SB 84: Special License Plates; specialty license plate honoring the Shepherd Center; establish

This bill amends Georgia's law on specialty license plates (O.C.G.A. § 40-2-86.1), which already lists many special plates that support various causes, agencies, or nonprofits. The House substitute replaces the bill's original focus (a plate honoring the Shepherd Center) with a different specialty plate recognizing organ donation. The new plate would carry the phrase 'Organ Donors Save Lives.' Unlike many specialty plates whose proceeds go to a specific charity, the money raised from selling this plate would go into the state's general fund rather than to any organ donation organization. The change would take effect January 1, 2026, and because it involves a special license plate, the bill needs a two-thirds vote in both the Senate and House to become law under the Georgia Constitution.

• Adds a new paragraph to Georgia's specialty license plate law (O.C.G.A. § 40-2-86.1) creating a plate that recognizes organ donation.
• Requires the plate's design to include the phrase 'Organ Donors Save Lives.'
• Directs that proceeds from selling this plate go into the state's general fund rather than to a dedicated charity or cause.
• Sets the effective date as January 1, 2026, if the bill becomes law.
• Requires a two-thirds majority vote in both the Senate and House of Representatives, as Georgia's Constitution requires for certain license plate laws.

Georgia vehicle owners who might choose to purchase the new organ donation specialty license plate, the Georgia Department of Revenue, which administers specialty plates, and the state's general fund, which would receive the plate's sale proceeds.

Georgians who want to publicly support organ donation awareness would gain a new license plate option starting in 2026. Because the proceeds go to the general fund rather than an organ donation charity, the practical benefit is mainly public messaging rather than direct funding for donation programs.

• Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 40-2-86.1 by adding paragraph (12), creating the organ donation specialty plate and requiring the phrase 'Organ Donors Save Lives.'
• Section 1 also specifies that proceeds from the plate's sale go into the state's general fund, not a designated nonprofit or program.
• Section 2 sets the effective date at January 1, 2026.
• Section 3 requires a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers under Article III, Section IX, Paragraph VI(n) of the Georgia Constitution.
• Section 4 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2025-03-21House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
2. 2025-03-21House Third Readers (House)
3. 2025-03-11House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
4. 2025-02-13House Second Readers (House)
5. 2025-02-12House First Readers (House)
6. 2025-02-11Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senate)
7. 2025-02-11Senate Third Read (Senate)
8. 2025-02-10Senate Read Second Time (Senate)

• John Albers (R, SD-56)Primary sponsor
• Chuck Payne (R, SD-54)
• Max Burns (R, SD-23)
• Shawn Still (R, SD-48)
• Rick Williams (R, SD-25)
• Rick Townsend (R, HD-179)

1. PassedSenate voteFebruary 11, 2025

   52 yea, 0 nay (0 not voting, 4 excused)

   PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE: Senate Vote #38

2. PassedHouse voteMarch 21, 2025

   162 yea, 0 nay (5 not voting, 13 excused)

   PASSAGE: House Vote #297

• license plates
• organ donation
• vehicle registration
• state revenue