SB 384: Motor Vehicle; optional five-year motor vehicle registration and revalidation for certain motor vehicles; provide

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Discussed in meetings (15)

The House and Senate meetings that took this bill up, from their machine transcripts. Each account was written by Georgia Commons with AI and is not part of the record; the video is what was said.

1. Senate Public Safety Committee, February 2, 2026

   From 0:19:08 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor presented a substitute offering eligible vehicle owners optional five-year registration beginning July 1, 2027. The sponsor described it as a convenience that would not reduce state revenue. Owners would pay five times the annual fee upfront, without a discount or refund. The sponsor said commercial and alternative-fuel vehicles would be excluded. Annual emissions requirements would remain, and owners choosing five-year registration would consent to electronic notices before suspension for emissions noncompliance. In response to questions from two members, the sponsor said an eligible tag could transfer to a replacement vehicle, including after a vehicle was totaled, without restarting the five-year term. The sponsor said specialty plate fees would generally also be paid at five times the annual rate, while existing free plates would remain free. The chair noted a Department of Revenue representative’s gesture of support. The committee approved the substitute unanimously.

2. Senate Rules Committee, February 4, 2026

   From 0:15:01 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said SB 384 would give Georgians the option to buy a five-year vehicle tag instead of renewing every year. No members asked questions, and the transcript shows no calendar action on the bill.

3. Senate Rules Committee, February 6, 2026

   From 0:04:27 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The chair said the committee had already heard the bill and briefly described it as providing five-year vehicle tag registration. The sponsor expressed support without giving further details. No questions or vote were shown.

4. Senate Rules Committee, February 9, 2026

   From 0:09:01 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the bill would let vehicle owners choose five-year registration instead of annual registration. Asked about annual emissions testing, the sponsor said the requirement would remain and buyers would automatically enroll in electronic notifications. The sponsor said registration could be transferred to a replacement vehicle of the same type, but there would be no refund if an owner stopped using a vehicle. The sponsor quoted a $120 payment rather than $20 and said there would be no discount. Another member questioned how officers would identify missed emissions tests without an annual sticker change. The sponsor said officers would use electronic records, and another member explained that tag readers would show a suspended registration. The sponsor said five-year stickers would have a distinct color chosen by the Department of Revenue. Later, a member selected the bill for the next day's calendar. Members joked about a two-year option for legislative plates, but no amendment was offered. The committee unanimously approved placing the bill on the calendar.

5. Senate floor session, February 10, 2026 (legislative day 16)

   From 2:20:45 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (Senate Third Read)

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the bill would let owners of noncommercial vehicles choose five-year registration instead of annual renewal, while keeping annual emissions requirements. The sponsor described it as a convenience for working Georgians who have difficulty visiting a tag office. Another senator asked whether it reduced government interference, and the sponsor agreed. The Senate adopted the committee substitute without objection and passed the bill by substitute, 45 to 0.

6. House Motor Vehicles Committee, March 17, 2026

   From 0:33:34 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said SB 384 would offer optional five-year registration beginning July 1, 2027, for eligible vehicles whose title tax has been paid. Owners would pay five annual fees upfront, without a discount, refund or credit. The sponsor said commercial and alternative-fuel vehicles would be excluded, with alternative-fuel vehicles excluded because their fees can change annually. The sponsor emphasized that annual emissions requirements would remain in the 13 counties requiring inspections. Participants would accept electronic notices, with a 30-day period to fix noncompliance before suspension and a $60 restoration fee, including $10 retained by the county. Asked about local revenue and state costs, the sponsor said local payments would remain equivalent and expected negligible state costs. In response to questions, the sponsor said existing same-class tag transfers would remain available and moving registration to a county without emissions testing would end that requirement. Asked about eliminating decals, the sponsor said that was a broader issue and that some law-enforcement agencies still rely on stickers to identify expired registrations. The sponsor said the Department of Revenue helped develop the language. The committee approved the bill by voice vote, with no opposition heard.

7. House Rules Committee, March 19, 2026

   From 0:55:28 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the bill would allow vehicle owners to choose a five-year registration instead of registering annually. There were no questions or calendar action.

8. House Rules Committee, March 20, 2026

   From 0:55:34 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 2913

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said SB 384 would offer optional five-year vehicle registration and require participants to accept electronic notifications. The sponsor explained that insurance and emissions requirements complicated the original goal of offering five-year registration to everyone. Later, a House committee chair presented a substitute adding a proposal to eliminate registration decals. That presenter said earlier testimony showed decals were no longer necessary because registration information was available electronically, and estimated annual savings of $5.5 million to $6 million for the Department of Revenue and local governments. The presenter said the decal proposal had previously passed a House committee but had not advanced by the crossover deadline. No questions were asked about the substitute. The committee approved it with no opposition voiced, then placed the substituted bill on the day's supplemental calendar, also without voiced opposition.

9. House floor session, March 20, 2026 (legislative day 35)

   From 2:28:01 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 2919

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The presenter said SB 384 would create five-year vehicle registration and decals, reducing annual trips to tag offices, especially outside counties requiring emissions tests. The presenter requested withdrawal of the Rules Committee substitute so the House could consider the underlying bill. One member asked how emissions testing would work. The presenter said annual testing deadlines would remain tied to birthdays. A second member asked why alternative-fuel vehicles were excluded. The presenter cited their different fee structure and said changes could be considered later. Asked what happens if a vehicle is sold before five years, the presenter said the tag could transfer to a new vehicle. Another member asked how emissions requirements would be enforced with a five-year decal. The presenter said registration could be canceled for failure to meet those requirements and explained that test results would be uploaded and sent to the Department of Revenue. The House withdrew the Rules Committee substitute without objection and passed the bill, 151 to 7.

• Read aloud: Senate floor session, January 13, 2026 (legislative day 2), 0:23:13
• Read aloud: Senate floor session, February 3, 2026 (legislative day 11), 0:31:53
• Read aloud: Senate floor session, February 4, 2026 (legislative day 12), 0:27:13
• Read aloud: House floor session, February 11, 2026 (legislative day 17), 0:36:57
• Read aloud: House floor session, February 12, 2026 (legislative day 18), 0:55:37
• Read aloud: House floor session, March 18, 2026 (legislative day 33), 0:52:32

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