HB3179 HFLR Page 1 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - FLOOR VERSION STATE OF OKLAHOMA 2nd Session of the 58th Legislature (2022) HOUSE BILL 3179 By: Phillips and Frix AS INTRODUCED An Act relating to motor vehicles; defining terms; requiring registration for certain vehicles; disallowing for-hire transportation in certain vehicles; amending 47 O.S. 2021, Section 1113, which relates to the issuance of certificates of registration, license plates and decals ; providing for the distinctive design and issuance of license plates, decals and reg istration for certain vehicl es; providing for plate placem ent on vehicle; providing for fee for replacem ent plate; authorizing for the design, color and size of plate and decals; requ iring certain decals to be of a differ ent color; requiring issuance of a certain identification numbe r; requiring the tagging of certain other vehicle; requiring certain one-time processing fee; providing for codification; and providing an effec tive date. BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STAT E OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1-133.1a of Title 47, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: A. A "military surplus vehicle" is any motor vehicle having: HB3179 HFLR Page 2 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1. Three axles or fewer that meet the legal size and weight limits set forth in Section 14-103 of Title 47 of the Oklahoma Statutes; 2. An age less than thirty-five (35) years old and was manufactured for use in either the United States Armed Forces or any country that was a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization at the time the vehicle was manufactured. Such vehicle shall have been subsequently autho rized for sale to civilia ns, except that military surplus vehicle does not include a tracked vehicle; 3. For each occupant, safety belts or safety shoulder harnesses which shall be installed pursuant to 49 C.F.R., Section 571.208 et seq.; and 4. Equipment required by the provisions of Sections 12 -201 through 12-232 of Title 47 of the Oklahoma Statutes, with respect to equipment on vehicles. B. A military surplus vehicle operated on the streets and highways of this state shall be registered as a motor vehicle. C. Military surplus vehicles may be used as other vehicles of the same type, except military surplus vehicles may not transport people for hire. SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1-133.1b of Title 47, unless there is created a du plication in numbering, reads as follows: HB3179 HFLR Page 3 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 "Military surplus vehicle collector" means the owner of one or more military surplus vehicles who acquire s, collects, purchases, trades, or disposes of such vehicles or parts there of for such person's own use in order to restore, preserve, and maintain such vehicle or vehicles for historic interest. SECTION 3. AMENDATORY 47 O.S. 2021, Section 1113, is amended to read as f ollows: Section 1113. A. 1. Except for all-terrain vehicles, utility vehicles and motorcycles used exclusively off roads a nd highways, upon the filing of a registration applica tion and the payment of t he fees provided for in the Oklahoma Vehicle License and Registration Act, the Oklahoma Tax Commission or Corporation Commission , as applicable, shall assign to the vehicle desc ribed in the application a distinctive number, and iss ue to the owner of the ve hicle a certificate of regis tration, one license pla te and a yearly decal . The Oklahoma Tax Commission shall assign an all -terrain vehicle, utility vehicle or motorcycle used e xclusively off roads and highways a distinctive number and issue to the owner a certificate of registration and a decal but not a license plate. For each subsequent registration year, the Tax Commission sha ll issue a yearly decal to be affixed to the lice nse plate, except for an all - terrain vehicle, utility vehicle or motorcycle use d exclusively off roads and highways. The initial decal for an all-terrain vehicle, utility vehicle or motorcycle shall be atta ched to the front of the HB3179 HFLR Page 4 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 vehicle and shall be in clear view. The decal shall be on the front or on the front fork of the motorc ycle used exclusively off ro ads and highways and the decal shall be in clear view . The yearly decal shall have an identificatio n number and the last two numbers of the registration year for which it shall expire . Except as provided by Section 1113A of this title, the license plate shall be affixed to the exterior of the vehicle until a replacement license plate is applied for. If the owner applies for a replacement license pla te, the Tax Commission shall charge the fee provided f or in Section 1114 of this title. The yearly decal will validate the license plate for each registration period other than the year the license plate is issued. The license plate and decal shall be of such size, color, design and numbering as the Tax Com mission may direct. However, yearly decals issued to the owner of a vehicle who has filed an affidavit with the appropriate motor license agent in accor dance with Section 7-607 of this title shall be a separate and distinct color from all other decals iss ued under this section . Before the effective date of this act, the Tax Commi ssion shall also issue a monthly decal which shall include a two -letter abbreviation corresponding to the county in which the vehicle is registered . The Tax Commission shall issu e all decals in the posse ssion of the Tax Commission on the effective date of this act before issuing any decals which do not contain