---
title: SB 394. Motor Vehicles; operation of alternative fueled vehicles and make conforming changes; remove a fee
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/sb394
cite_as: SB 394, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb394
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb394.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb394/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72195
date: 2026-01-14
status: introduced
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
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.
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omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 95
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb394.md?full=1
bill_number: SB 394
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: Senate
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-01-13
last_action: Senate Read and Referred
sponsors:
  - Elena Parent
  - Nan Orrock
  - Sheikh Rahman
  - Kim Jackson
  - Sally Harrell
  - Harold Jones
  - RaShaun Kemp
  - Gail Davenport
  - Sonya Halpern
  - Nikki Merritt
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SB394/2025
upstream_id: 2074041
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - motor vehicle registration
  - electric vehicles
  - alternative fuel vehicles
  - license plates
  - transportation funding
---

# SB 394. Motor Vehicles; operation of alternative fueled vehicles and make conforming changes; remove a fee

## Text

Senate Bill 394
By: Senators Parent of the 44th, Orrock of the 36th, Rahman of the 5th, Jackson of the 41st,
Harrell of the 40th and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 2 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
registration and licensing of motor vehicles, so as to remove a fee for the operation of
alternative fueled vehicles and make conforming changes; to provide for related matters; to
repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Chapter 2 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to registration and
licensing of motor vehicles, is amended in Code Section 40-2-38, relating to registration and
licensing of manufacturers, distributors, and dealers and issuance of manufacturer,
manufacturer headquarters, distributor, and dealer plates, by revising paragraph (5) of
subsection (a) as follows:
"(5) The commissioner shall include a distinctive logo or emblem for any manufacturer's,
distributor's, or manufacturer headquarters' license plate to be attached to an alternative
fueled vehicle, as such term is defined in paragraph (7) of subsection (l) of Code
Section 40-2-86.1. <del>Alternative fuel vehicles bearing a special license plate pursuant to
this subsection shall be subject to the alternative fuel vehicle fees as set forth in
paragraph (19) of subsection (a) of Code Section 40-2-151 at the time of initial issuance
</del>
<del>and annually thereafter in a manner prescribed by the commissioner.</del> Display of a special
license plate issued pursuant to this paragraph shall authorize travel by such alternative
fueled vehicle in lanes for exclusive or preferential use designated pursuant to Code
Section 32-9-4."
SECTION 2.
Said chapter is further amended in Code Section 40-2-86.1, relating to special license plates
promoting or supporting certain worthy agencies, funds, or nonprofit corporations and
qualified motor vehicles or drivers with proceeds deposited into the general fund, by revising
paragraph (7) of subsection (l) as follows:
"(7)(A) A special license plate to be issued for alternative fueled vehicles, which
license plate shall be similar in design to the license plate issued to all other residents
of this state except that the commissioner shall place a distinctive logo or emblem on
the license plate which shall distinguish the vehicle as an alternative fueled vehicle
eligible to travel in travel lanes designated for such vehicles under paragraph (4) of
subsection (a) of Code Section 32-9-4. The words 'alternative fueled vehicle' shall be
imprinted on such special license plate in lieu of the county name decal. The funds
raised by the sale of this license plate shall be deposited in the general fund.
(B) As used in this paragraph, the term:
(i) 'Alternative fuel' means electricity, natural gas, and propane.
(ii) 'Alternative fueled vehicle' means any vehicle fueled solely by alternative fuel as
defined in division (i) of this subparagraph, bi-fuel, or dual fuel.
<del>(C) Pursuant to paragraph (19) of subsection (a) of Code Section 40-2-151, the
applicant for a special license plate for any alternative fueled vehicle shall provide
proof that he or she has paid the registration fee prescribed therein prior to the issuance
of any special license plate under this paragraph."
</del>
SECTION 3.
Said chapter 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 repealing paragraph (19) of subsection (a)
in its entirety.
SECTION 4.
Said chapter is further amended in Code Section 40-2-151.2, relating to Transportation Trust
Fund established, funding, and accounting, by revising subsection (b) as follows:
"(b) Under the authority granted and subject to the conditions imposed by Article III,
Section IX, Paragraph VI(r) of the Constitution of Georgia, for the period beginning on
July 1, 2022, and ending on June 30, 2032, all of the money collected pursuant to
<del>paragraph (19) of subsection (a) of Code Section 40-2-151,</del> Code Section 40-2-151.1, and
subsection (b) of Code Section 48-13-50.3 shall be annually appropriated to the
Transportation Trust Fund established by this Code section and such funds shall not lapse
as otherwise required by Article III, Section IX, Paragraph IV(c) of the Constitution of
Georgia. Each annual appropriation shall be made through the General Appropriations Act
and shall include all of the money collected from such sources during the most recently
completed fiscal year."
SECTION 5.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.

