Georgia CommonsSenate · Passed · 2025-2026 Regular Session
SB 76: License Plates; specialty license plate benefitting the Georgia Veterans Service Foundation; establish
Last action May 11, 2026 · Act 485
Senate Bill 76 expands the list of military medals that qualify veterans for free Georgia license plates, creates a new plate for U.S. Navy submarine service members, and loosens where multipurpose off-highway vehicles can be driven.
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 lets veterans who received certain military medals get a free or discounted specialty license plate. This bill adds several medals and honors, including the Navy Corps Medal, Marine Corps Medal, Airman's Medal, Coast Guard Medal, and Combat Infantryman Badge, to the list that qualifies a veteran for these plates. It also changes how the extra $25 registration fee for additional or renewed veteran plates is charged, tying it to annual or five-year registration renewals instead of a flat annual charge. The bill creates a brand new specialty license plate for current and retired members of the U.S. Navy submarine service, including a distinct 'RETIRED' design, with a $25 manufacturing fee. Separately, it changes the rule for where multipurpose off-highway vehicles can legally be driven, shifting from a county-road-based restriction to a rule based on the highway's posted speed limit of 60 miles per hour or less. The changes take effect July 1, 2027.
What the bill does
- Adds five military honors, the Navy Corps Medal, Marine Corps Medal, Airman's Medal, Coast Guard Medal, and Combat Infantryman Badge, to the list of medals that qualify a veteran for a special Georgia license plate.
- Creates a new specialty license plate (O.C.G.A. § 40-2-85.5) for current and retired members of the U.S. Navy submarine service, with retired members getting a plate marked 'RETIRED' instead of a county name.
- Sets a $25 manufacturing fee for the new submarine service license plate and directs the state to design it with a distinctive submarine service emblem.
- Restructures the extra registration fee for veteran license plates so it is charged as $25 for an annual renewal or $125 for a five-year renewal, rather than a flat annual fee.
- Changes the rule for multipurpose off-highway vehicles so they can be driven on any highway with a posted speed limit of 60 miles per hour or less, instead of being limited mainly to county roads.
- Sets the effective date for all these changes as July 1, 2027.
Who it affects
Georgia veterans and their spouses who hold or want a special veteran license plate, current and retired U.S. Navy submarine service members and their families, county tag agents who collect registration fees, and drivers who operate multipurpose off-highway vehicles on public roads.
Why it matters
More veterans, including those with certain medals not previously covered, could qualify for a special plate, while renewal fees would be restructured around annual or five-year registration cycles. Submarine veterans gain a dedicated plate option, and off-highway vehicle drivers get access to more roads based on posted speed limits rather than road type.
Key provisions
- Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 40-2-85.1 to add five new military medals and honors to the definition of 'military medal award' used to qualify veterans for special plates.
- Section 1 also revises the additional registration fee structure, setting it at $25 for an annual renewal or $125 for a five-year renewal of a veteran license plate, collected by county tag agents.
- Section 1 confirms spouses of eligible veterans can also receive the special plate if no vehicle is already registered in the veteran's name.
- Section 2 adds new Code Section 40-2-85.5 creating a special license plate for active and retired U.S. Navy submarine service members, with a $25 manufacturing fee and a 'RETIRED' design variant for retirees.
- Section 3 amends O.C.G.A. § 40-6-362 to let multipurpose off-highway vehicles operate on any highway with a maximum speed limit of 60 miles per hour or less, replacing the prior county-road-based restriction.
- Section 4 sets the effective date of the Act as July 1, 2027.
- Section 5 repeals any conflicting laws.
From the bill
“The special and distinctive vehicle license plates issued pursuant to paragraph (2) of this subsection shall contain the word 'RETIRED' in the location of and in lieu of the name of the county of issuance.”
Discussed in meetings (7)
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.
