HB1465: HB1465 Motor vehicles; repeal requirement to display a revalidation decal as evidence of annual motor vehicle registration renewal

26 LC 39 5015S House Bill 1465 (COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE) By: Representatives McCollum of the 30 th, Efstration of the 104 th, Corbett of the 174 th, Powell of the 33rd, Hitchens of the 161st, and others A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Chapter 2 of Title 40 and Code Section 48-5C-1 of the Official Code of Georgia1 Annotated, relating to registration and licensing of motor vehicles and alternative ad valorem2 taxation of motor vehicles and title ad valorem tax fee, respec tively, so as to repeal the3 requirement to display a revalidation decal as evidence of annual motor vehicle registration4 renewal; to provide for conforming changes; to provide for rela ted matters; to provide an5 effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:7 SECTION 1.8 Chapter 2 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to registration and9 licensing of motor vehicles, is amended in subsection (a) of Co de Section 40-2-4, relating10 to manufacture, sale, or issuance of license plate or revalidation decal prohibited, as follows:11 "(a) Except as otherwise provided for in Article 2B of this chapter, it shall be unlawful for12 any person, firm, or corporation to make, sell, or issue any li cense plate or revalidation13 decal."14 H. B. 1465 (SUB) - 1 - 26 LC 39 5015S SECTION 2.15 Said chapter is further amended in Code Section 40-2-8, relating to operation of unregistered16 vehicle or vehicle without current license plate, revalidation decal, or county decal, as17 follows:18 "40-2-8.19 (a) No person shall own, rent, lease, or operate any vehicle r equired to be registered20 pursuant to Code Section 40-2-20 upon a highway in this state w ithout registering such21 vehicle. Any person who becomes a resident of this state shall register his or her vehicle22 within 30 days of becoming a resident. Any person who fails to comply with this23 subsection shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and punished by a fine of $100.00 for each day24 in which the vehicle is in violation.25 (b)(1) It shall be unlawful and punishable as for a misdemeanor to operate any vehicle26 required to be registered in this state pursuant to Code Sectio n 40-2-20 without a valid27 numbered license plate properly validated with a current revalidation decal, unless such28 operation is otherwise permitted under this chapter; and provid ed, further, that the29 purchaser of a new vehicle or a used vehicle from a dealer of new or used motor vehicles30 who displays a temporary operating permit issued as provided by Code Section 40-2-8.131 may operate such vehicle on the highways of this state without a current valid license32 plate during the period authorized by Code Sections 40-2-8.1 an d 40-2-20. An owner33 acquiring a motor vehicle from an entity that is not a new or u sed vehicle dealer shall34 register such vehicle as provided for in Code Section 40-2-29 u nless such vehicle is to35 be registered under the International Registration Plan pursuan t to Article 3A of this36 chapter.37 (2) The purchaser and operator of a vehicle shall not be subject to the penalties set forth38 in this Code section during the period allowed for the registration of such vehicle.39 (c) It shall be unlawful and punishable as for a misdemeanor t o operate any vehicle40 required to be registered in this state without a valid county name decal designating the41 H. B. 1465 (SUB) - 2 - 26 LC 39 5015S county where the vehicle was last registered, unless such operation is otherwise permitted42 under this chapter. A county name decal shall not be required if there is no space provided43 for a county name decal on the current license plate. Any person convicted of a violation44 of this subsection shall be subject to a fine not to exceed $25.00 if that person shows to the45 court having jurisdiction of the offense that the proper revalidation decal had been obtained46 prior to the time of the offense.47 (d) No violation of this Code section shall have occurred upon presentation of evidence48 that the owner had properly applied for the registration of such vehicle, but that the license49 plate or revalidation decal had not been delivered to such owner at the time the uniform50 traffic citation was issued.51 (e) The commissioner is authorized to promulgate rules and reg ulations necessary to52 effectuate the provisions of this Code section."53 SECTION 3.54 Said chapter is further amended in Code Section 40-2-20, relating to registration and license55 requirements, certificate of registration and temporary operati ng permit, and two-year56 registration option for new motor vehicles, by revising subparagraph (a)(1)(A) as follows:57 "(a)(1)(A) Except as provided in subsections (b) and (d) of thi s Code section and58 subsection (a) of Code Section 40-2-47, every owner of a motor vehicle, including a59 tractor or motorcycle, and every owner of a trailer shall, during the owner's registration60 period in each year, register such vehicle as provided in this chapter and obtain a61 license plate or revalidation decal authority to operate it for the 12 month period until62 such person's next registration period."63 SECTION 4.64 Said chapter is further amended by revising Code Section 40-2-30, relating to purchase by65 mail, as follows:66 H. B. 1465 (SUB) - 3 - 26 LC 39 5015S "40-2-30.67 An applicant may purchase a vehicle license plate or revalidati on decal required annual68 registration