--- title: HB 208. Special license plates; support state parks and historic sites; establish collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hb208 cite_as: HB 208, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb208 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb208.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb208/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69724 date: 2025-05-13 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-08-28 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb207.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb209.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 1437 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb208.md?full=1 bill_number: HB 208 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: bill status_date: 2025-05-13 last_action: Effective Date 2025-05-13 sponsors: - Lynn Smith - John Corbett - Ron Stephens - James Burchett - Trey Rhodes - Jesse Petrea - John Albers text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB208/2025 upstream_id: 1949619 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - veterans benefits - license plates - state parks - disabled veterans - specialty license plates --- # HB 208. Special license plates; support state parks and historic sites; establish ## Text 25 HB 208/AP House Bill 208 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE) By: Representatives Smith of the 70th, Corbett of the 174th, Stephens of the 164th, Burchett of the 176th, Rhodes of the 124th, and others A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Article 3 of Chapter 2 of Title 40 of the Official Cod e of Georgia Annotated,1 relating to prestige license plates and special plates for certain persons and vehicles, so as to2 provide for the issuance of two free license plates for veteran s who are totally disabled or3 disabled; to provide for application; to provide for conforming changes; to establish a4 specialty license plate honoring the Shepherd Center; to establ ish a specialty license plate5 benefiting the Georgia Veterans Service Foundation; to establis h a specialty license plate6 honoring Southern University Alumni; to establish a specialty license plate honoring Delta7 Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; to establish a specialty license plate honoring alumni of Alabama8 State University; to establish a specialty license plate supporting the state parks and historic9 sites division of the Department of Natural Resources; to establish a specialty license plate10 promoting conservation and enhancement of black bass populations; to provide for related11 matters; to provide for effective dates; to provide for complia nce with constitutional12 requirements; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.13 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:14 SECTION 1.15 H. B. 208 - 1 - 25 HB 208/AP Article 3 of Chapter 2 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Geor gia Annotated, relating to16 prestige license plates and special plates for certain persons and vehicles, is amended by17 revising Code Section 40-2-69, relating to license plates for v eterans qualifying as totally18 disabled, as follows:19 "40-2-69.20 (a) Any disabled veteran who is a citizen and resident of this state shall, upon application21 therefor, be issued a free motor vehicle license plate. As used in this Code section, the22 term 'disabled veteran' shall have the same meaning as that ter m is defined in 'totally23 disabled veteran' means an individual who qualifies as a disabl ed veteran pursuant to24 paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of Code Section 48-5-48.25 (b) Any totally disabled veteran shall, upon proper application therefor, be issued a free26 motor vehicle license plate plates for up to two motorcycles or passenger cars for personal27 use registered pursuant to this chapter in his or her name upon presentation of proof that28 he or she qualifies as a totally disabled veteran. A totally disabled veteran who claims that29 his or her disability is permanent applying for license plates pursuant to this Code section30 shall furnish proof of such permanent disability through a letter from the United States31 Department of Veterans Affairs.32 (c)(1) Once a totally disabled veteran has established his or her eligibility to receive free33 motor vehicle license plates as a result of being permanently d isabled pursuant to this34 Code section, he or she shall be entitled to receive free license plates or free revalidation35 decals in succeeding years on any automobile, private passenger pickup truck,36 motorcycle, station wagon, or van type vehicle of three-quarter tons or less for up to two37 motorcycles or passenger cars for personal use registered pursuant to this chapter that he38 or she may own or jointly with his or her spouse or minor child own or acquire in the39 future.40 (2) Once a disabled veteran has established his or her eligibi lity to receive free motor41 vehicle license plates but his or her disability has not been determined to be a permanent42 H. B. 208 - 2 - 25 HB 208/AP disability, he or she shall be entitled to receive free plates or free revalidation decals in43 succeeding years upon furnishing, on an annual basis, proof of his or her status as a44 disabled veteran through a letter from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. 