SB524: SB524 License Plates; specialty license plate honoring Girl Scouts of Georgia; establish

This bill changes Georgia's license plate law (O.C.G.A. Title 40, Chapter 2) in a few ways. It adds a new specialty plate honoring Girl Scouts of Georgia, with money from plate sales split evenly between the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta and the Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia organization. The bill also updates the state's plans for a plate marking the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence (the semiquincentennial). It confirms a student-designed plate for grades six through eight developed with civics education groups, and adds a second, separate design bearing the phrase '250 years of freedom and liberty' in place of the county decal. Because Georgia's Constitution requires a two-thirds vote in both chambers for new license plate laws, the bill spells out that requirement. If it clears that threshold, the changes take effect January 1, 2027.

• Creates a new specialty license plate honoring Girl Scouts of Georgia under O.C.G.A. § 40-2-86.
• Directs that money raised from selling the Girl Scouts plate be split equally between the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta and the Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia organization.
• Adds a second design option for the U.S. semiquincentennial plate carrying the phrase '250 years of freedom and liberty' instead of a county decal.
• Confirms the process for a student-designed civics education plate for the 250th anniversary, developed with input from historical and civics organizations.
• Requires the change to pass by a two-thirds vote in both the Senate and House because it involves specialty plates, per the Georgia Constitution.
• Sets the effective date for January 1, 2027.

Georgia vehicle owners who may choose to buy the new Girl Scouts or semiquincentennial license plates, the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta and Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia organizations that receive proceeds, the Department of Driver Services, and students and civics groups involved in the anniversary plate design process.

Drivers would gain a new optional plate to display support for Girl Scouts of Georgia, with purchase proceeds directly funding two regional Girl Scouts organizations. The bill also expands options for a plate marking the nation's 250th birthday, giving Georgians another way to commemorate the anniversary.

• Section 1 revises O.C.G.A. § 40-2-31 to note that plates issued 2026 through 2030 include designs approved under the semiquincentennial code section.
• Section 2 revises O.C.G.A. § 40-2-31.1 to set up a student design process for the anniversary plate and add a second design option with the phrase '250 years of freedom and liberty.'
• Section 3 adds paragraph (76) to O.C.G.A. § 40-2-86(l), creating the Girl Scouts of Georgia specialty plate and directing equal proceeds to two named Girl Scouts organizations.
• Section 4 requires a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers under the Georgia Constitution's rules on local and special legislation for license plates.
• Section 5 sets the effective date as January 1, 2027.
• Section 6 repeals conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2027-01-01
2. 2026-05-11Act 517
3. 2026-05-11Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
4. 2026-04-10Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
5. 2026-03-16House Passed/Adopted (House)
6. 2026-03-16House Third Readers (House)
7. 2026-03-12House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
8. 2026-03-09House Second Readers (House)

• Marty Harbin (R, SD-016)Primary sponsor
• Larry Walker (R, SD-020)
• Elena Parent (D, SD-044)
• Sonya Halpern (D, SD-039)
• Chuck Payne (R, SD-054)
• Kenya Wicks (D, SD-034)
• Billy Hickman (R, SD-004)
• Timothy Bearden (R, SD-030)
• John Albers (R, SD-056)
• Clint Crowe (R, HD-118)

1. PassedSenate voteMarch 4, 2026

   51 yea, 0 nay (1 not voting, 3 absent)

   Passage By Substitute: Senate Vote #621

2. PassedHouse voteMarch 16, 2026

   155 yea, 0 nay (7 not voting, 14 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #704

• license plates
• Girl Scouts
• motor vehicles
• civics education
• 250th anniversary