motor vehicle license plate plates for up to two motorcycles or passenger cars for personal26
use registered pursuant to this chapter in his or her name upon presentation of proof that27
he or she qualifies as a totally disabled veteran. A totally disabled veteran who claims that28
his or her disability is permanent applying for license plates pursuant to this Code section29
shall furnish proof of such permanent disability through a letter from the United States30
Department of Veterans Affairs.31
(c)(1) Once a totally disabled veteran has established his or her eligibility to receive free32
motor vehicle license plates as a result of being permanently disabled pursuant to this33
Code section, he or she shall be entitled to receive free license plates or free revalidation34
decals in succeeding years on any automobile, private passenger pickup truck,35
motorcycle, station wagon, or van type vehicle of three-quarter tons or less for up to two36
motorcycles or passenger cars for personal use registered pursuant to this chapter that he37
or she may own or jointly with his or her spouse or minor child own or acquire in the38
future.39
(2) Once a disabled veteran has established his or her eligibility to receive free motor40
vehicle license plates but his or her disability has not been determined to be a permanent41
disability, he or she shall be entitled to receive free plates or free revalidation decals in42
succeeding years upon furnishing, on an annual basis, proof of his or her status as a43
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disabled veteran through a letter from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. 44
Such free plates or free revalidation decals shall apply to any automobile, private45
passenger pickup truck, motorcycle, station wagon, or van type vehicle of three-quarter46
tons or less that he or she may own or jointly with his or her spouse or minor child own47
or acquire in the future.48
(3)(2)(A) Up to two Two license plates or revalidation decals each year shall be49
furnished for motor vehicles other than motorcycles to totally disabled veterans50
qualifying under this Code section unless the originals are lost. Such plates license51
plate shall be fastened to both the front and the rear of the motor vehicle.52
(B) Up to two license plates or revalidation decals One license plate or revalidation53
decal each year shall be furnished for motorcycles to totally disabled veterans54
qualifying under this Code section unless the original is lost. Such license plate shall55
be fastened to the rear of the motor vehicle.56
(4)(3) In the event of the death of the person who received the special license plates57
pursuant to this Code section, upon complying with the motor vehicle laws relating to58
registration and licensing of motor vehicles, his or her unremarried surviving spouse or59
minor child may continue to receive the free special license plates authorized by this60
Code section and revalidation decals until the remarriage of the surviving spouse or death61
of the surviving spouse or minor child."62
SECTION 2.63
Said article is further amended by revising Code Section 40-2-70, relating to license plates64
for veterans not qualifying as totally disabled, as follows:65
"40-2-70.66
(a) Any citizen and resident of the State of Georgia this state who has been discharged67
from the armed forces under conditions other than dishonorable or who is currently serving68
in the armed forces, who is disabled to any degree specified and enumerated in Code69
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Section 40-2-69, and who is the owner of a private passenger motor vehicle, but who70
cannot qualify under but does not qualify as totally disabled pursuant to paragraph (1) of71
subsection (a) of Code Section 48-5-48 for purposes of qualification for a license plate72
issued pursuant to Code Section 40-2-69, shall be entitled to a special and distinctive73
automobile license plate license plates for up to two motorcycles or passenger cars for74
personal use registered pursuant to this chapter in his or her name. Such license plate75
plates shall be transferred to another vehicle acquired by such veteran or jointly by such76
veteran and his or her spouse as provided in Code Section 40-2-80. Such veteran shall be77
entitled to such plate license plates issued pursuant to this Code section regardless of78
whether he or she is suffering from a service connected or nonservice connected disability.79
(b) Upon proper application and Such veteran must apply for such license plate and, upon80
compliance with the state motor vehicle laws for licensing of motor vehicles and without81
payment of the regular license fee for plates as prescribed under Article 7 of this chapter,82
such veteran a disabled veteran who does not qualify for license plates pursuant to Code83
Section 40-2-69 shall be issued similar license plates as prescribed in Code Section 40-2-7184
for private passenger cars up to two motorcycles or passenger cars for personal use. There85
shall be no charge for the additional plate issued such veteran under this Code section. 86
There shall be no charge for revalidation decals for such plates license plates issued87
pursuant to this Code section.88
(c) For purposes of applying for license plates issued pursuant to this Code section, If a89
veteran who has not been certified as disabled by the United States Department of Veterans90
Affairs, such veteran may submit to the Department of Veterans Service such veteran's91
discharge papers and a certified statement from a physician, licensed under Chapter 34 of92
