The Senate Committee on Public Safety offered the following
substitute to HB 957:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to motor vehicles and
traffic, so as to provide for the operation of miniature on-road vehicles on certain highways;
to provide for standards for registration of such vehicles; to provide for issuance of license
plates for miniature on-road vehicles; to provide for an annual licensing fee for such vehicles;
to exempt such vehicles from certificate of title requirements; to provide for equipment and
operating standards for such vehicles; to provide local authorities with the power to prohibit
operation of such vehicles; to require posting of notice of such prohibition upon highways;
to revise and provide for a definition; to amend Code Section 48-5-473 of the Official Code
of Georgia Annotated, relating to returns for taxation and application for and issuance of
license plates upon payment of taxes due, so as to provide for payment of ad valorem taxes
upon such vehicles; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal
conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to motor vehicles and traffic, is
amended in Code Section 40-1-1, relating to definitions, by revising paragraph (27.1) and
adding a new paragraph to read as follows:
"(27.1) <ins>'Miniature on-road vehicle' means any motorized vehicle designed and
manufactured for use upon roadways in another country that has been imported into the
United States with a valid certificate of title or registration from the exporting country
and in compliance with all federal importation requirements and which has the following
characteristics:
(A) Has the capability to transport persons;
(B) Operates between 25 miles per hour (40.2 kilometers per hour) and 65 miles per
hour (104.6 kilometers per hour);
(C) Has an overall width of 80 inches (2,030 millimeters) or less, exclusive of
accessories or attachments;
(D) Is designed to travel on four or more wheels;
(E) Uses a steering wheel for steering control;
(F) Contains a nonstraddle seat;
(G) Has a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 4,000 pounds (1,814 kilograms); and
(H) Is not designed or manufactured as a golf cart, all-terrain vehicle, or multipurpose
off-highway vehicle.
(27.2)</ins> 'Minimal risk condition' means a low-risk operating mode in which a fully
autonomous vehicle operating without a human driver achieves a reasonably safe state,
such as bringing the vehicle to a complete stop, upon experiencing a failure of the
vehicle's automated driving system that renders the vehicle unable to perform the entire
dynamic driving task."
SECTION 2.
Said title is further amended in Code Section 40-2-27, relating to registration of motor
vehicles not manufactured to comply with federal emission and safety standards, certificate
of registration for an assembled motor vehicle or motorcycle or a converted motor vehicle,
and former military motor vehicles, by revising subsection (e) as follows:
"(e) The provisions of subsection (a) of this Code section shall not apply to applications
for certificates of registration for former military motor vehicles that are less than 25 years
old and manufactured for the United States military, <del>or</del> multipurpose off-highway vehicles
manufactured after January 1, 2000, <ins>or miniature on-road vehicles manufactured more than
25 years prior to application; provided, however, that the exception provided by this
subsection shall be applicable to miniature on-road vehicles manufactured less than 25
years prior to application that have been modified by an importer registered with the United
States Department of Transportation to comply with applicable federal motor vehicle safety
standards issued pursuant to 49 U.S.C. Section 30101, et seq., and certified by such
importer as such."
</ins> SECTION 3.
Said title is further amended in Code Section 40-2-31, relating to license plate design,
retention of manufacturing and delivery costs, revalidation, county, and "In God We Trust"
decals, by revising subsection (b) as follows:
"(b) License plates issued pursuant to this chapter shall be at least six inches wide and not
less than 12 inches in length, except that motorcycle license plates shall be at least four
inches wide and not less than seven inches in length and license plates for low-speed
vehicles, <ins>miniature on-road vehicles,</ins> and multipurpose off-highway vehicles shall be a size
determined by the commissioner. All license plates shall show in boldface characters the
month and year of expiration, the serial number, and either the full name or the
abbreviation of the name of the state, shall designate the county from which the license
plate was issued unless specifically stated otherwise in this chapter, and shall show such
other distinctive markings as in the judgment of the commissioner may be deemed
advisable, so as to indicate the class of weight of the vehicle for which the license plate was
issued. Any license plate for a low-speed vehicle, <ins>miniature on-road vehicle,</ins> or
multipurpose off-highway vehicle shall designate the vehicle as such. Such plates may also
bear such figures, characters, letters, or combinations thereof as in the judgment of the
commissioner will to the best advantage advertise, popularize, and otherwise promote
Georgia as the 'Peach State.' Plates issued during the years 2026 through 2030 shall
include the design approved pursuant to Code Section 40-2-31.1. Except for license plates
issued pursuant to Article 2B of this chapter, any license plate issued pursuant to this
chapter shall be of such strength and quality that the plate shall provide a minimum service
period of at least five years. The commissioner shall adopt rules and regulations, pursuant
to the provisions of Chapter 13 of Title 50, the 'Georgia Administrative Procedure Act,' for
the design and issuance of new license plates and to implement the other provisions of this
Code section."