45 Such free plates or free revalidation decals shall apply to any automobile, private46 passenger pickup truck, motorcycle, station wagon, or van type vehicle of three-quarter47 tons or less that he or she may own or jointly with his or her spouse or minor child own48 or acquire in the future.49 (3)(2)( A ) U p t o t w o T w o license plates or revalidation decals each year shall be50 furnished for motor vehicles other than motorcycles to totally disabled veterans51 qualifying under this Code section unless the originals are los t. Such plates license52 plate shall be fastened to both the front and the rear of the motor vehicle.53 (B) Up to two license plates or revalidation decals One license plate or revalidation54 decal each year shall be furnished for motorcycles to totally disabled veterans55 qualifying under this Code section unless the original is lost. Such license plate shall56 be fastened to the rear of the motor vehicle.57 (4)(3) In the event of the death of the person who received the spec ial license plates58 pursuant to this Code section, upon complying with the motor ve hicle laws relating to59 registration and licensing of motor vehicles, his or her unremarried surviving spouse or60 minor child may continue to receive the free special license pl ates authorized by this61 Code section and revalidation decals until the remarriage of the surviving spouse or death62 of the surviving spouse or minor child."63 SECTION 2.64 Said article is further amended by revising Code Section 40-2-70, relating to license plates65 for veterans not qualifying as totally disabled, as follows:66 "40-2-70.67 H. B. 208 - 3 - 25 HB 208/AP (a) Any citizen and resident of the State of Georgia this state who has been discharged68 from the armed forces under conditions other than dishonorable or who is currently serving69 in the armed forces, who is disabled to any degree specified an d enumerated in Code70 Section 40-2-69, and who is the owner of a private passenger mo tor vehicle, but who71 cannot qualify under but does not qualify as totally disabled pursuant to paragraph (1) of72 subsection (a) of Code Section 48-5-48 for purposes of qualific ation for a license plate73 issued pursuant to Code Section 40-2-69, shall be entitled to a special and distinctive74 automobile license plate license plates for up to two motorcycles or passenger cars for75 personal use registered pursuant to this chapter in his or her name. Such license plate76 plates shall be transferred to another vehicle acquired by such veter an or jointly by such77 veteran and his or her spouse as provided in Code Section 40-2-80. Such veteran shall be78 entitled to such plate license plates issued pursuant to this Code section regardless of79 whether he or she is suffering from a service connected or nonservice connected disability.80 (b) Upon proper application and Such veteran must apply for such license plate and, upon81 compliance with the state motor vehicle laws for licensing of motor vehicles and without82 payment of the regular license fee for plates as prescribed under Article 7 of this chapter,83 such veteran a disabled veteran who does not qualify for license plates pursuant to Code84 Section 40-2-69 shall be issued similar license plates as prescribed in Code Section 40-2-7185 for private passenger cars up to two motorcycles or passenger cars for personal use. There86 shall be no charge for the additional plate issued such veteran under this Code section. 87 There shall be no charge for revalidation decals for such plate s license plates issued88 pursuant to this Code section.89 (c) For purposes of applying for license plates issued pursuan t to this Code section, If a90 veteran who has not been certified as disabled by the United States Department of Veterans91 Affairs, such veteran may submit to the Department of Veterans Service such veteran' s92 discharge papers and a certified statement from a physician, licensed under Chapter 34 of93 Title 43, certifying that, in the opinion of such physician, such veteran is disabled to a94 H. B. 208 - 4 - 25 HB 208/AP degree enumerated in Code Section 40-2-69. If the certificate from the physician indicates95 the qualifying disabilities which meet the standards of the United States Department of96 Veterans Affairs, the commissioner of veterans service shall su bmit a letter to the state97 revenue commissioner indicating that the veteran meets the requ irements of this Code98 section and qualifies for a special license plate plates as provided in this Code section.99 (d) Once a disabled veteran has established his or her eligibi lity to receive free motor100 vehicle license plates pursuant to this Code section