the county abbrevia tion. HB3179 HFLR Page 5 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 2. a. The operation of a street -legal utility vehicle on the streets and highways of this stat e requires the vehicle be issued a certificate of re gistration and license plate to be renewed annually . Upon the filing of a registration application an d the payment of the fees provided for in the Okl ahoma Vehicle License and Registration Act, the Oklah oma Tax Commission or Corporation Commission, as app licable, shall assign to the vehicle described in the application a distinctive number, and issue to t he owner of the vehicle a certificate of registra tion, one license plate and a yearly decal. For each subsequent registration year, the Tax Commission sh all issue a yearly decal to be affixed to the license plate . The initial decal for a street-legal utility vehicle shall be attached to the front of the vehicle and shall be in clear view . The yearly decal shall have an identifi cation number and the last two numbers of the regist ration year for which it shall expire . Except as provided by Section 1113A of this title, the license plate shall be affixed to the exterior of the vehicle until a replacement license plate is issued. If the owner applies for a replacement license plate, the Tax Commission shall charge the fee provided for in HB3179 HFLR Page 6 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Section 1114 of this title. The yearly decal will validate the license plate for each registration period other than the year the license plate is issued. The license plate and decal shall be of su ch size, color, design and numbering as the Tax Commission may direct . However, yearly decals issued to the owner of a vehicl e who has filed an affidavit with the appropriate mot or license agent in accor dance with Section 7-607 of this title shall be a separate and distinct color from all other decals issued under this section. b. The Oklahoma Tax Commission shall design and iss ue a temporary tag to out -of-state owners of street -legal utility vehicles. The temporary tag shall be recognized in lieu of regi stration in this state . The temporary tag shall clearly indicate the date of issuance and the date of expiration, which shall be five (5) days, including the day of issuance . Upon application for a temporary tag, the out -of-state owner shall show proof o f insurance coverage that satisfies the requirements of the Compulsory Insura nce Law pursuant Section 7 -600 et seq. of this ti tle. The Oklahoma Tax Commission is authorized to pr omulgate HB3179 HFLR Page 7 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 rules and procedures to implement the pro visions of this paragraph. 3. a. The operation of a military surplus vehicle, as defined by Section 1 of this act, on the streets and highways of this state requires that the vehicle be issued a certificate of registration and license plate to be renewed annuall y. Upon the filing of a registration application and the paym ent of the fees provided for in the Oklahoma Vehicle License and Registration Act, the Oklahoma Tax Commission or Corporation Commission , as applicable, shall design and assign license plates of a distinctive design in lieu of the usual license plates that shall show, in addition to the identification number, that the vehicle meets the qualifications of a military surpl us vehicle, as the case may be, owned by an Oklahoma military surplus vehicle collector. The registration shall be valid for one (1) year and may be renewed by payment of such annual fee. The yearly decal shall have an identification number and the last two numbers of the registration year for which it shall expire. Except as provided by Section 1113A of this title, th e license plate shall be aff ixed to the exterior of the vehicle until a replacement license plate is issu ed. HB3179 HFLR Page 8 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 If the owner applies for a replacement license pl ate, the Tax Commission shall charge the fee provided for in Section 1114 of this title. The yea rly decal will validate the license plate for each regis tration period other than the year the license pl ate is issued. The license plate and decal shall be o f such size, color, design, and numbering as the Tax Commission may direct. However, yearly deca ls issued to the owner of a vehicle who has filed an aff idavit with the appropriate motor license agent i n accordance with Section 7-607 of this title shall be a separate and distinct color from all other decals issued under this section. b. Each military surplus vehicle collector, as defined by Section 2 of this act, who applies for military surplus vehicle license plates will be issued a military surplus colle ctor's identification number that will appear on each license plate. Second and all subsequent registrations under this section by the same collector will bear the same collector's identification numbe r followed by a suffix letter for vehicle identificati on. c. A military surplus vehicle collector must own and have registered one or more vehicles with regular Oklahoma HB3179 HFLR Page 9 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 license plates that are u sed for regular transportation. d. There shall be a one-time processing fee of Twenty Dollars ($20.00) to defray the cost of issuing the original military surplus vehicle collector's military surplus vehicle designation license plates to ensure that each collector wi ll be issued only one collector's identification number. 