25 LC 39 4705S
House Bill 583 (COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE)
By: Representatives Glaize of the 67
th
, Hitchens of the 161
st
, Bonner of the 73
rd
, Cannon of
the 172
nd
, and Newton of the 127
th
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 provide for related4
matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:6
SECTION 1.7
Article 3 of Chapter 2 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to8
prestige license plates and special plates for certain persons and vehicles, is amended by9
revising Code Section 40-2-69, relating to license plates for veterans qualifying as totally10
disabled, as follows:11
"40-2-69.12
(a) Any disabled veteran who is a citizen and resident of this state shall, upon application
13
therefor, be issued a free motor vehicle license plate. As used in this Code section, the14
term 'disabled veteran' shall have the same meaning as that term is defined in 'totally15
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disabled veteran' means an individual who qualifies as a disabled veteran pursuant to16
paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of Code Section 48-5-48.17
(b) Any totally disabled veteran shall, upon proper application therefor, be issued a free18
motor vehicle license plate plates for up to two motorcycles or passenger cars for personal19
use registered pursuant to this chapter in his or her name upon presentation of proof that20
he or she qualifies as a totally disabled veteran. A totally disabled veteran who claims that21
his or her disability is permanent applying for license plates pursuant to this Code section22
shall furnish proof of such permanent disability through a letter from the United States23
Department of Veterans Affairs.24
(c)(1) Once a totally disabled veteran has established his or her eligibility to receive free25
motor vehicle license plates as a result of being permanently disabled pursuant to this26
Code section, he or she shall be entitled to receive free license plates or free revalidation27
decals in succeeding years on any automobile, private passenger pickup truck,28
motorcycle, station wagon, or van type vehicle of three-quarter tons or less for up to two29
motorcycles or passenger cars for personal use registered pursuant to this chapter that he30
or she may own or jointly with his or her spouse or minor child own or acquire in the31
future.32
(2) Once a disabled veteran has established his or her eligibility to receive free motor33
vehicle license plates but his or her disability has not been determined to be a permanent34
disability, he or she shall be entitled to receive free plates or free revalidation decals in35
succeeding years upon furnishing, on an annual basis, proof of his or her status as a36
disabled veteran through a letter from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. 37
Such free plates or free revalidation decals shall apply to any automobile, private38
passenger pickup truck, motorcycle, station wagon, or van type vehicle of three-quarter39
tons or less that he or she may own or jointly with his or her spouse or minor child own40
or acquire in the future.41
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(3)(2)(A) Up to four Two license plates or revalidation decals each year shall be42
furnished for motor vehicles other than motorcycles to totally disabled veterans43
qualifying under this Code section unless the originals are lost. Such license plates44
shall be fastened to both the front and the rear of the motor vehicle.45
(B) Up to two license plates or revalidation decals One license plate or revalidation46
decal each year shall be furnished for motorcycles to totally disabled veterans47
qualifying under this Code section unless the original is lost. Such license plate shall48
be fastened to the rear of the vehicle.49
(4)(3) In the event of the death of the person who received the special license plates50
pursuant to this Code section, upon complying with the motor vehicle laws relating to51
registration and licensing of motor vehicles, his or her unremarried surviving spouse or52
minor child may continue to receive the free special license plates authorized by this53
Code section and revalidation decals until the remarriage of the surviving spouse or death54
of the surviving spouse or minor child."55
SECTION 2.56
Said article is further amended by revising Code Section 40-2-70, relating to license plates57
for veterans not qualifying as totally disabled, as follows:58
"40-2-70.59
(a) Any citizen and resident of the State of Georgia this state who has been discharged60
from the armed forces under conditions other than dishonorable or who is currently serving61
in the armed forces, who is disabled to any degree specified and enumerated in Code62
Section 40-2-69, and who is the owner of a private passenger motor vehicle, but who63
cannot qualify under but does not qualify as totally disabled pursuant to paragraph (1) of64
subsection (a) of Code Section 48-5-48 for purposes of qualification for a license plate65
issued pursuant to Code Section 40-2-69, shall be entitled to a special and distinctive66
automobile license plate license plates for up to two motorcycles or passenger cars for67
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personal use registered pursuant to this chapter in his or her name. Such license plate68
plates shall be transferred to another vehicle acquired by such veteran or jointly by such69
veteran and his or her spouse as provided in Code Section 40-2-80. Such veteran shall be70
entitled to such plate license plates issued pursuant to this Code section regardless of71
whether he or she is suffering from a service connected or nonservice connected disability.72
(b) Upon proper application and Such veteran must apply for such license plate and, upon73
compliance with the state motor vehicle laws for licensing of motor vehicles and without74
payment of the regular license fee for plates as prescribed under Article 7 of this chapter,75
such veteran a disabled veteran who does not qualify for license plates pursuant to Code76
Section 40-2-69 shall be issued similar license plates as prescribed in Code Section 40-2-7177
for private passenger cars up to two motorcycles or passenger cars for personal use. There78
shall be no charge for the additional plate issued such veteran under this Code section. 79
There shall be no charge for revalidation decals for such plates license plates issued80
pursuant to this Code section.81
(c) For purposes of applying for license plates issued pursuant to this Code section, If a82
veteran who has not been certified as disabled by the United States Department of Veterans83
Affairs, such veteran may submit to the Department of Veterans Service such veteran's84
discharge papers and a certified statement from a physician, licensed under Chapter 34 of85
Title 43, certifying that, in the opinion of such physician, such veteran is disabled to a86
degree enumerated in Code Section 40-2-69. If the certificate from the physician indicates87
the qualifying disabilities which meet the standards of the United States Department of88
Veterans Affairs, the commissioner of veterans service shall submit a letter to the state89
revenue commissioner indicating that the veteran meets the requirements of this Code90
section and qualifies for a special license plate plates as provided in this Code section.91
(d) Once a disabled veteran has established his or her eligibility to receive free motor92
vehicle license plates pursuant to this Code section but his or her disability has not been93
determined to be a permanent disability, he or she shall be entitled to receive free license94
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plates or free revalidation decals in succeeding years upon furnishing, on an annual basis,95
proof of his or her status as a disabled veteran through a letter from the United States96
Department of Veterans Affairs. Such free license plates or free revalidation decals shall97
be for up to two motorcycles or passenger cars for personal use registered pursuant to this98
chapter that he or she may own or jointly with his or her spouse or minor child own or99
acquire in the future."100
SECTION 3.101
Said article is further amended by revising Code Section 40-2-71, relating to design of102
disabled veteran license plates and restrictions on issuance and transfer, as follows:103
"40-2-71.104
(a) The commissioner is directed to furnish the license plates provided for in Code105
Sections 40-2-69 and 40-2-70. Such plates shall be printed in three colors: red, white, and106
blue. The commissioner is authorized and directed to design the license plate. Each107
license plate shall contain, in bold characters, the name of the state, or abbreviation thereof,108
the year, the serial number, either the words 'Disabled Veteran' or 'Disabled Vet,' and an109
image of the International Symbol of Access which is at least one inch in height and is110
white on a blue background.111
(b) Such license plates so issued shall be transferred to another vehicle as provided in112
Code Section 40-2-80.113
(c) No disabled veteran shall be entitled to own or operate more than one vehicle two114
vehicles with the free license plates provided by Code Sections 40-2-69, 40-2-70, and this115
Code section."116
SECTION 4.117
This Act shall become effective on January 1, 2026.118
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SECTION 5.
119
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed. 120
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