Georgia 2025 2025-2026 Regular Session

Georgia House Bill HB261 Introduced / Bill

Filed 02/05/2025

                    25 LC 39 4561
House Bill 261
By: Representatives Frye of the 122
nd
, Campbell of the 35
th
, Draper of the 90
th
, Sanchez of
the 42
nd
, Romman of the 97
th
, and others 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 2 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
1
registration and licensing of motor vehicles, so as to provide for annual reduction of licensing2
fees for alternative fueled vehicles; to provide for a waiver of the fee for an alternative fueled3
specialty license plate upon proof of payment of the required licensing fee; to provide for4
related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:6
SECTION 1.7
Chapter 2 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to registration and8
licensing of motor vehicles, is amended in Code Section 40-2-86.1, relating to license plates9
promoting or supporting certain agencies, funds, or nonprofit corporations or issued to10
qualified motor vehicles or owners with proceeds deposited in the general fund, by revising11
paragraph (7) of subsection (l) as follows:12
"(7)(A)  A special license plate to be issued for alternative fueled vehicles, which13
license plate shall be similar in design to the license plate issued to all other residents14
of this state except that the commissioner shall place a distinctive logo or emblem on15
the license plate which shall distinguish the vehicle as an alternative fueled vehicle16
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eligible to travel in travel lanes designated for such vehicles under paragraph (4) of
17
subsection (a) of Code Section 32-9-4.  The words 'alternative fueled vehicle' shall be18
imprinted on such special license plate in lieu of the county name decal.  The funds
19
raised by the sale of this license plate shall be deposited in the general fund.20
(B)  As used in this paragraph, the term:21
(i)  'Alternative fuel' means electricity, natural gas, and propane.22
(ii)  'Alternative fueled vehicle' means any vehicle fueled solely by alternative fuel as23
defined in division (i) of this subparagraph, bi-fuel, or dual fuel.24
(C) Pursuant to paragraph (19) of subsection (a) of Code Section 40-2-151, the25
applicant for a special license plate for any alternative fueled vehicle shall provide26
proof that he or she has paid the registration fee prescribed therein prior to the issuance27
of any special license plate under this paragraph. Upon showing proof of such28
payment, any fees associated with the issuance, manufacture, and renewal of such29
special license plate shall be waived."30
SECTION 2.31
Said chapter is further amended in Code Section 40-2-151, relating to annual license fees for32
operation of vehicles, fee for permanent licensing of certain trailers, and fee for new33
passenger car with paid title ad valorem taxes, by revising paragraph (19) of subsection (a)34
as follows:35
"(19)(A)(i)  Upon registration of an alternative fueled vehicle not operated36
for commercial purposes.......................................37	200.00 
(ii) Upon registration of an alternative fueled vehicle operated for
38
commercial purposes.........................................39	300.00 
(iii)  Upon registration of an alternative fueled vehicle that is a low-speed
40
vehicle.....................................................41	100.00 
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(B)(i)  As used in this paragraph, the term 'alternative fueled vehicle' shall
42
have the same meaning as in division (l)(7)(B)(ii) of Code Section 40-2-86.1;43
provided, however, that the fees in this paragraph shall not be assessed on44
vehicles which operate primarily on compressed natural gas, liquefied45
natural gas, or liquefied petroleum gas.46
(ii)  The fees in this paragraph shall be in addition to any other fee imposed47
on the vehicle by this Code section.48
(iii)  The fees in this paragraph shall be automatically adjusted on an annual49
basis by multiplying the percentage of increase or decrease in fuel efficiency
50
from the previous year as measured by using the average of combined miles51
per gallon published in the United States Department of Energy Fuel52
Economy Guide against the current fee, and the resulting increase or53
decrease shall be added or subtracted from the fee.  This preliminary fee54
adjustment shall then be multiplied by the increase or decrease in the55
Consumer Price Index percentage for the applicable year, and the result will56
be added or subtracted from the preliminary fee to produce the fee for the57
year reducing the fee by 5 percent annually until such fee equals zero.  The58
first adjustment shall be calculated and implemented on July 1, 2016 2026."59
SECTION 3.60
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.61
H. B. 261
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