HB1391: HB1391 Specialty license plates; honor public safety officers; establish

Georgia law already allows dozens of specialty license plates that support various agencies, funds, and nonprofit groups, with proceeds from each plate directed to a specific cause listed in state law (O.C.G.A. § 40-2-86). This bill adds one more option to that list: a plate honoring public safety officers. Money raised from selling this new plate would go to the Georgia Public Safety Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit organization. Because the bill creates a new fee category tied to a constitutional provision on special license plate revenue, it must pass by a two-thirds majority vote in both the Georgia House and Senate to become law. If it clears that threshold, the change would take effect January 1, 2027.

• Adds a new specialty license plate honoring public safety officers to the list of plates authorized under Georgia's specialty tag law (O.C.G.A. § 40-2-86).
• Directs that all proceeds from sales of this specific plate be sent to the Georgia Public Safety Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit organization.
• Requires the bill to pass by a two-thirds majority vote in both the House and Senate under a state constitutional rule for this type of revenue-diverting license plate law.
• Sets the effective date for the new plate as January 1, 2027, assuming it clears the required vote.

Georgia vehicle owners who choose to purchase the new public safety officer specialty plate, the Georgia Department of Revenue and county tag offices that issue license plates, and the Georgia Public Safety Foundation, Inc., which would receive the plate's proceeds.

Drivers who want to show support for public safety officers would gain a new plate option, and the extra fee paid for it would flow directly to a nonprofit foundation rather than the general state budget, giving that organization a dedicated funding stream tied to plate sales.

• Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 40-2-86(l) by adding paragraph (76), creating the new special license plate honoring public safety officers.
• Section 1 specifies that funds from sales of this plate go entirely to the Georgia Public Safety Foundation, Inc.
• Section 2 requires the Act to receive a two-thirds majority vote in both the Senate and House, per Article III, Section IX, Paragraph VI(n) of the Georgia Constitution, or it does not become law.
• Section 3 sets the effective date as January 1, 2027.
• Section 4 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-12Effective Date 2027-01-01
2. 2026-05-12Act 622
3. 2026-05-12House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-06House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-03-19Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2026-03-19Senate Third Read (Senate)
7. 2026-03-16Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
8. 2026-03-12Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)

• Tim Fleming (R, HD-114)Primary sponsor
• Bill Hitchens (R, HD-161)
• Clint Crowe (R, HD-118)
• Eddie Lumsden (R, HD-012)
• Karen Mathiak (R, HD-082)
• Lauren McDonald (R, HD-026)
• John Albers (R, SD-056)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 4, 2026

   168 yea, 0 nay (3 not voting, 6 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #618

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 19, 2026

   52 yea, 0 nay (1 not voting, 1 absent)

   Passage: Senate Vote #748

• license plates
• public safety officers
• vehicle registration
• nonprofit funding