## 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.

A Georgia Senate bill would eliminate the special annual fee that owners of alternative fuel vehicles, like electric or propane powered cars, currently pay when they get a special license plate.

### Plain-language summary

Under current Georgia law, owners of alternative fueled vehicles (those running on electricity, natural gas, or propane) who want a special license plate letting them use certain preferential travel lanes must pay a separate registration fee under O.C.G.A. § 40-2-151. This bill removes that fee entirely.
The bill amends several sections of Georgia's motor vehicle registration law (Title 40, Chapter 2) to strike the fee requirement and the related proof-of-payment requirement for special plate applicants. It repeals the fee provision in Code Section 40-2-151 outright and updates the Transportation Trust Fund statute (O.C.G.A. § 40-2-151.2) to remove references to money collected from that now-eliminated fee, since that revenue source would no longer exist. The special license plate itself, and the ability to use preferential travel lanes, remain available without the added fee.

### What it does

- Removes the requirement that alternative fuel vehicle owners pay a special registration fee to get an alternative fueled vehicle license plate.
- Repeals paragraph (19) of subsection (a) of Code Section 40-2-151, the section that had set out this fee.
- Eliminates the requirement that applicants prove they paid this fee before receiving the special plate (Code Section 40-2-86.1).
- Updates the Transportation Trust Fund law (O.C.G.A. § 40-2-151.2) to stop counting this fee's revenue toward the fund, since the fee no longer exists.
- Keeps intact the right of alternative fueled vehicles with the special plate to travel in designated preferential lanes under O.C.G.A. § 32-9-4.

### Who it affects

Owners of alternative fueled vehicles in Georgia, meaning vehicles running solely on electricity, natural gas, propane, or a mix of these fuels, who currently pay a special fee for an alternative fuel vehicle license plate. It also affects the state's Transportation Trust Fund, which currently receives this fee revenue.

### Why it matters

Georgians who drive electric, natural gas, or propane vehicles and want the special license plate that allows travel in preferential lanes would no longer have to pay the extra annual fee tied to that plate. The state's Transportation Trust Fund would lose that fee as a funding source going forward.

### Key provisions

- Section 1 removes language in Code Section 40-2-38 requiring alternative fuel vehicles with special manufacturer or dealer plates to pay the fee under Code Section 40-2-151.
- Section 2 strikes the requirement in Code Section 40-2-86.1 that special plate applicants prove they paid the alternative fuel vehicle registration fee.
- Section 3 repeals paragraph (19) of subsection (a) of Code Section 40-2-151 in its entirety, eliminating the fee itself.
- Section 4 revises Code Section 40-2-151.2 to remove references to fee revenue collected under the repealed paragraph (19), adjusting what feeds the Transportation Trust Fund.
- Section 5 repeals all conflicting laws.

## Status

- Status: Introduced (2026-01-13)
- Last action: Senate Read and Referred (2026-01-14)
- Sponsors: Elena Parent, Nan Orrock, Sheikh Rahman, Kim Jackson, Sally Harrell, Harold Jones, RaShaun Kemp, Gail Davenport, Sonya Halpern, Nikki Merritt
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72195

> The history, votes, and amendments (95 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb394.md?full=1