CHAPTER 95
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CHAPTER 95
( HB 68 )
AN ACT relating to motor vehicle license plates.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky:
Section 1. KRS 186.174 is amended to read as follows:
(1) For purposes of this section, "personalized license plate" means a license plate manufactured by the cabinet
upon an applicant's request with specific letters or numbers or combinations of letters and numbers significant
to the applicant.
(2) Any owner or lessee of a motor vehicle or recreational vehicle that is required to be registered under the
provisions of KRS 186.050(1), (3)(a), [or ](4)(a), or (11), or any owner or lessee of a motorcycle required to
be registered under the provisions of KRS 186.050(2) may obtain a personalized license plate by submitting an
application through a Web site designated by the cabinet. The cabinet shall produce the requested license plate
upon approval and receipt of the fee required in subsection (4) of this section for a special license plate, or the
fee required in KRS 186.162 for a standard issue license plate.
(3) Personalized license plates shall expire on the last day of the birth month of the person to whom the license
plate is registered.
(4) (a) A personalized license plate shall be replaced on the same schedule as regular issue license plates
unless it is damaged or unreadable.
(b) A standard issued license plate may be personalized:
(1) For the[a forty-three dollar ($43)] fee established in subsection (2)(m) of Section 2 of this Act
for a motor vehicle that is required to be registered under the provisions of KRS 186.050(1),
(3)(a), or (4)(a), or a motorcycle required to be registered under the provisions of KRS
186.050(2); or
(2) For the fee established in subsection (2)(ad) of Section 2 of this Act for a recreational vehicle
that is required to be registered under the provisions of KRS 186.050(11)[as provided in KRS
186.162(2)(m), in addition to all other fees established in this section and in KRS 186.050].
(c) Any special license plate may be combined with a personalized license plate for a twenty-five dollar
($25) state fee in addition to all other fees for the particular special license plate established in this
section and in KRS 186.164. The twenty-five dollar ($25) fee required under this paragraph shall be
divided between the cabinet and the county clerk of the county where the applicant resides with the
cabinet receiving twenty dollars ($20) and the county clerk receiving five dollars ($5).
(5) (a) A personalized plate shall not be issued that would conflict with or duplicate any current issued license
plate.
(b) A personalized plate shall not be issued if the cabinet determines:
1. The message to be placed on the license plate, if created, discriminates against a race, color,
religion, sex, or national origin;
2. The plate message is the name of a trademarked or copyrighted product or brand name; or
3. The plate's lettering or message is obscene or profane, as determined by the cabinet.
(c) Once an applicant obtains a personalized plate, he or she will have first priority on that plate for each of
the following years that he or she makes timely renewal payments.
Section 2. KRS 186.162 is amended to read as follows:
(1) As used in this section and in KRS 186.043, 186.164, 186.166, 186.1722, and 186.174:
(a) "Special license plate" means a unique license plate issued under this chapter to a group or organization
that readily identifies the operator of the motor vehicle or motorcycle bearing the plate as a member of a
group or organization, or a supporter of the work, goals, or mission of a group or organization. The term
shall not include regular license plates issued under KRS 186.240; ACTS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2
(b) "Street rod" means a modernized private passenger motor vehicle manufactured prior to the year 1949,
or designed or manufactured to resemble a vehicle manufactured prior to 1949;
(c) "SF" means the portion of an initial or renewal fee to obtain a special license plate that is dedicated for
use by the Transportation Cabinet;
(d) "CF" means the county clerk's fee for issuing a motor vehicle registration as established under KRS
186.040(1). If a CF amount is charged for a license plate listed in this section, the applicant for that
plate shall also pay the fees identified in KRS 186.040(6). If a CF amount is not charged, the applicant
shall not be required to pay those fees; and
(e) "EF" means the portion of an initial or renewal fee to obtain a special license plate that is mandated by
this chapter to be dedicated for use by a particular group or organization.
(2) The initial purchase fee and renewal fee for a special license plate created under this chapter shall be as
established in this subsection and includes the name of group or organization and the total initial and renewal
fee required for the plate. The amount in parentheses indicates how the total fee is required to be divided:
(a) Disabled veterans who receive assistance to purchase a vehicle from the United States Department of
Veterans' Affairs, veterans declared by the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs to be one
hundred percent (100%) service-connected disabled, and recipients of the Congressional Medal of
Honor:
1. Initial Fee: $0 ($0 SF/$0 CF/$0 EF).
2. Renewal Fee: $0 ($0 SF/$0 CF/$0 EF).
(b) Former prisoners of war and survivors of Pearl Harbor:
1. Initial Fee: $23 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$5 EF to the veterans' program trust fund
established under KRS 40.460).