House Motor Vehicles Committee, March 24, 2026
From 0:12:36 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The presenter said the revised bill would eliminate renewal stickers while accommodating one-year registrations costing $20 and five-year registrations costing $100. The presenter said it combined sticker-removal language with separate five-year registration legislation awaiting the governor’s signature, preserved counties’ $1 share of registration fees and would save the state $5 million. The presenter also cited a supportive PBA letter and said electronic tools made stickers unnecessary. Members questioned whether five-year registration was optional, whether notices would be electronic only and whether drivers would understand annual emissions obligations. The presenter said drivers could choose either registration period, five-year participants would agree to electronic communication, and annual emissions testing would remain required where applicable. The chair pointed to language requiring testing providers to submit results electronically within seven days. Several members criticized emissions requirements affecting 13 counties; speakers disagreed about state and federal responsibility. The presenter said side-by-side vehicles could use state roads with speed limits of 60 mph or less. A second presenter said existing insurance and safety-equipment requirements would remain, and the change would make rules more uniform. The committee approved an amendment moving the effective date from January to July 1, 2027, then approved the bill as amended by voice vote. No count was stated.
House Rules Committee, March 27, 2026
From 0:29:50 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said SB 76 would eliminate license plate renewal stickers while retaining renewal requirements, saving the state $5 million. The sponsor also said it would allow side-by-side vehicles on state roads with speed limits below 60 miles per hour. A member questioned language barring refunds after cancellation, termination, transfer or suspension in connection with five-year tags. The sponsor said that language came from separate legislation already on the governor’s desk and had been merged into this bill to avoid conflicts. The member did not pursue the explanation further. No action was shown.
House Rules Committee, April 2, 2026
From 0:53:30 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: A presenter explained that the substitute for SB 76 incorporated HB 1191, adding five military medal award recognitions for license plates. The committee approved the substitute without questions. Later, the committee placed the substituted bill on the floor calendar under the modified structured rule without stated opposition.
Senate floor session, April 2, 2026 (legislative day 40, part 2)
From 3:33:29 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The presenter offered a replacement amendment to SB 76, saying it removed a vehicle-tag tax provision opposed by the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association. The presenter said the remaining measure expanded specialty plates recognizing military medals and service, and allowed side-by-side vehicles to travel on state routes up to 60 miles per hour. The presenter said those vehicles would need registration, insurance, headlights and taillights. No questions were asked. The Senate agreed to the House substitute as amended, 53–0.
House floor session, April 2, 2026 (legislative day 40, AM)
From 1:52:01 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the 2026 House Journal, p. 4279
Summary by Georgia Commons: The presenter said SB 76 expanded eligibility for veterans' vehicle tags to additional medal and badge recipients, eliminated registration stickers and allowed qualifying off-highway vehicles to travel short distances on state roads with speed limits below 60 miles per hour. The presenter said those vehicles would still need tags, titles, lights and turn signals. The presenter estimated that eliminating stickers would save the state $7 million, up from an earlier $5 million estimate following passage of a five-year tag measure. Another member supported the bill but urged broader assistance for veterans, including those needing help near the Capitol. The House adopted the Rules Committee substitute and passed the bill, 168 to 2.
House floor session, April 2, 2026 (legislative day 40, PM, part 2)
From 3:28:05 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub)
Summary by Georgia Commons: The presenter said the Senate amendment to SB 76 removed a sticker proposal, leaving a license-plate provision and language concerning side-by-side vehicles on highways with speed limits of 60 miles per hour or less. The presenter did not further explain those remaining provisions. No questions were asked. The House agreed to the Senate amendment to the House's replacement version, 168 to 2.
Status timeline
- Effective Date
- Act 485
- Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
- Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
- House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub (House)
- House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
- House Third Readers (House)
- Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub As Amended (Senate)
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
- Drew Echols (R, SD-49)
- Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-32)
- Chuck Payne (R, SD-54)
- Matt Brass (R, SD-6)
- Carden Summers (R, SD-13)
- Ed Setzler (R, SD-37)
- Chuck Hufstetler (R, SD-52)
- Kenya Wicks (D, SD-34)
- Clint Dixon (R, SD-45)
- Brian Strickland (R, SD-42)
- Blake Tillery (R, SD-19)
- Derrick McCollum (R, HD-30)
Votes
- Senate voteFebruary 13, 2025
52 yea, 0 nay (0 not voting, 4 excused)
- House voteApril 2, 2026
168 yea, 2 nay (4 not voting, 2 excused)
- Senate voteApril 2, 2026
53 yea, 0 nay (0 not voting, 1 excused)
- House voteApril 2, 2026
168 yea, 2 nay (4 not voting, 2 excused)
Topics
- license plates
- veterans benefits
- military medals
- off-highway vehicles
- vehicle registration fees