but his or her disability has not been101 determined to be a permanent disability, he or she shall be entitled to receive free license102 plates or free revalidation decals in succeeding years upon furnishing, on an annual basis,103 proof of his or her status as a disabled veteran through a lett er from the United States104 Department of Veterans Affairs. Such free license plates or free revalidation decals shall105 be for up to two motorcycles or passenger cars for personal use registered pursuant to this106 chapter that he or she may o wn or jointly with his or her spous e or minor child own or107 acquire in the future."108 SECTION 3.109 Said article is further amended by revising Code Section 40-2-7 1, relating to design of110 disabled veteran license plates and restrictions on issuance and transfer, as follows:111 "40-2-71.112 (a) The commissioner is directed to furnish the license plates provided for in Code113 Sections 40-2-69 and 40-2-70. Such plates shall be printed in three colors: red, white, and114 blue. The commissioner is authorized and directed to design th e license plate. Each115 license plate shall contain, in bold characters, the name of the state, or abbreviation thereof,116 the year, the serial number, either the words 'Disabled Veteran' or 'Disabled Vet,' and an117 image of the International Symbol of Access which is at least o ne inch in height and is118 white on a blue background.119 H. B. 208 - 5 - 25 HB 208/AP (b) Such license plates so issued shall be transferred to anot her vehicle as provided in120 Code Section 40-2-80.121 (c) No disabled veteran shall be entitled to own or operate more than one vehicle two122 vehicles with the free license plates provided by Code Sections 40-2-69, 40-2-70, and this123 Code section."124 SECTION 4.125 Said article is further amended in Code Section 40-2-86, relati ng to special license plates126 promoting or supporting certain worthy agencies, funds, or nonp rofit corporations with127 proceeds disbursed to the general fund and the agency, fund, or nonprofit corporation, by128 adding a new paragraph to subsection (l) to read as follows:129 "(71) A special license plate honoring the Shepherd Center. The funds raised by the sale130 of this special license plate shall be disbursed to Shepherd Center, Inc."131 SECTION 5.132 Said article is further amended in said Code section by adding new paragraphs to subsections133 (l), (m), and (n) to read as follows:134 "(72) A special license plate honoring Georgia veterans and the ir families. The funds135 raised by the sale of this special license plate shall be disbursed to the Georgia Veterans136 Service Foundation.137 (73) A special license plate honoring Southern University Alumni. The funds raised by138 the sale of this special license plate shall be disbursed to the Atlanta Metropolitan Chapter139 of Southern University Alumni Federation of Georgia, Inc.140 (74) A special license plate honoring Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. The funds raised141 by the sale of this special license plate shall be disbursed to the Delta Life Development142 Center.143 H. B. 208 - 6 - 25 HB 208/AP (75) A special license plate honoring alumni of Alabama State University. The funds144 raised by the sale of this special license plate shall be disbu rsed to the Alabama State145 University Metro Atlanta Alumni Chapter."146 "(18) A special license plate to support the state parks and historic sites division of the147 Department of Natural Resources in its protection, management, and maintenance of this148 state's natural, historical, and cultural resources while providing opportunities for public149 enjoyment and education. The funds raised by the sale of this special license plate shall150 be disbursed to the Department of Natural Resources for use by the state parks and151 historic sites division for the purposes provided for in this paragraph. Such license plate152 shall not include a space for a county name decal but shall ins tead bear the legend153 'Georgia State Parks' in lieu of the name of the county of issuance."154 "(10) A special license plate promoting conservation and enhanc ement of black bass155 populations. The funds raised by the sale of this special license plate shall be disbursed156 to the Georgia Natural Resources Foundation to supplement black bass research,157 restoration, habitat improvement, stocking, and other management programs."158 SECTION 6.159 In accordance with the requirements of Article III, Section IX, Paragraph VI(n) of the160 Constitution of the State of Georgia, this Act shall not become law unless it receives the161 requisite two-thirds' majority vote in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.162 SECTION 7.163 (a) Except as otherwise provided for in subsection (b) of this section, this Act shall become164 effective on July 1, 2025.165 (b) Sections 1, 2, 3, and 5 of this Act shall become effective on January 1, 2026.166 SECTION 8.167 H. B. 208 - 7 - 25 HB 208/AP All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.168 