HB 208: Special license plates; support state parks and historic sites; establish

Georgia currently allows disabled veterans to get a free license plate under certain conditions. This bill rewrites those rules so that totally disabled veterans can receive up to two free license plates, for either motorcycles or passenger cars used for personal purposes, instead of just one. It also updates the process for veterans who do not qualify as totally disabled, letting them get up to two special plates as well, and clarifies how surviving spouses or children can keep using the plates after a veteran's death. Beyond veterans' plates, the bill creates several new specialty license plates: one honoring the Shepherd Center, one benefiting the Georgia Veterans Service Foundation, ones honoring Southern University Alumni, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, and Alabama State University alumni, one supporting the Department of Natural Resources' state parks and historic sites division, and one promoting black bass conservation funded through the Georgia Natural Resources Foundation. Most of the bill takes effect July 1, 2025, but the veteran plate changes and the new specialty plate section take effect January 1, 2026, and the whole Act requires a two-thirds vote in both chambers under the Georgia Constitution.

• Increases the number of free license plates available to totally disabled veterans from one to up to two, for motorcycles or passenger cars used personally.
• Rewrites the definition of 'totally disabled veteran' to tie it directly to the property tax disability standard in O.C.G.A. § 48-5-48.
• Removes the old distinction between veterans with permanent versus non-permanent disabilities for purposes of Code Section 40-2-69, while adding a similar annual-proof option for non-totally-disabled veterans under Code Section 40-2-70.
• Raises the cap on how many vehicles a disabled veteran can register with free plates from one to two vehicles under Code Section 40-2-71.
• Creates six new specialty license plates, including ones for the Shepherd Center, Georgia veterans and families, Southern University Alumni, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Alabama State University alumni, state parks and historic sites, and black bass conservation.
• Directs the proceeds from each new specialty plate to a specific fund, nonprofit, or state division named in the bill.

Totally and partially disabled veterans in Georgia who seek free or special license plates, their surviving spouses and minor children, and Georgians who might purchase the new specialty plates supporting the Shepherd Center, veterans' groups, university alumni chapters, a sorority nonprofit, state parks, or black bass conservation programs.

Disabled veterans would be able to register two vehicles with free plates instead of one, easing costs for households with more than one car. New specialty plates give Georgia drivers more ways to direct plate-purchase proceeds to specific causes like state parks maintenance or veterans' services.

• Section 1 rewrites O.C.G.A. § 40-2-69 to define 'totally disabled veteran' by reference to § 48-5-48 and allow up to two free plates for motorcycles or passenger cars.
• Section 2 rewrites O.C.G.A. § 40-2-70 so partially disabled veterans can get up to two special plates and adds a new subsection (d) for annual proof of non-permanent disability.
• Section 3 raises the cap in O.C.G.A. § 40-2-71 from one to two vehicles per disabled veteran eligible for free plates and removes an old transfer provision.
• Section 4 adds paragraph (71) to O.C.G.A. § 40-2-86(l) creating a Shepherd Center specialty plate.
• Section 5 adds four more specialty plates (Georgia veterans and families, Southern University Alumni, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Alabama State University alumni) plus a state parks and historic sites plate and a black bass conservation plate, each with its own funding recipient.
• Section 6 requires a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers under Article III, Section IX, Paragraph VI(n) of the Georgia Constitution for the Act to become law.
• Section 7 sets most of the Act effective July 1, 2025, but delays Sections 1, 2, 3, and 5 (the veteran plate rules and new specialty plates) until January 1, 2026.

1. 2025-05-13Effective Date
2. 2025-05-13Act 187
3. 2025-05-13House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2025-04-08House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2025-03-31House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub (House)
6. 2025-03-27Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate)
7. 2025-03-27Senate Third Read (Senate)
8. 2025-03-21Senate Read Second Time (Senate)

• Lynn Smith (R, HD-70)Primary sponsor
• John Corbett (R, HD-174)
• Ron Stephens (R, HD-164)
• James Burchett (R, HD-176)
• Trey Rhodes (R, HD-124)
• Jesse Petrea (R, HD-166)
• John Albers (R, SD-56)

1. PassedHouse voteFebruary 26, 2025

   167 yea, 0 nay (7 not voting, 6 excused)

   PASSAGE: House Vote #81

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 27, 2025

   55 yea, 0 nay (1 not voting, 0 excused)

   PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE: Senate Vote #300

3. PassedHouse voteMarch 31, 2025

   164 yea, 0 nay (7 not voting, 9 excused)

   Agree to Senate Substitute: House Vote #353

• license plates
• disabled veterans
• state parks
• veterans benefits
• conservation funding