Georgia CommonsSenate · Passed · 2025-2026 Regular Session
SB 524: License Plates; specialty license plate honoring Girl Scouts of Georgia; establish
Last action May 11, 2026 · Act 517
A Georgia Senate bill would add a second license plate design marking the 250th anniversary of American independence and create a new specialty plate honoring Girl Scouts of Georgia, with sale proceeds split between two regional Girl Scout councils.
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 already allows a special license plate design chosen through a student civics contest to mark the United States' 250th anniversary (semiquincentennial). This bill adds a second, separate anniversary plate design carrying the phrase '250 years of freedom and liberty' in place of the county sticker, available alongside the standard plate and the student-designed plate. The bill also creates a new specialty license plate honoring Girl Scouts of Georgia under the state's existing program for nonprofit-affiliated plates (O.C.G.A. § 40-2-86). Money from selling that plate would be split equally between the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta and the Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia. Because Georgia's constitution requires a two-thirds vote in both chambers for laws creating this kind of plate, the bill only becomes law if it clears that threshold. It would take effect January 1, 2027.
What the bill does
- Adds a new license plate design commemorating the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, bearing the phrase '250 years of freedom and liberty' instead of a county decal.
- Keeps the existing student-designed semiquincentennial plate created through a civics education program as a separate option.
- Creates a new specialty license plate honoring Girl Scouts of Georgia under the state's nonprofit specialty plate program.
- Directs that proceeds from the Girl Scouts plate be split equally between the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta and the Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia.
- Requires a two-thirds vote in both the Senate and House for the bill to take effect, as Georgia's constitution mandates for this type of law.
- Sets the effective date as January 1, 2027.
Who it affects
Georgia drivers who choose specialty or commemorative license plates, the Department of Driver Services and Department of Revenue that issue and design plates, the Department of Education and civics organizations involved in the student design contest, and the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta and Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia, which would receive plate sale proceeds.
Why it matters
Drivers would get more license plate choices, including a patriotic anniversary design and a Girl Scouts-themed plate, while two Girl Scout councils would gain a new, ongoing funding stream tied directly to plate sales rather than one-time donations or grants.
Key provisions
- Section 1 updates general license plate design rules (O.C.G.A. § 40-2-31) to reflect that multiple semiquincentennial designs, not just one, will be issued from 2026 through 2030.
- Section 2 revises O.C.G.A. § 40-2-31.1 to keep the existing student civics-contest plate design and add a second design reading '250 years of freedom and liberty' in place of the county decal.
- Section 3 adds a new paragraph to O.C.G.A. § 40-2-86 creating the Girl Scouts of Georgia specialty plate, with proceeds split equally between the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta and the Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia.
- Section 4 requires a two-thirds majority vote in both the Senate and House for the Act to become law, per the Georgia Constitution's rules on such plates.
- Section 5 sets the effective date as January 1, 2027.
From the bill
“the department shall provide for an additional license plate design that commemorates the anniversary of the United States of America's independence. Such design shall include the phrase '250 years of freedom and liberty' in place of the county decal.”
“A special license plate honoring Girl Scouts of Georgia. The funds raised by the sale of this special license plate shall be disbursed equally to the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta and the Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia organization.”
Discussed in meetings (11)
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.
Senate Public Safety Committee, February 25, 2026
From 0:09:12 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor presented a substitute covering two specialty license plates, one honoring Girl Scouts and another celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary. The sponsor displayed a proposed anniversary design and described it as a way to celebrate freedom and the country’s founding. A committee member who had participated in Girl Scouts described the organization’s leadership education, outdoor activities and life-skills programs. That member said cookie sales teach entrepreneurship through selling, collecting money and distributing products. No substantive questions or objections followed. The committee approved the substitute unanimously by voice vote.
Senate Rules Committee, March 3, 2026
From 0:35:52 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: Earlier in the meeting, a presenter described a license-plate proposal without naming its number. The presenter said it combined a Girl Scouts of Georgia plate with a Betsy Ross flag plate marking 250 years of freedom and liberty. A member later selected SB 524, referring to the 250th anniversary. The chair confirmed its inclusion in the approved calendar slate.
Senate floor session, March 4, 2026 (legislative day 27)
From 4:00:10 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (Senate Third Read)
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor presented SB 524 as authorizing license plates honoring the Girl Scouts and the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence. The clerk described the committee substitute as providing an additional anniversary design and directing Girl Scout plate proceeds to Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta and Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia. The sponsor linked the plates to national history, service and preparation of future leaders. A second senator supported the Girl Scout plate, noting that the organization began in Savannah in 1912 and describing its leadership and entrepreneurship programs for girls. No substantive questions followed. The Senate adopted the substitute and passed it 51-0.
House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee, March 11, 2026
From 0:18:23 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor presented two specialty license plates: one celebrating 250 years of American independence, featuring a design based on the Betsy Ross flag, and another honoring the Girl Scouts. The sponsor connected the Girl Scouts plate to the organization's origins in Savannah. A committee member supported both designs but said the growing number of specialty plates complicates law enforcement searches because different plate types require different lookup codes. The committee approved the bill by voice vote, with no opposition heard.
House Rules Committee, March 16, 2026
From 0:27:01 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said SB 524 would provide two specialty license plates, one celebrating the nation's 250th anniversary and another honoring the Girl Scouts. The sponsor described the anniversary plate as a way to celebrate liberty and freedom and noted that the Girl Scouts were founded in Georgia. No questions were asked. The committee later placed the bill on the floor calendar without objection.
House floor session, March 16, 2026 (legislative day 32)
From 1:22:24 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 2641
Summary by Georgia Commons: The presenter said SB 524 would create a Girl Scouts of Georgia specialty license plate, with proceeds distributed to Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta and Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia. The presenter also described a plate marking the 250th anniversary of American independence, with an anniversary message replacing the county decal. No members asked questions. The House passed the bill 155-0.
- Read aloud: Senate floor session, February 19, 2026 (legislative day 21), 0:29:36
- Read aloud: Senate floor session, February 26, 2026 (legislative day 25), 0:27:39
- Read aloud: Senate floor session, March 3, 2026 (legislative day 26), 0:38:24
- Read aloud: House floor session, March 6, 2026 (legislative day 28, AM), 0:54:40
- Read aloud: House floor session, March 9, 2026 (legislative day 29), 1:10:37
Status timeline
- Effective Date
- Act 517
- Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
- Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
- House Passed/Adopted (House)
- House Third Readers (House)
- House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- House Second Readers (House)
Show full history (15 actions)
- 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
- Marty Harbin (R, SD-16)
- Larry Walker, III (R, SD-20)
- Elena Parent (D, SD-44)
- Sonya Halpern (D, SD-39)
- Chuck Payne (R, SD-54)
- Kenya Wicks (D, SD-34)
- Billy Hickman (R, SD-4)
- Timothy Bearden (R, SD-30)
- John Albers (R, SD-56)
- Clint Crowe (R, HD-118)
Votes
- Senate voteMarch 4, 2026
51 yea, 0 nay (1 not voting, 3 excused)
- House voteMarch 16, 2026
155 yea, 0 nay (7 not voting, 14 excused)
Topics
- license plates
- Girl Scouts
- American independence anniversary
- motor vehicle registration