Georgia General Assembly · Full text

HB 1191: Motor vehicles; additional military medal awards eligible for special veteran license plates; provide

Comm Sub version, the latest LegiScan holds · Last action March 19, 2026 · Engrossed

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The Senate Committee on Public Safety offered the following substitute to HB 1191:

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

To amend Article 3 of Chapter 2 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to prestige license plates and special plates for certain persons and vehicles, so as to provide for additional military medal awards eligible for special veteran license plates; to provide for a specialty license plate for United States Navy submarine service members; to provide for an effective date; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

Article 3 of Chapter 2 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to prestige license plates and special plates for certain persons and vehicles, is amended in Code Section 40-2-85.1, relating to license plates for certain veterans, by revising paragraph (1) of subsection (a) as follows:

"(1) 'Military medal award' means the following medals, decorations, or other recognition of honor for military service awarded by a branch of the United States military:

(A) Medal of Honor;

(B) Bronze Star Medal;

(D) Distinguished Service Cross;

(E) Navy Cross;

(F) Air Force Cross;

(G) Defense Distinguished Service Medal;

(H) Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal;

(I) Distinguished Service Medal;

(J) Navy Distinguished Service Medal;

(K) Air Force Distinguished Service Medal;

(L) Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal;

(M) Defense Superior Service Medal;

(N) Legion of Merit;

(O) Distinguished Flying Cross;

(P) Purple Heart;

(Q) Air Medal;

(R) Soldier's Medal; ~~and~~

(S) Meritorious Service Medal;

(T) Navy Corps Medal;

(U) Marine Corps Medal;

(V) Airman's Medal;

(W) Coast Guard Medal; and

(X) Combat Infantryman Badge."

SECTION 2.

Said article is further amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:

"40-2-85.5.

(a)(1) Motor vehicle owners who are members of the United States Navy submarine service shall be eligible to receive special and distinctive vehicle license plates for private passenger cars, trucks, motorcycles, or recreational vehicles used for personal transportation. Such license plates shall be issued in compliance with the state motor vehicle laws relating to registration and licensing of motor vehicles as prescribed in Article 2 of this chapter.

(2) Motor vehicle owners who are retired members of the United States Navy submarine service shall be eligible to receive special and distinctive vehicle license plates for private passenger cars, trucks, motorcycles, or recreational vehicles used for personal transportation. Such license plates shall be issued in compliance with the state motor vehicle laws relating to registration and licensing of motor vehicles as prescribed in Article 2 of this chapter.

(3) The special and distinctive vehicle license plates issued pursuant to paragraph (2) of this subsection shall contain the word 'RETIRED' in the location of and in lieu of the name of the county of issuance.

(b) A person who qualifies for the special and distinctive license plate pursuant to subsection (a) of this Code section shall make application therefor with the commissioner and include the requisite fee. The commissioner shall design a distinctive license plate as provided in subsection (c) of this Code section and issue the distinctive license plates to qualifying applicants. There shall be no minimum required number of applicants for such distinctive license plate. The commissioner shall promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary to enforce compliance with all state license laws relating to the use and operation of private passenger cars and trucks before issuing these license plates in lieu of the regular Georgia license plates. The additional manufacturing fee for such special and distinctive license plates shall be $25.00. The commissioner is specifically authorized to promulgate all rules and regulations necessary to ensure compliance in instances where such vehicles have been transferred or sold.

(c) The special and distinctive vehicle license plates issued by this Code section shall be as prescribed in Article 2 of this chapter for private passenger cars, trucks, motorcycles, or recreational vehicles used for personal transportation, except that the commissioner shall include a special design to identify the owner as a member of the United States Navy submarine service.

(d) The license plate issued pursuant to this Code section shall be transferred between vehicles as provided in Code Section 40-2-80."

SECTION 3.

This Act shall become effective on January 1, 2027.

SECTION 4.

All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.