Georgia CommonsSenate · Passed · 2025-2026 Regular Session
SB 291: Special License Plates; establish an "America First" specialty license plate
Last action January 1, 2026 · Effective Date
Senate Bill 291 creates a new "America First" specialty license plate in Georgia, featuring the American flag, with proceeds from sales going into the state's general fund.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the bill and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Enrolled version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
Georgia law already allows the state to issue specialty license plates that support various causes, agencies, or nonprofits, with the money from some plates going into the state's general fund. This bill adds a new specialty plate to that list: an "America First" plate showing the American flag, meant to represent patriotism and national pride. Unlike many specialty plates that require the state to first collect 1,000 prepaid applications before production begins, this bill lets the Georgia Department of Revenue start issuing the America First plate right away. However, if the plate does not reach 1,000 applications by January 1, 2028, the department must stop manufacturing it. Money raised from selling the plate goes into the state's general fund rather than to a specific cause. The law would take effect January 1, 2026.
What the bill does
- Adds a new paragraph to Georgia's specialty license plate law (O.C.G.A. § 40-2-86.1) creating an "America First" plate featuring the American flag.
- Allows the Department of Revenue to start issuing the plate immediately, without first waiting for the usual 1,000 prepaid applications required for most specialty plates.
- Requires the department to stop manufacturing the plate if it has not received 1,000 applications by January 1, 2028.
- Directs that money from selling the plate go into the state's general fund rather than a dedicated cause or nonprofit.
- Sets the law to take effect January 1, 2026.
Who it affects
Georgia vehicle owners who want to purchase the new specialty plate, the Georgia Department of Revenue, which manufactures and issues license plates, and the state's general fund, which receives the proceeds from plate sales.
Why it matters
Georgia drivers would gain another specialty plate option to display on their vehicles, and the state gets a small new revenue stream for its general fund. The plate's fate depends on demand: if fewer than 1,000 people order it by 2028, production stops.
Key provisions
- Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 40-2-86.1 by adding paragraph (12), authorizing an America First specialty plate showing the American flag.
- The new plate is described as representing patriotism, prioritizing the nation's interests, and reinforcing national pride and unity.
- The Department of Revenue may issue the plate before reaching the normal 1,000 prepaid application threshold required under subsection (h).
- If 1,000 applications are not submitted by January 1, 2028, the department must stop manufacturing the plate.
- Proceeds from the plate's sale are deposited into the state's general fund rather than a dedicated program.
- Section 2 sets the effective date as January 1, 2026.
From the bill
“A special license plate displaying an image of the American flag, and the words 'America First' to represent patriotism, a commitment to prioritize the interests of this nation above all else, and to reinforce a sense of national pride and unity.”
“if 1,000 applications have not been submitted prior to January 1, 2028, the department shall not continue to manufacture such license plate”
Status timeline
- Effective Date
- Act 301
- Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
- Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
- Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub (Senate)
- House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
- House Third Readers (House)
- House Third Readers (House)
Show full history (17 actions)
- House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate)
- Senate Third Read (Senate)
- Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
- Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (Senate)
- Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- Senate Hopper (Senate)
Sponsors
- Steve Gooch (R, SD-51)
- John F. Kennedy (R, SD-18)
- Randy Robertson (R, SD-29)
- Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-31)
- Larry Walker, III (R, SD-20)
- Carden Summers (R, SD-13)
- Billy Hickman (R, SD-4)
- Max Burns (R, SD-23)
- Ed Setzler (R, SD-37)
- Chuck Payne (R, SD-54)
- Bo Hatchett (R, SD-50)
- Blake Tillery (R, SD-19)
- Bill Cowsert (R, SD-46)
- Chuck Hufstetler (R, SD-52)
- Drew Echols (R, SD-49)
- Shawn Still (R, SD-48)
- Mike Hodges (R, SD-3)
- Frank Ginn (R, SD-47)
- Marty Harbin (R, SD-16)
- Rick Williams (R, SD-25)
- Greg Dolezal (R, SD-27)
- Brandon Beach (R, SD-21)
- Brian Strickland (R, SD-42)
- Ben Watson (R, SD-1)
- Lee Anderson (R, SD-24)
- Martin Momtahan (R, HD-17)
Votes
- Senate voteMarch 6, 2025
34 yea, 22 nay
- Senate voteMarch 6, 2025
24 yea, 32 nay
- Senate voteMarch 6, 2025
33 yea, 23 nay
- House voteApril 2, 2025
95 yea, 68 nay (2 not voting, 15 excused)
- Senate voteApril 4, 2025
33 yea, 21 nay (0 not voting, 2 excused)
Topics
- license plates
- Georgia Department of Revenue
- state revenue
- vehicle registration