renewal by mail, by mailing a properly completed application form to the tag69 agent of the county of his or her residence along with a bank check or money order in the70 amount of the license fee and all ad valorem taxes due thereon plus an additional fee of71 $1.00."72 SECTION 5.73 Said chapter is further amended in Code Section 40-2-31, relati ng to license plate design,74 retention of manufacturing and delivery costs, revalidation, county, and "In God We Trust"75 decals, by revising subsections (b.1) through (g) as follows:76 "(b.1) Notwithstanding the provisions of Code Sections 40-2-131 and 48-2-17, the77 commissioner shall retain the costs of manufacturing and delive ry of license plates,78 revalidation decals, and county name decals from the registration fee as set forth in Code79 Section 40-2-151; provided, however, that this subsection shall not apply to license plates80 issued pursuant to Article 2B of this chapter.81 (c) Except for license plates issued pursuant to Article 2B of this chapter, the face of the82 license plate to be displayed shall be treated completely with a retroreflective material83 which will increase the nighttime visibility and legibility of the plate. The department shall84 prepare the specifications which such retroreflective material shall meet.85 (d) In those years in which a new license plate is not issued and the license plate was not86 issued pursuant to Article 2B of this chapter, a revalidation decal with a distinctive serial87 number shall be issued and affixed in the space provided on the license plate issued to the88 applicant which shall indicate the year and month through which the registration of the89 vehicle shall be valid; provided, however, that, if the commiss ioner determines that it is90 necessary, two revalidation decals shall be issued for each lic e n s e p l a t e t o r e f l e c t t h e91 required information. When an applicant is issued a revalidation decal and such applicant92 H. B. 1465 (SUB) - 4 - 26 LC 39 5015S registered the vehicle in another county the previous year, the applicant shall also be issued93 a new county decal which shall be properly affixed to the license plate and shall replace the94 other county decal.95 (e) The commissioner shall furnish without cost to each tag ag ent reflective adhesive96 decals in sufficient number, upon which there shall be printed the name of the agent's97 county. Such a decal shall be issued with each metal license plate and shall be affixed in98 the space provided on the license plate without obscuring any number or other information99 required to be present on the plate. A tag agent shall offer, upon such issuance of a new100 metal license plate, the option of obtaining a county decal or a decal providing for the101 nation's motto, 'In God We Trust.'102 (f) A county tag agent shall issue a county name decal, upon request, for the agent's county103 only if:104 (1) The applicant is a resident of or a business located in the county named on the decal;105 (2) The applicant is registering a new vehicle in such county, is renewing a current106 vehicle registration, or is transferring registration of a vehicle to the county named on the107 decal;108 (3) The application for registration of the vehicle is being made in the county named on109 the decal; and110 (4) The license plate was not issued pursuant to Article 2B of this chapter.111 (g)(e) The commissioner shall furnish without cost to each tag agent reflective adhesive112 decals in sufficient number, upon which there shall be printed the nation's motto, 'In God113 We Trust.' A tag agent shall offer, upon such issuance of a ne w metal license plate, the114 option of obtaining a county decal or a decal providing for the nation's motto, 'In God We115 Trust.' Such a decal shall be issued, upon request and free of charge, by a county tag agent116 with each new metal license plate."117 H. B. 1465 (SUB) - 5 - 26 LC 39 5015S SECTION 6.118 Said chapter is further amended in Code Section 40-2-33, relati ng to issuance of license119 plates and decals, transfer of registration to a digital licens e plate, compensation of tag120 agents, and required identification, by revising paragraph (1) of subsection (a) and121 subsection (b) as follows:122 "(a)(1) Upon compliance with the provisions of this chapter and the payment of the123 license fee required by law, the tag agent shall accept the application for registration and,124 except as otherwise provided for in this chapter, if the license plate or revalidation decal125 applied for is in such tag agent's inventory, he or she shall issue the appropriate plate or126 revalidation decal."127 "(b) Except as provided for in Code Section 40-2-22, the amount of commission permitted128 as compensation to tag agents under this Code section shall be $1.00 per license plate or129 revalidation decal issued during any calendar year. Twenty-five cents for each l icense130 plate or revalidation decal sold in excess of 4,000 during any one calendar year shall131 become the property of the county and shall be turned over to the fiscal authorities of the132 county by the tag agent. The remaining portion of such commissions shall be disposed of133 as provided in Code Section 40-2-34."134 SECTION 7.135 Said chapter is further amended in Code Section 40-2-40, relati ng to registration of136 delinquent vehicles and collection and disposition of penalties, by revising subsection (b) as137 follows:138 "(b) All applications for the registration of a delinquent vehi cle shall, before being139 accepted by a tag agent, be first endorsed by a sheriff