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132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST REGULAR SESSION-2025
Legislative Document No. 807H.P. 514 House of Representatives, March 4, 2025
An Act to Limit the Number of Free Motor Vehicle Registrations
That May Be Provided to a Disabled Veteran and Reimburse
Municipalities for the Loss of Excise Taxes
Received by the Clerk of the House on February 27, 2025. Referred to the Committee on
Transportation pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint Rule 401.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative DRINKWATER of Milford.
Cosponsored by Senator FARRIN of Somerset and
Representatives: CAMPBELL of Orrington, COLLAMORE of Pittsfield, GUERRETTE of
Caribou, HYMES of Waldo. Page 1 - 132LR1357(01)
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2 as amended by PL 2023, c. 634, ยง8, is further
3 amended to read:
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5 application and upon evidence of payment of the excise tax required by Title 36, section
6 1482 or upon evidence of exemption from excise tax under Title 36, section 1483,
7 subsection 12, shall issue, with no annual registration fee, a registration certificate and upon
8 request special designating plates to be used in lieu of regular registration plates for a
9 vehicle with a registered gross weight of not more than 26,000 pounds to any 100%
10 disabled veteran when that application is accompanied by certification from the United
11 States Department of Veterans Affairs or any branch of the United States Armed Forces as
12 to the veteran's permanent disability and receipt of 100% service-connected benefits. Upon
13 request a disability placard may be issued at no fee. The Secretary of State may issue a
14 registration certificate and special designating plates for no more than one vehicle 3
15 vehicles owned by a veteran eligible under this subsection.
16 These special designating plates must bear the words "Disabled Veteran," which indicate
17 that the vehicle is owned by a disabled veteran.
18 A municipality shall annually submit a report to the Secretary of State that includes the
19 number of registration certificates issued under this subsection to determine the excise tax
20 revenue annually lost. The Secretary of State shall notify the State Controller of the amount
21 of revenue to be reimbursed to each municipality. The State Controller shall transfer to
22 each municipality annually an amount based on the report for all registrations provided at
23 no cost by the municipality under this subsection.
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25 This bill specifies that only 3 registered motor vehicles may be exempt from excise
26 taxes for a disabled veteran. The bill also requires the State Controller to fully reimburse
27 municipalities for the excise tax revenue lost from this exemption based on a report from
28 the Secretary of State.
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