Title 43, certifying that, in the opinion of such physician, such veteran is disabled to a93
degree enumerated in Code Section 40-2-69. If the certificate from the physician indicates94
the qualifying disabilities which meet the standards of the United States Department of95
Veterans Affairs, the commissioner of veterans service shall submit a letter to the state96
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revenue commissioner indicating that the veteran meets the requirements of this Code97
section and qualifies for a special license plate plates as provided in this Code section.98
(d) Once a disabled veteran has established his or her eligibility to receive free motor99
vehicle license plates pursuant to this Code section but his or her disability has not been100
determined to be a permanent disability, he or she shall be entitled to receive free license101
plates or free revalidation decals in succeeding years upon furnishing, on an annual basis,102
proof of his or her status as a disabled veteran through a letter from the United States103
Department of Veterans Affairs. Such free license plates or free revalidation decals shall104
be for up to two motorcycles or passenger cars for personal use registered pursuant to this105
chapter that he or she may own or jointly with his or her spouse or minor child own or106
acquire in the future."107
SECTION 3.108
Said article is further amended by revising Code Section 40-2-71, relating to design of109
disabled veteran license plates and restrictions on issuance and transfer, as follows:110
"40-2-71.111
(a) The commissioner is directed to furnish the license plates provided for in Code112
Sections 40-2-69 and 40-2-70. Such plates shall be printed in three colors: red, white, and113
blue. The commissioner is authorized and directed to design the license plate. Each114
license plate shall contain, in bold characters, the name of the state, or abbreviation thereof,115
the year, the serial number, either the words 'Disabled Veteran' or 'Disabled Vet,' and an116
image of the International Symbol of Access which is at least one inch in height and is117
white on a blue background.118
(b) Such license plates so issued shall be transferred to another vehicle as provided in119
Code Section 40-2-80.120
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(c) No disabled veteran shall be entitled to own or operate more than one vehicle two121
vehicles with the free license plates provided by Code Sections 40-2-69, 40-2-70, and this122
Code section."123
SECTION 4.124
Said article is further amended in Code Section 40-2-86, relating to special license plates125
promoting or supporting certain worthy agencies, funds, or nonprofit corporations with126
proceeds disbursed to the general fund and the agency, fund, or nonprofit corporation, by127
adding a new paragraph to subsection (l) to read as follows:128
"(71) A special license plate honoring the Shepherd Center. The funds raised by the sale129
of this special license plate shall be disbursed to Shepherd Center, Inc."130
SECTION 5.131
Said article is further amended in said Code section by adding new paragraphs to subsections132
(l), (m), and (n) to read as follows:133
"(72) A special license plate honoring Georgia veterans and their families. The funds134
raised by the sale of this special license plate shall be disbursed to the Georgia Veterans135
Service Foundation.136
(73) A special license plate honoring Southern University Alumni. The funds raised by137
the sale of this special license plate shall be disbursed to the Atlanta Metropolitan Chapter138
of Southern University Alumni Federation of Georgia, Inc.139
(74) A special license plate honoring Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. The funds raised140
by the sale of this special license plate shall be disbursed to the Delta Life Development141
Center."142
"(18) A special license plate to support the state parks and historic sites division of the143
Department of Natural Resources in its protection, management, and maintenance of this144
state's natural, historical, and cultural resources while providing opportunities for public145
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enjoyment and education. The funds raised by the sale of this special license plate shall146
be disbursed to the Department of Natural Resources for use by the state parks and147
historic sites division for the purposes provided for in this paragraph. Such license plate148
shall not include a space for a county name decal but shall instead bear the legend149
'Georgia State Parks' in lieu of the name of the county of issuance."150
"(10) A special license plate promoting conservation and enhancement of black bass151
populations. The funds raised by the sale of this special license plate shall be disbursed152
to the Georgia Natural Resources Foundation to supplement black bass research,153
restoration, habitat improvement, stocking, and other management programs."154
SECTION 6.155
In accordance with the requirements of Article III, Section IX, Paragraph VI(n) of the156
Constitution of the State of Georgia, this Act shall not become law unless it receives the157
requisite two-thirds' majority vote in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.158
SECTION 7.159
(a) Except as otherwise provided for in subsection (b) of this section, this Act shall become160
effective on July 1, 2025.161
(b) Sections 1, 2, 3, and 5 of this Act shall become effective on January 1, 2026.162
SECTION 8.163
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.164
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