---
title: SB 76. License Plates; specialty license plate benefitting the Georgia Veterans Service Foundation; establish
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/sb76
cite_as: SB 76, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb76
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb76.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb76/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69807
date: 2026-05-11
status: passed
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: 1560
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb76.md?full=1
bill_number: SB 76
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: Senate
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2026-05-11
last_action: Effective Date 2027-07-01
sponsors:
- Drew Echols
- Kay Kirkpatrick
- Chuck Payne
- Matt Brass
- Carden Summers
- Ed Setzler
- Chuck Hufstetler
- Kenya Wicks
- Clint Dixon
- Brian Strickland
- Blake Tillery
- Derrick McCollum
text_version: Enrolled
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SB76/2025
upstream_id: 1953032
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- license plates
- veterans benefits
- military medals
- off-highway vehicles
- vehicle registration fees
---
# SB 76. License Plates; specialty license plate benefitting the Georgia Veterans Service Foundation; establish
## Text
Senate Bill 76
By: Senators Echols of the 49th, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Payne of the 54th, Brass of the 6th,
Summers of the 13th and others
AS PASSED
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to motor vehicles, so
as to provide for additional military medal awards eligible for special veteran license plates;
to provide for a specialty license plate for United States Navy submarine service members;
to authorize the operation of multipurpose off-highway vehicles on certain highways; to
provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for
other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to motor vehicles, is amended
in Code Section 40-2-85.1, relating to license plates for certain veterans, by revising
paragraph (1) of subsection (a), subparagraph (b)(2)(B), and subsections (e.1) and (f) as
follows:
"(1) 'Military medal award' means the following medals, decorations, or other recognition
of honor for military service awarded by a branch of the United States military:
(A) Medal of Honor;
(B) Bronze Star Medal;
(C) Silver Star Medal;
(D) Distinguished Service Cross;
(E) Navy Cross;
(F) Air Force Cross;
(G) Defense Distinguished Service Medal;
(H) Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal;
(I) Distinguished Service Medal;
(J) Navy Distinguished Service Medal;
(K) Air Force Distinguished Service Medal;
(L) Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal;
(M) Defense Superior Service Medal;
(N) Legion of Merit;
(O) Distinguished Flying Cross;
(P) Purple Heart;
(Q) Air Medal;
(R) Soldier's Medal; and
(S) Meritorious Service Medal;
(T) Navy Corps Medal;
(U) Marine Corps Medal;
(V) Airman's Medal;
(W) Coast Guard Medal; and
(X) Combat Infantryman Badge."
"(B) Each member or former member of the armed forces of the United States listed
in this subsection shall be entitled to no more than one such free license plate at a time;
provided, however, that, upon payment of a manufacturing fee of $25.00, a member
shall be entitled to one additional such license plate. For each additional license plate
for which a $25.00 manufacturing fee is required, there shall be an additional annual
registration fee of $25.00, and such fee as a condition of obtaining an annual renewal
of a registration or an additional registration fee of $125.00 as a condition of obtaining
a five-year renewal of registration for such license plate. The fee required by this
subparagraph shall be collected by the county tag agent at the time of collection of other
registration fees and shall be remitted to the state as provided in Code Section 40-2-34."
"(e.1)(f) The spouse of any person eligible to be issued a special license plate under this
Code section shall also be eligible for such license plate, provided that no motor vehicle
is registered in the name of the eligible person and all other requirements relating to
registration and licensing relative to motor vehicles as prescribed in Article 2 of this
chapter have been satisfied.
(f)(g) Special license plates issued under this Code section, except as provided in
subparagraph (b)(2)(A) of this Code section, shall be renewed annually with a revalidation
decal as provided in Code Section 40-2-31 without payment of an additional $25.00 annual
registration fee subject to an additional annual registration fee of $25.00 as a condition of
obtaining an annual renewal of a registration or an additional registration fee of $125.00
as a condition of obtaining a five-year renewal of registration for such license plate. The
fee required by this Code section shall be collected by the county tag agent at the time of
collection of other registration fees and shall be remitted to the state as provided in Code
Section 40-2-34."
SECTION 2.
Said title is further amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:
"40-2-85.5.
(a)(1) Motor vehicle owners who are members of the United States Navy submarine
service shall be eligible to receive special and distinctive vehicle license plates for private
passenger cars, trucks, motorcycles, or recreational vehicles used for personal
transportation. Such license plates shall be issued in compliance with the state motor
vehicle laws relating to registration and licensing of motor vehicles as prescribed in
Article 2 of this chapter.
(2) Motor vehicle owners who are retired members of the United States Navy submarine
service shall be eligible to receive special and distinctive vehicle license plates for private
passenger cars, trucks, motorcycles, or recreational vehicles used for personal
transportation. Such license plates shall be issued in compliance with the state motor
vehicle laws relating to registration and licensing of motor vehicles as prescribed in
Article 2 of this chapter.
(3) 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.
(b) A person who qualifies for the special and distinctive license plate pursuant to
subsection (a) of this Code section shall make application therefor with the commissioner
and include the requisite fee. The commissioner shall design a distinctive license plate as
provided in subsection (c) of this Code section and issue the distinctive license plates to
qualifying applicants. There shall be no minimum required number of applicants for such
distinctive license plate. The commissioner shall promulgate such rules and regulations
as may be necessary to enforce compliance with all state license laws relating to the use
and operation of private passenger cars and trucks before issuing these license plates in lieu
of the regular Georgia license plates. The additional manufacturing fee for such special
and distinctive license plates shall be $25.00. The commissioner is specifically authorized
to promulgate all rules and regulations necessary to ensure compliance in instances where
such vehicles have been transferred or sold.
(c) The special and distinctive vehicle license plates issued by this Code section shall be
as prescribed in Article 2 of this chapter for private passenger cars, trucks, motorcycles, or
recreational vehicles used for personal transportation, except that the commissioner shall
include a special design to identify the owner as a member of the United States Navy
submarine service.
(d) The license plate issued pursuant to this Code section shall be transferred between
vehicles as provided in Code Section 40-2-80."
SECTION 3.
Said title is further amended in Code Section 40-6-362, relating to operating low-speed and
multipurpose off-highway vehicles on highways, by revising subsection (b) as follows:
"(b) Multipurpose off-highway vehicles shall be operated only on highways that are part
of a county road system and shall be authorized to cross highways that are part of a
municipal street system or are part of the state highway system only be authorized to be
operated on highways with a maximum speed limit of 60 miles per hour or less."
SECTION 4.
This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2027.
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.
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.
### Plain-language summary
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 it 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.
## Status
- Status: Passed (2026-05-11)
- Last action: Effective Date 2027-07-01 (2026-05-11)
- Sponsors: Drew Echols, Kay Kirkpatrick, Chuck Payne, Matt Brass, Carden Summers, Ed Setzler, Chuck Hufstetler, Kenya Wicks, Clint Dixon, Brian Strickland, Blake Tillery, Derrick McCollum
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69807
> The history, votes, and amendments (1,560 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb76.md?full=1