SECTION 4.
Said title is further amended in said Code section, as in effect on January 1, 2032, by revising
subsection (b) as follows:
"(b) License plates issued pursuant to this chapter shall be at least six inches wide and not
less than 12 inches in length, except that motorcycle license plates shall be at least four
inches wide and not less than seven inches in length and license plates for low-speed
vehicles, <ins>miniature on-road vehicles,</ins> and multipurpose off-highway vehicles shall be a size
determined by the commissioner. All license plates shall show in boldface characters the
month and year of expiration, the serial number, and either the full name or the
abbreviation of the name of the state, shall designate the county from which the license
plate was issued unless specifically stated otherwise in this chapter, and shall show such
other distinctive markings as in the judgment of the commissioner may be deemed
advisable, so as to indicate the class of weight of the vehicle for which the license plate was
issued. Any license plate for a low-speed vehicle, <ins>miniature on-road vehicle,</ins> or
multipurpose off-highway vehicle shall designate the vehicle as such. Such plates may also
bear such figures, characters, letters, or combinations thereof as in the judgment of the
commissioner will to the best advantage advertise, popularize, and otherwise promote
Georgia as the 'Peach State.' Except for license plates issued pursuant to Article 2B of this
chapter, any license plate issued pursuant to this chapter shall be of such strength and
quality that the plate shall provide a minimum service period of at least five years. The
commissioner shall adopt rules and regulations, pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 13
of Title 50, the 'Georgia Administrative Procedure Act,' for the design and issuance of new
license plates and to implement the other provisions of this Code section."
SECTION 5.
Said title is further amended in Code Section 40-2-33, relating to issuance of license plates
and decals, transfer of registration to a digital license plate, compensation of tag agents, and
required identification, by revising paragraph (2.1) of subsection (a) as follows:
"(2.1) The commissioner may provide for the issuance of a temporary operating permit
for any <del>multipurpose off-highway</del> <ins>miniature on-road</ins> vehicle, to be displayed until such
time as a license plate of the design required by Code Section 40-2-31 has been issued
to the registrant as a replacement for such temporary operating permit; provided,
however, that any such temporary operating permit shall designate the <del>multipurpose
off-highway</del> <ins>miniature on-road</ins> vehicle as such; and provided, further, that the
commissioner shall make available for issuance <del>multipurpose off-highway</del> <ins>miniature
on-road</ins> vehicle license plates of the design required by Code Section 40-2-31 not later
than January 1, <del>2024</del> <ins>2027."
</ins>
SECTION 6.
Said title is further amended in Code Section 40-2-151, relating to annual license fees for
operation of vehicles, fee for permanent licensing of certain trailers, and fee for new
passenger car with paid title ad valorem taxes, by revising paragraph (2) of subsection (a) as
follows:
"(2) For each motorcycle, <ins>miniature on-road vehicle,</ins> or multipurpose
off-highway vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20.00"
SECTION 7.
Said title is further amended in Code Section 40-3-30.1, relating to standards for issuance to
assembled motor vehicle and motorcycle or converted motor vehicle, inspections,
unconventional motor vehicle or motorcycle not to be titled or registered, and exception, by
revising subsection (f) as follows:
"(f) Unconventional motor vehicles or motorcycles shall not be titled or registered;
provided, however, that <del>a multipurpose off-highway vehicle manufactured after January
1, 2000,</del> <ins>the following unconventional motor vehicles</ins> shall be registered upon proper
application and payment of the required fee:
<ins>(1) A multipurpose off-highway vehicle manufactured after January 1, 2000;
(2) A miniature on-road vehicle manufactured more than 25 years prior to application;
and
(3) A miniature on-road vehicle manufactured less than 25 years prior to application that
has been modified by an importer registered with the United States Department of
Transportation to comply with applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards issued
pursuant to 49 U.S.C. Section 30101, et seq., and certified by such importer as such."
</ins>
SECTION 8.
Said title is further amended by revising Part 5 of Article 13 of Chapter 6, relating to
low-speed or multipurpose off-highway vehicles, as follows:
"Part 5
40-6-359.
Multipurpose off-highway vehicles <ins>and miniature on-road vehicles</ins> shall be equipped with:
(1) Headlights;
(2) Brake lights;
(3) Taillights;
(4) A rearview mirror; and
(5) Safety belts.