2. Renewal Fee: $11[$6] ($0 SF/$6 CF/$5[$0] EF to the veterans' program trust fund
established under KRS 40.460).
(c) Members of the Kentucky National Guard and recipients of the Purple Heart:
1. Initial Fee: $23 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$5 EF to the veterans' program trust fund
established under KRS 40.460).
2. Renewal Fee: $11 ($0 SF/$6 CF/$5 EF to the veterans' program trust fund
established under KRS 40.460).
(d) Members of the Civil Air Patrol; active, retired, veteran, reserve, or auxiliary members of the United
States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard; Merchant Marines who served between
December 7, 1941, and August 15, 1945; recipients of the Silver Star Medal, the Distinguished Flying
Cross, the Air Medal, the Combat Action Badge, the Combat Infantry Badge, or the Bronze Star Medal;
persons who wish to receive Gold Star Mothers, Gold Star Fathers, or Gold Star Spouses license plates
beyond the two (2) exempted from fees under KRS 186.041(6); individuals eligible for a special
military service academy license plate under KRS 186.041(8); individuals eligible for a special military
unit license plate under KRS 186.163; and disabled veterans who have been declared to be between
fifty percent (50%) and ninety-nine percent (99%) service-connected disabled by the United States
Department of Veterans' Affairs:
1. Initial Fee: $23 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$5 EF to the veterans' program trust fund
established under KRS 40.460).
2. Renewal Fee: $23 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$5 EF to the veterans' program trust fund
established under KRS 40.460).
(e) Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, or Air Force Cross:
1. Initial Fee: $6 ($0 SF/$6 CF/$0 EF).
2. Renewal Fee: $6 ($0 SF/$6 CF/$0 EF).
(f) Disabled license plates:
1. Initial Fee: $18 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$0 EF). CHAPTER 95
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2. Renewal Fee: $18 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$0 EF).
(g) Historic vehicles:
1. Initial Fee for two plates: $56 ($50 SF/$6 CF/$0 EF).
2. Renewal Fee: Do not renew annually.
(h) Members of Congress:
1. Initial Fee: $43 ($37 SF/$6 CF/$0 EF).
2. Renewal Fee: $23 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$5 EF to the veterans' program trust fund
established under KRS 40.460).
(i) Firefighters:
1. Initial Fee: $28 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF to the Kentucky Firefighters
Association).
2. Renewal Fee: $28 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF to the Kentucky Firefighters
Association).
(j) Emergency management:
1. Initial Fee: $31 ($25 SF/$6 CF/$0 EF).
2. Renewal Fee: $18 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$0 EF).
(k) Fraternal Order of Police:
1. Initial Fee: $41 ($25 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF to the Kentucky
FOP Death Benefit Fund).
2. Renewal Fee: $28 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF to the Kentucky
FOP Death Benefit Fund).
(l) Law Enforcement Memorial:
1. Initial Fee: $41 ($25 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF to the Kentucky Law Enforcement
Memorial Foundation, Inc.).
2. Renewal Fee: $28 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF to the Kentucky Law Enforcement
Memorial Foundation, Inc.).
(m) Personalized plates for a motor vehicle that is required to be registered under the provisions of KRS
186.050(1), (3)(a), or (4)(a), or a motorcycle required to be registered under the provisions of KRS
186.050(2):
1. Initial Fee: $43 ($37 SF/$6 CF/$0 EF).
2. Renewal Fee: $43 ($37 SF/$6 CF/$0 EF).
(n) Street rods:
1. Initial Fee: $43 ($37 SF/$6 CF/$0 EF).
2. Renewal Fee: $18 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$0 EF).
(o) Nature plates:
1. Initial Fee: $28 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF to Kentucky Heritage Land
Conservation Fund established under KRS 146.570).
2. Renewal Fee: $28 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF to Kentucky Heritage Land
Conservation Fund established under KRS 146.570).
(p) Amateur radio:
1. Initial Fee: $43 ($37 SF/$6 CF/$0 EF). ACTS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 4
2. Renewal Fee: $18 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$0 EF).
(q) Kentucky General Assembly:
1. Initial Fee: $43 ($37 SF/$6 CF/$0 EF).
2. Renewal Fee: $23 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$5 EF to the veterans' program trust fund
established under KRS 40.460).
(r) Kentucky Court of Justice:
1. Initial Fee: $43 ($37 SF/$6 CF/$0 EF).
2. Renewal Fee: $11 ($0 SF/$6 CF/$5 EF to the veterans' program trust fund
established under KRS 40.460).