or a deputy sheriff, a chief of police140 or his or her designated representative, a state law enforcement officer, a tax commissioner,141 or a tax collector. The officer endorsing the delinquent application shall indicate, with his142 or her endorsement on the application, the total amount of the prescribed registration fee143 H. B. 1465 (SUB) - 6 - 26 LC 39 5015S together with the 25 percent penalty provided in this Code section, and the full total of such144 amount shall be paid to the tag agent before any license plate or revalidation decal145 registration renewal as provided for in this chapter shall be assigned to the applicant."146 SECTION 8.147 Said chapter is further amended in Code Section 40-2-41.1, relating to authentic historical148 Georgia license plates, by revising subsections (b) through (d) as follows:149 "(b) The owner of any antique motor vehicle manufactured in 198 9 or earlier shall be150 authorized to display in lieu of and in the same manner as the license plate otherwise151 required under Code Section 40-2-41 an authentic historical Georgia license plate which152 clearly represents the model year within four years of any such antique motor vehicle,153 provided that the owner has properly registered such antique motor vehicle for the current154 year as otherwise required under this chapter and has obtained a current license plate or155 revalidation decal for such antique motor vehicle. Such currently valid license plate shall156 be kept in such antique motor vehicle at all times but need not be displayed in a manner to157 be visible from outside the vehicle.158 (c) For purposes of this Code section, the authentic historical Georgia license plate shall159 be furnished by the owner of any such antique motor vehicle.160 (d) No later than January 1, 2006, the The commissioner shall have installed within the161 department's computer information system applicable to the registration of motor vehicles162 the necessary program which will include in the information relating to the current license163 plate or revalidation decal registration renewal issued for an antique motor vehicle the164 information relating to the authentic historical Georgia license plate authorized to be165 displayed on such antique motor vehicle."166 H. B. 1465 (SUB) - 7 - 26 LC 39 5015S SECTION 9.167 Said chapter is further amended by revising Code Section 40-2-4 2, relating to transfer of168 license plates and revalidation decals, as follows:169 "40-2-42.170 (a) A license plate or revalidation decal, when issued, shall be transferred from one vehicle171 to another vehicle of the same class acquired by the same perso n as provided in this172 chapter. Any use of a license plate or revalidation decal by any other person or persons in173 any manner not provided for in this chapter shall be a violation of this chapter.174 (b) The commissioner shall provide by rules and regulations ap propriate procedures175 whereby, upon the payment of a fee of $5.00, and, upon preparat ion and filing of an176 appropriate application therefor, currently valid annual and fi ve-year license plates and177 revalidation decals shall be transferred from one vehicle to another vehicle of th e same178 class of which ownership is acquired following that person's or those persons' ceasing to179 own or operate on the public roads the vehicle for which such plate was originally issued180 and during the initial registration period for the acquired vehicle. If such acquired vehicle181 is of a different class than the vehicle no longer owned or operated by such person, he or182 she shall submit the license plate currently issued to him or her for cancellation and, upon183 payment of any additional fee for registering such acquired vehicle, the commissioner shall184 issue a new license plate to such person for use on such acquired vehicle. License plates185 and revalidation decals may be transferred in accordance with the provisions of this186 subsection at any time after issuance or renewal thereof and un til the expiration of the187 period for which issued.188 (c) The commissioner shall provide appropriate procedures whereby, when the registered189 owner of a jointly owned motor vehicle is deceased, the license plate issued for the motor190 vehicle may, upon appropriate application and payment of fees, be transferred to the191 surviving owner's name, provided that the surviving owner acqui res a new certificate of192 H. B. 1465 (SUB) - 8 - 26 LC 39 5015S title under subsection (d) or paragraph (1) of subsection (e) of Code Section 40-3-34 and193 makes the payment of appropriate ad valorem taxes."194 SECTION 10.195 Said chapter is further amended by revising Code Section 40-2-44, relating to reporting of196 theft, loss, or mutilation of license plates or revalidation decals and issuance of duplicates or197 replacements, as follows:198 "40-2-44.199 (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this Code section, the owner of a motor vehicle200 shall immediately report the theft, loss, or mutilation of a license plate or revalidation decal201 to the appropriate law enforcement agency or official, includin g but not limited to a202 municipal or county police department or officer, the county sh eriff, the Department of203 Public Safety, or the Georgia State Patrol. Said Such owner shall obtain a copy of the204 police report and shall submit such copy to the commissioner with a fee of $8.00 to obtain205 a duplicate license plate or revalidation decal. Alternatively, the copy of the police report206 may be submitted to the applicant's county tag agent