4. The license plate shall b e securely attached to the rear of the vehicle, except truck -tractor plates which shall be attached to the front of the vehicle . The Tax Commission may, with the concurrence of the Department of Publ ic Safety, by Joint Rule, change and direct the manner, place and location of display of any vehicle license plate when such action is deemed in the public interest. The license plate, decal and all letters and numbers shall be clearly visible at all time s. The operation of a vehicle in this state, regardless of where such vehicle is registered, upon which the license plate is covered, overlaid or otherwise screened with any material, whether suc h material be clear, transluce nt, tinted or opaque, shall be a violation of this paragraph. 4. 5. Upon payment of the annual registration fee provided in Section 1133 of this title, the Tax Commission or Corporation Commission, as applicable, or a motor l icense agent may issue a permanent nonexpiring license plate to an owner of one hundred or HB3179 HFLR Page 10 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 more commercial motor veh icles and for vehicles registered under the provisions of Section 1120 of this title . Upon payment of the annual registration fee, the Tax Commission or Corporation Commission shall issue a certificate of registration that shall be carried at all times in the vehicle for which it is issued. Provided, if the registrant submits its application through electronic means, such qualified owners of one hundred or more commercial motor vehicles, properly regist ered pursuant to the provisions of Section 1133 of th is title, may elect to receive a permanent certificate of registration that shall be carried at all times in the vehicle for which it is iss ued. 5. 6. Every vehicle owned by an agency of this state shall b e exempt from the payment of registration fees req uired by this title. Provided, such vehicle shall be registered and shall otherwise comply with the provisions of the Oklahoma Vehicle Lice nse and Registration Act. B. The license plates required under th e provisions of this title shall conform to the re quirements and specifications listed hereinafter: 1. Each license plate shall have a space for the placement of the yearly decals for each succeeding year of registratio n after the initial issue; 2. The provisions of the Oklahoma Vehicle License and Registration Act regarding the issuance of yearly decals shall not HB3179 HFLR Page 11 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 apply to the issuance of apportioned license plates, including license plates for state vehicles, and exemp t plates for governmental entities a nd fire departments organized pursuant to Section 592 of Title 18 of the Oklahoma Statutes; 3. All license plates and decals shall be made with reflectorized material as a background to the letters, numbers and characters displayed thereon. The reflectorized material shall be of such a nature as to prov ide effective and dependable brightness during the service period for which the license plate or decal is issued; 4. Except as otherwise pr ovided in this subsection, the Tax Commission shall design appropr iate official license plates for all state vehicles. Such license plates shall be permanent in nature and designed in such manner as to remain with the vehicle for the duration of the vehic le's life span or until the ti tle is transferred to a nongovernmen tal owner; 5. Within the limits prescribed in thi s section, the Tax Commission shall design appropriate official license plates for vehicles of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol . The license plates shall have the legend "Oklahoma OK" and shall contain the lett ers "OHP" followed by the state seal and the badge number of the Highway Patrol officer to whom the vehicle is assigned . The words "Oklahoma Highway Patrol" shall also be included on such l icense plates; HB3179 HFLR Page 12 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 6. Within the limits prescribed in this section, t he Tax Commission shall design appropriate officia l license plates for vehicles of the Oklahoma Military Department . Such license plates shall have the legend "Oklahoma OK" and shall contain the letters "OMD" followed by the state seal and three numbers o r letters as designated by the Adjutant General . The words "Oklahoma Military Department" shall also be included on such license plates; 7. Within the limits prescribed in this section, th e Tax Commission shall design appropriate official license plates for vehicles of the Oklahoma Department of Correct ions. Such license plates shall contain the letters "DOC" followed by the Department of Corrections badge and three numbers or letters or c ombination of both as designated by the Director of the agency . The words "Department of Corrections " shall also be included on such license plates; and 8. Within the limits prescribed in this section, the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department shall design any license plates required by the initiation of a license plate reissuance by the Oklahoma Tax Commission a t the request of the Department of Public Safety pursuant to the provisions of Section 1113.2 of this title . Any such new designs shall be submitted by the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department to the Department of Public Safety for its approval prior to being issued by the Oklahoma Tax Commission. HB3179 HFLR Page 13 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 C. Where the applicant has satisfactorily shown that the applicant owns the vehicle sough t to be registered but is unable to produce documentary evidence o f the ownership, a license plate may be issued upon approval by the Tax Commission or Corporation Commission, as applicable . In such instances the reason for not issuing a certificate of ti tle shall be indicated on the receipt given to the applicant . It shall still be the duty of the applicant to immediately take all necessary steps to obtain the Oklahoma certificate of title and it shall be unlawful for the applicant to sell the vehicle until the certificate has been obtained in the applicant's name. D. The certificate of registration provided for in t his section shall be in convenient form, and the certificate of registration, or a certified copy or photostatic copy thereof, duly authenti cated by the Tax Commission or Corporation Commission, as applicab le, shall be carried at all times in or upon all v ehicles so registered, in such manner as to permit a ready examination thereof upon demand by any peace officer of the state or duly authori zed employee of the Department of Public Safety. Any such officer or agent may seize and hold such vehicle when the operator of the same does not have the registration certificate in the operator 's possession or when any such officer or agent determines t hat the registration certificate has been obtained by misrepresent ation of any essential or material fact or when an y number or identifying information HB3179 HFLR Page 14 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 appearing on such certificate has been changed, altered, obliterated or concealed in any way, until the proper registration or identification of such vehicle has been mad e or produced by the owner thereof. E. The purchaser of a new or used manufactured home shall, within thirty (30) days of the date of purchase, register the home with the Tax Commission or a motor license agent pursuant to the provisions of Section 1117 o f this title. For a new manufactured home, it shall be the responsibility of the dealer selling the home to place a temporary license plate on the home in the same manner as provided in Section 1128 of this title for other new motor vehicles . For the first year that any manufactured home is registered i n this state, the Tax Commission shall issue a metal license plate which shall be affixed to the manufactured home . The temporary dealer license plate or the metal license plate shall be displayed on the manufactured home at all times when upon a public r oadway; provided, a repossession affidavit issued pursuant to Sections 1110 and 1126 of this title shall be permissible in lieu of a current license plate and decal for the purposes of removing a repossesse d manufactured home to a secure location . Manufactured homes previously registered and subject to ad valorem taxation as provided by law shall have a decal affixed at the time ad valorem ta xes are paid for such manufactured home; provided, for a manufactu red home permanently affixed to real estate, no de cal or license plate shall HB3179 HFLR Page 15 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 be required to be affixed and the owner thereof shall be given a receipt upon payment of ad valorem taxes due on the home. The Tax Commission shall make sufficient plates and dec als available to the various motor license agents of the state in order for an owner of a manufactured home to acquire the plate or decal . A one-dollar fee shall be charged for issuance of any plate or decal. The fee shall be apportioned each month to th e General Revenue Fund of the State Treasury. F. The decal shall be easily visible for purposes of verification by a county assessor that the manufactured home is properly assessed for ad v alorem taxation. In the first year of registration, a decal shall be issued for placement on the license plate indicating payment of applicable registration fees and excise taxes. A duplicate manufactured home registration decal shall be affixed inside the window nearest the front door of the manufactured home. In the second and all subsequent years for which the manufactured home is subject to ad valorem taxation, an annual decal shall be affixed inside the window nearest the front door as evidence of payment of ad valorem taxes. The Tax Commission shall issue decals to the various county treasurers of the state in order for a manufactured home owner to obtain such decal each year . Upon presentation of a valid ad valorem tax receipt, the manufactured home owner shall be issued the annual decal. HB3179 HFLR Page 16 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 G. Upon the registration of a manufactured home in this state for the first time or upon discovery of a manufactured home previously registered within this state for which the information required by this subsec tion is not known, the Tax Commission shall obtain: 1. The name of the owner of the manufactured home; 2. The serial number or identification number of the manufactured home; 3. A legal description or address of the location for the home; 4. The actual retail selling price of the manufactured home excluding Oklahoma taxes; 5. The certificate of title number for the home; and 6. Any other information which the Tax Commission deems to be necessary. The application for registration shall also include the school district in which the manufactured home is located or is t o be located. The information shall be entered in to a computer data system which shall be used by the Tax Commission to provide information to county assessors upon request by the assessor . The assessor may request any information from the system in orde r to properly assess a manufactured home for ad va lorem taxation. SECTION 4. This act shall become effective November 1, 2022. COMMITTEE REPORT BY: COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY, dated 03/01/2022 - DO PASS, As Coauthored.