(s) Masons:
1. Initial Fee: $41 ($25 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF to the Masonic Homes of Kentucky).
2. Renewal Fee: $28 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF to the Masonic Homes of Kentucky).
(t) Collegiate plates:
1. Initial Fee: $53 ($37 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF to the general scholarship fund of the
university whose name will be borne on the plate).
2. Renewal Fee: $28 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF to the general scholarship fund of the
university whose name will be borne on the plate).
(u) Independent Colleges:
1. Initial Fee: $41 ($25 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF to the Association of Independent
Kentucky Colleges and Universities for distribution to the general scholarship funds of the
Association's members).
2. Renewal Fee: $28 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF to the Association of Independent
Kentucky Colleges and Universities for distribution to the general scholarship funds of the
Association's members).
(v) Child Victims:
1. Initial Fee: $41 ($25 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF to the child victims' trust fund
established under KRS 41.400).
2. Renewal Fee: $28[$23] ($12 SF/$6 CF/$10[$5] EF to the child victims' trust fund
established under KRS 41.400).
(w) Kentucky Horse Council:
1. Initial Fee: $41 ($25 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF to the Kentucky Horse Council).
2. Renewal Fee: $28[$23] ($12 SF/$6 CF/$10[$5] EF to the Kentucky Horse Council).
(x) Ducks Unlimited:
1. Initial Fee: $41 ($25 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF to Kentucky Ducks Unlimited).
2. Renewal Fee: $28 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF to Kentucky Ducks Unlimited).
(y) Spay neuter:
1. Initial Fee: $28 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF to the animal control and care fund
established under KRS 258.119).
2. Renewal Fee: $28[$23] ($12 SF/$6 CF/$10[$5] EF to the animal control and care fund
established under KRS 258.119).
(z) Gold Star Mothers, Gold Star Fathers, or Gold Star Spouses:
1. Initial Fee: $0 ($0 SF/$0 CF/ $0 EF).
2. Renewal Fee: $0 ($0 SF/$0 CF/ $0 EF). CHAPTER 95
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3. A person may receive a maximum of two (2) plates under this paragraph free of charge and may
purchase additional plates for fees as established in subsection (2)(d) of this section.
(aa) I Support Veterans:
1. Initial Fee: $28 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF to the Kentucky Department of
Veterans' Affairs).
2. Renewal Fee: $28[$23] ($12 SF/$6 CF/$10[$5] EF to the Kentucky Department of
Veterans' Affairs).
(ab) Gold Star Siblings, Gold Star Sons, or Gold Star Daughters:
1. Initial Fee: $28 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF to the veterans' program trust fund
established under KRS 40.460).
2. Renewal Fee: $28[$23] ($12 SF/$6 CF/$10[$5] EF to the veterans' program trust fund
established under KRS 40.460).
(ac) POW/MIA Awareness:
1. Initial Fee: $41 ($25 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF to the veterans' program trust fund
established under KRS 40.460).
2. Renewal Fee: $28 ($12 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF to the veterans' program trust fund
established under KRS 40.460).
(ad) Personalized plates for a recreational vehicle that is required to be registered under the provisions of
KRS 186.050(11):
1. Initial Fee: $51 ($45 SF/$6 CF/$0 EF).
2. Renewal Fee: $51 ($45 SF/$6 CF/$0 EF).
(ae) Special license plates established under KRS 186.164:
1. Initial Fee: $41 ($25 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF).
2. Renewal Fee: $41 ($25 SF/$6 CF/$10 EF).
(3) Any special license plate may be combined with a personalized license plate for a twenty-five dollar ($25)
state fee in addition to all other fees for the particular special license plate established in this section and in
KRS 186.164(3). The twenty-five dollar ($25) fee required under this subsection shall be divided between the
cabinet and the county clerk of the county where the applicant is applying for the license plate with the cabinet
receiving twenty dollars ($20) and the county clerk receiving five dollars ($5).
(4) (a) A sponsoring organization of any special license plate issued under this section or any special license
plate established under the provisions of KRS 186.164 may petition the cabinet for the production of
that special license plate for motorcycles.
(b) The cabinet shall make all of the special military license plates in this section available for motorcycles
owned or leased by eligible individuals.
(c) Owners and lessees of motorcycles registered under KRS 186.050(2) may be eligible to receive special
license plates approved by the cabinet under paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection. Applicants for a
special license plate for a motorcycle shall be required to pay the fee for a special plate as prescribed in
this section or in KRS 186.164. The fee paid for the special plate for a motorcycle shall be in lieu of the
registration fee required under KRS 186.050(2).
Section 3. The provisions of this Act take effect January 1, 2025.
Signed by Governor April 5, 2024.