SB561: SB561 Motor Vehicles; additional license plate design honoring the 250th anniversary of the United States of America's independence; provide

26 LC 39 4947 Senate Bill 561 By: Senators Harbin of the 16th, Parent of the 44th, Still of the 48th, Anavitarte of the 31st and Strickland of the 42nd A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Chapter 2 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to1 registration and licensing of motor vehicles, so as to provide for an additional license plate2 design honoring the 250th anniversary of the United States of A merica's independence; to3 establish a specialty license plate honoring Girl Scouts of Georgia with proceeds distributed4 to the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta and the Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia organization;5 to provide for related matters; to provide for compliance with constitutional requirements;6 to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.7 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:8 SECTION 1.9 Chapter 2 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to registration and10 licensing of motor vehicles, is amended in Code Section 40-2-31 , relating to license plate11 design, retention of manufacturing and delivery costs, and revalidation, county, and "In God12 We Trust" decals, by revising subsection (b) as follows:13 "(b) License plates issued pursuant to this chapter shall be at least six inches wide and not14 less than 12 inches in length, except that motorcycle license p lates shall be at least four15 inches wide and not less than seven inches in length and licens e plates for low-speed16 vehicles and multipurpose off-highway vehicles shall be a size determined by the17 S. B. 561 - 1 - 26 LC 39 4947 commissioner. All license plates shall show in boldface characters the month and year of18 expiration, the serial number, and either the full name or the abbreviation of the name of19 the state, shall designate the county from which the license pl ate was issued unless20 specifically stated otherwise in this chapter, and shall show such other distinctive markings21 as in the judgment of the commissioner may be deemed advisable, so as to indicate the22 class of weight of the vehicle for which the license plate was issued. Any license plate for23 a low-speed vehicle or multipurpose off-highway vehicle shall d esignate the vehicle as24 such. Such plates may also bear such figures, characters, letters, or combinations thereof25 as in the judgment of the commissioner will to the best advanta ge advertise, popularize,26 and otherwise promote Georgia as the 'Peach State.' Plates issued during the years 202627 through 2030 shall include the design designs approved pursuant to Code28 Section 40-2-31.1. Except for license plates issued pursuant to Article 2B of this chapter,29 any license plate issued pursuant to this chapter shall be of such strength and quality that30 the plate shall provide a minimum service period of at least five years. The commissioner31 shall adopt rules and regulations, pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 13 of Title 50, the32 'Georgia Administrative Procedure Act,' for the design and issuance of new license plates33 and to implement the other provisions of this Code section."34 SECTION 2.35 Said chapter is further amended by revising Code Section 40-2-31.1, relating to design and36 selection of United States of America's semiquincentennial license plate, as follows:37 "40-2-31.1.38 (a) In coordination with the Department of Education, the departm ent shall establish39 parameters for the design of and a selection process for a lice nse plate which40 commemorates the United States of America's semiquincentennial. The design of such41 plate shall be selected from designs submitted by students in g rades six through eight as42 part of a civics education and engagement program which shall include feedback from the43 S. B. 561 - 2 - 26 LC 39 4947 Georgia Commission on Civics Education, Georgia Center for Civic Engagement, Georgia44 Historical Society, Sons of the American Revolution, and Daught ers of the American45 Revolution.46 (b) In addition to the standard license plate design and the design set forth in subsection (a)47 of this Code section, the department shall provide for an additional license plate design that48 commemorates the anniversary of the United States of America's independence. Such49 design shall include the phrase '250 years of freedom and liber ty' in place of the county50 decal."51 SECTION 3.52 Said chapter is further amended in Code Section 40-2-86, relating to license plates promoting53 or supporting certain agencies, funds, or nonprofit corporations with proceeds disbursed to54 the general fund and the agency, fund, or nonprofit corporation, is amended by adding a new55 paragraph to subsection (l) to read as follows:56 "(76) A special license plate honoring Girl Scouts of Georgia. The funds raised by the57 sale of this special license plate shall be disbursed equally to the Girl Scouts of Greater58 Atlanta and the Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia organization."59 SECTION 4.60 In accordance with the requirements of Article III, Section IX, Paragraph VI(n) of the61 Constitution of the State of Georgia, this Act shall not become law unless it receives the62 requisite two-thirds' majority vote in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.63 SECTION 5.64 This Act shall become effective on January 1, 2027.65 SECTION 6.66 S. B. 561 - 3 - 26 LC 39 4947 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.67 S. B. 561 - 4 -