H. B. 208 - 8 - ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary. House Bill 208 lets totally and partially disabled Georgia veterans get free license plates for up to two vehicles instead of one, and creates several new specialty license plates, including one supporting state parks and historic sites. ### Plain-language summary Georgia law currently allows disabled veterans to receive one free license plate per qualifying vehicle. House Bill 208 rewrites the state's veteran license plate rules (O.C.G.A. §§ 40-2-69, 40-2-70, and 40-2-71) so that totally disabled veterans and other qualifying disabled veterans can receive free plates for up to two motorcycles or passenger cars used for personal purposes, rather than just one vehicle. It also updates how 'totally disabled veteran' is defined and adjusts the annual proof requirements for veterans whose disability is not permanent. The bill also creates new specialty license plates, including one to support the Department of Natural Resources' state parks and historic sites division, one benefiting the Georgia Veterans Service Foundation, one honoring the Shepherd Center, and others tied to Southern University Alumni, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, and Alabama State University alumni, plus a plate supporting black bass conservation. Because free license plates involve a tax-related exemption, the bill requires a two-thirds vote in both chambers, which it received. Most of the bill takes effect July 1, 2025, but the veteran plate sections take effect January 1, 2026. ### What it does - Allows totally disabled veterans to receive free license plates for up to two motorcycles or passenger cars for personal use, instead of just one vehicle. - Extends the same two-vehicle free plate benefit to veterans who are disabled but do not qualify as totally disabled under Georgia's property tax disability standard (O.C.G.A. § 48-5-48). - Updates the definition of 'totally disabled veteran' and revises the annual proof-of-disability process for veterans whose condition is not permanent. - Raises the cap on vehicles a disabled veteran may register with free plates from one to two vehicles under O.C.G.A. § 40-2-71. - Creates a new specialty license plate supporting the Department of Natural Resources' state parks and historic sites division, with proceeds going to that division. - Establishes five more specialty plates: honoring the Shepherd Center, the Georgia Veterans Service Foundation, Southern University Alumni, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Alabama State University alumni, and black bass conservation, each funding a named organization. ### Who it affects Disabled and totally disabled veterans in Georgia who register vehicles for personal use, their surviving spouses and minor children in some cases, and Georgians who might buy the new specialty plates supporting the Shepherd Center, the Georgia Veterans Service Foundation, university alumni groups, a sorority, state parks, or black bass conservation. ### Why it matters Qualifying disabled veterans who own two personal vehicles would no longer have to pay license plate fees on the second vehicle, easing a cost some previously bore. The new specialty plates also give Georgia drivers more ways to direct plate purchase proceeds toward specific causes, including state parks upkeep and veterans' services. ### Key provisions - Section 1 revises O.C.G.A. § 40-2-69 so totally disabled veterans get free plates for up to two motorcycles or passenger cars, and updates the definition of totally disabled veteran. - Section 2 revises O.C.G.A. § 40-2-70 to extend the same two-vehicle free plate benefit to veterans who are disabled but not totally disabled. - Section 3 revises O.C.G.A. § 40-2-71 to raise the limit on vehicles eligible for free disabled veteran plates from one to two. - Section 4 adds paragraph (71) to O.C.G.A. § 40-2-86, creating a specialty plate honoring the Shepherd Center, with proceeds going to Shepherd Center, Inc. - Section 5 adds specialty plates for the Georgia Veterans Service Foundation, Southern University Alumni, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Alabama State University alumni, the state parks and historic sites division, and black bass conservation, each naming the recipient of the funds. - Section 6 requires the Act to pass by a two-thirds vote in both chambers under the Georgia Constitution's tax exemption provision (Article III, Section IX, Paragraph VI(n)). - Section 7 sets most of the Act effective July 1, 2025, but delays the veteran license plate sections (1, 2, 3, and 5) until January 1, 2026. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-05-13) - Last action: Effective Date 2025-05-13 (2025-05-13) - Sponsors: Lynn Smith, John Corbett, Ron Stephens, James Burchett, Trey Rhodes, Jesse Petrea, John Albers - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69724 > The history, votes, and amendments (1,437 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb208.md?full=1