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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
SENATE AMENDMENTS TO
SENATE BILL 596
By COMMITTEE ON VETERANS, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, FEDERAL AND WORLD
AFFAIRS
April 17
On page 1 of the printed bill, delete lines 5 through 28.
On page 2, delete lines 1 through 35 and insert:
“SECTION 1. ORS 805.105 is amended to read:
“805.105. (1) The Department of Transportation shall establish a veterans’ recognition registra-
tion plate program to issue registration plates called ‘veterans’ recognition registration plates’ upon
request to an owner of any motor vehicle registered under ORS 803.420 (6)(a) if the owner of the
motor vehicle qualifies for the plates. Rules adopted under this section shall include, but need not
be limited to, rules that:
“(a) Describe general qualifications to be met by any veterans’ group in order to be eligible for
a veterans’ recognition registration plate issued under this section.
“(b) Specify circumstances under which the department may cease to issue veterans’ recognition
registrationplates.
“(c) Specify what constitutes proof of veteran status for issuance of a veterans’ recognition
registration plate, if such proof is required by a veterans’ group or by the Director of Veterans’
Affairs.
“(d) Specify what constitutes proof that a person is a surviving family member of a person who
was killed in action during an armed conflict while serving in the Armed Forces of the United
States. The department may only issue a veterans’ recognition registration plate displaying a gold
star decal and the words ‘Gold Star Family’ to a person who is a parent, sibling, spouse or depend-
ent of a person who was killed in action during an armed conflict while serving in the Armed Forces
of the United States.
“(2)(a) In addition to any other fee authorized by law, upon issuance of a veterans’ recognition
registration plate under this section and upon renewal of registration for a vehicle that has plates
issued under this section, the department shall collect a surcharge of $2.50 per plate for each year
of the registration period for the vehicle as described under ORS 803.415.
“(b) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (c) of this subsection, net proceeds of the sur-
charge collected by the department for the veterans’ recognition registration plate shall be deposited
in the trust fund established under ORS 406.050 for paying the expenses of operating the Oregon
Veterans’ Homes identified in ORS 408.362.
“(c) If the department issues a veterans’ recognition registration plate that names, describes or
represents a veterans’ group, that veterans’ group may designate an account into which the net
proceeds of the surcharge collected by the department under this section are to be deposited. The
department shall keep accurate records of the number of plates issued under this paragraph for each
veterans’ group and, after payment of administrative expenses of the department, shall deposit
moneys collected under this subsection into the specified account.
LC 2389/SB 596-1 1
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“(d) The department shall waive the surcharge required under paragraph (a) of this subsection
and transfer the amount otherwise paid by the person to the trust fund established under ORS
406.050if:
“(A) A request to waive the surcharge is submitted by:
“(i) A Gold Star Family member; or
“(ii) A veteran who provides written proof to the Department of Transportation of having
a United States Department of Veterans Affairs total disability rating of at least 50 percent
as a result of an injury or illness that the veteran incurred, or that was aggravated, during
active military service; and
“(B) Funds are appropriated by the Legislative Assembly or otherwise made available to the
department for the purpose of paying the surcharge.
“(e) Deposits under this subsection shall be made quarterly.
“(3)(a) In consultation with the Department of Transportation, the Director of Veterans’ Affairs
shall design the veterans’ recognition registration plate.
“(b) If the department issues a veterans’ recognition registration plate to recognize a veterans’
group, the department shall, in consultation with the requesting veterans’ group, add words or a
military-related decal to the veterans’ recognition registration plate that names, describes or re-
presents the veterans’ group.
“(c) The department shall add a gold star decal and the words ‘Gold Star Family’ to a veterans’
recognition registration plate background to recognize surviving family members of persons killed
in action during an armed conflict while serving in the Armed Forces of the United States.
“(d) Except as otherwise required by the design, veterans’ recognition registration plates must
comply with the requirements of ORS 803.535.
“(4) The department shall determine how many sets of veterans’ recognition registration plates
will be manufactured. If the department does not sell or issue renewal for 500 sets of veterans’ re-
cognition registration plates in any one year, the department shall cease production of veterans’
recognition registration plates. For the purposes of this section, veterans’ recognition registration
plates that name, describe or represent a veterans’ group are included in the total number of
veterans’ recognition registration plates issued.
“(5) For the purposes of this section, ‘sibling’ includes siblings of the whole or half blood and
siblings by adoption, marriage or domestic partnership.”.
SA to SB 596 Page 2