40-6-360.
Every person operating a low-speed vehicle, <ins>miniature on-road vehicle,</ins> or multipurpose
off-highway vehicle shall be granted all the rights and shall be subject to all the duties
applicable to the driver of any other vehicle under this chapter except as to special
regulations in this part and except as to those provisions of this chapter which by their
nature can have no application.
40-6-361.
(a) All low-speed vehicles, <ins>miniature on-road vehicles,</ins> and multipurpose off-highway
vehicles are entitled to full use of a lane, and no motor vehicle shall be driven in such a
manner as to deprive any such vehicles of the full use of a lane.
(b) The operator of a low-speed vehicle, <ins>miniature on-road vehicle,</ins> or multipurpose
off-highway vehicle shall not overtake and pass in the same lane occupied by the vehicle
being overtaken.
(c) No person shall operate a low-speed vehicle, <ins>miniature on-road vehicle,</ins> or
multipurpose off-highway vehicle between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or
rows of vehicles.
(d) Low-speed vehicles, <ins>miniature on-road vehicles,</ins> and multipurpose off-highway
vehicles shall not be operated two or more abreast in a single lane.
40-6-362.
(a) Low-speed vehicles shall be operated only on any highway where the posted speed
limit does not exceed 35 miles per hour. The operator of a low-speed vehicle shall not
operate such vehicle on any highway where the posted speed limit exceeds 35 miles per
hour.
(b) Multipurpose off-highway vehicles shall be operated only on highways that are part
of a county road system and shall be authorized to cross highways that are part of a
municipal street system or are part of the state highway system.
<ins>(c) Miniature on-road vehicles shall be operated only on highways that are part of a
municipal street system or county road system, provided that such operation has not been
prohibited through ordinance or resolution within a local jurisdiction, and shall be
authorized to cross highways that are part of the state highway system."
</ins> SECTION 9.
Said title is further amended in Code Section 40-6-371, relating to powers of local authorities
generally, by revising paragraphs (18.1) through (20) of and adding a new paragraph to
subsection (a) and by revising subsection (c) to read as follows:
<del>"(18.1)(19)</del> Regulating the operation of electric personal assistive mobility devices,
provided that such regulations are no less restrictive than those imposed by Part 2A of
Article 13 of this chapter;
<del>(18.2)(20)</del> Regulating the operation of personal transportation vehicles, provided that
such regulations comply with Parts 3 and 6 of Article 13 of this chapter;
<ins>(21) Prohibiting the operation of miniature on-road vehicles as authorized in Code
Section 40-6-362;
</ins> <del>(19)(22)</del> Adopting and enforcing such temporary or experimental regulations as may be
necessary to cover emergencies or special conditions; or
<del>(20)(23)</del> Adopting such other traffic regulations as are specifically authorized by this
chapter."
"(c) No ordinance or regulation enacted under paragraph (4), (5), (6), (8), (9), (10), (11),
(12), (13), (14), (15), (16), (17), (18), <del>or (18.2)</del> <ins>(20), or (21)</ins> of subsection (a) of this Code
section shall be effective until official traffic-control devices giving notice of such local
traffic regulations are erected upon or at the entrances to the highway or the part thereof
affected as may be most appropriate."
SECTION 10.
Code Section 48-5-473 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to returns for
taxation and application for and issuance of license plates upon payment of taxes due, is
amended by revising subsection (b) as follows:
"(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this Code section, in the case of an antique or hobby
or special interest motor vehicle, as defined in Code Section 48-5-440, <ins>or a miniature
on-road vehicle, as defined in Code Section 40-1-1,</ins> the owner or owners shall certify at the
time of returning <del>the antique or hobby or special interest motor</del> <ins>such</ins> vehicle for taxation,
paying the taxes due on the motor vehicle, and purchasing a license plate for the motor
vehicle or at the time of the first sale or transfer of the motor vehicle that the vehicle is an
antique or hobby or special interest motor vehicle <ins>or a miniature on-road vehicle</ins> <del>as defined
in Code Section 48-5-440,</del> and, upon said certification, said vehicle shall be registered and
a license plate issued with the imposition of an ad valorem tax based on $100.00 valuation;
provided, however, that taxes shall be due at the time of registration or at the time required
by law for registration during the owner's registration period as provided in subsection (a)
of this Code section."
SECTION 11.
(a) Except as otherwise provided for in subsection (b) of this section, this Act shall become
effective on October 1, 2026.
(b) Section 4 of this Act shall become effective on January 1, 2032.
SECTION 12.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.