with a fee of $8.00 in which case the207 county tag agent is authorized to issue a replacement license p late or decal . In those208 instances in which a vehicle owner is unable to obtain a police report of such theft, loss,209 or mutilation of a license plate or revalidation decal , the owner shall be authorized to210 submit to the appropriate law enforcement agency or official an d to either the211 commissioner or to the county tag agent a sworn affidavit as to such theft, loss, or212 mutilation in lieu of a police report and obtain a replacement license plate or decal. The213 county tag agent shall be entitled to retain as compensation for issuance of a replacement214 license plate or decal the same commission as provided for issuance of a new license plate215 or decal under the terms and conditions provided in subsection (b) of C ode Section216 40-2-33.217 H. B. 1465 (SUB) - 9 - 26 LC 39 5015S (b) If the license plate or revalidation decal is mutilated but still legible and if such license218 plate or revalidation decal is surrendered with the application for the duplicate, the219 requirements of subsection (a) of this Code section, relating to reporting the theft, loss, or220 mutilation of a license plate or decal and submitting a copy of a police report, shall not221 apply.222 (c) A duplicate county decal when the original has been lost, defaced, or destroyed may223 be obtained from the commissioner at no cost. A replacement license plate or revalidation224 decal when the original has been lost in the mail prior to receipt b y the registered owner225 shall be issued by the commissioner without charge upon application and completion of the226 form and affidavit prescribed by the commissioner setting forth t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s o f227 nonreceipt of the license plate or decal. The owner shall report the nonreceipt or loss of228 the license plate or decal to the appropriate law enforcement agency or official, including,229 but not limited to, a municipal or county police department or officer, the county sheriff,230 or the Department of Public Safety. Said Such owner shall obtain a copy of the police231 report on which the license plate or decal number is listed and shall submit such copy to232 the commissioner. The owner shall not be charged a fee by the Department of Public233 Safety or the local law enforcement agency or official for a copy of such police report.234 (d) The commissioner is authorized to establish procedures and promulgate rules and235 regulations for carrying out this Code section."236 SECTION 11.237 Said chapter is further amended in Code Section 40-2-45, relating to transferring license plate238 or revalidation decal for "salvage", "rebuilt", damaged, or dem olished motor vehicles, by239 revising subsection (a) as follows:240 "(a) No person shall transfer a license plate or decal from one vehicle to any other motor241 vehicle which is a 'salvage' or 'rebuilt' motor vehicle as provided in Chapter 3 of this title242 unless the owner of such vehicle submits satisfactory proof to the commissioner that the243 H. B. 1465 (SUB) - 10 - 26 LC 39 5015S motor vehicle inspection required by Code Section 40-3-37 has been performed and such244 vehicle has been determined to be in full compliance with the law."245 SECTION 12.246 Said chapter is further amended in Code Section 40-2-53, relating to license plates for fleet247 motor vehicles, by revising subsections (b) and (c) as follows:248 "(b) Fleet motor vehicle license plates shall be similar in design to regular license plates249 issued under Code Section 40-2-31, except that such fleet motor vehicle license plates shall250 contain such words or symbols, in addition to the numbers and letters otherwise prescribed251 by law, so as to distinctively identify the motor vehicles on which they are placed as fleet252 motor vehicles. Such motor vehicle license plates shall contain the word 'FLEET' in the253 location of and in lieu of the revalidation decal required under Code Section 40-2-8 so as254 to distinctly identify the motor vehicle as part of an enrolled fleet.255 (c) License plates issued under this Code section shall be renewed annually upon payment256 of a renewal fee to the department. Such fee shall be the same amount that would be257 charged for a revalidation decal for such vehicle."258 SECTION 13.259 Said chapter is further amended in Code Section 40-2-57, relating to application for digital260 license plate, renewals, and fees, by revising subsection (b) as follows:261 "(b) A motor vehicle owner with a digital license plate shall r enew the registration262 annually as provided by this chapter. The department shall notify the digital license plate263 provider upon satisfactory renewal. Evidence of such renewal shall be displayed upon the264 digital license plate in a manner that indicates the year and m onth through which the265 registration of the vehicle shall be valid. Compliance with this subsection shall satisfy the266 revalidation decal requirements of this chapter."267 H. B. 1465 (SUB) - 11 - 26 LC 39 5015S SECTION 14.268 Said chapter is further amended in Code Section 40-2-60, relating to prestige license plates,269 by revising subsection (a) as follows:270 "(a) Motor vehicle owners who are residents of Georgia, upon complying with the motor271 vehicle laws relating to registration and licensing of motor vehicles and, except as provided272 in subsection (c) of this Code section, upon the payment of a fee of $35.00 in addition to273 the regular motor vehicle registration fee, shall be issued spe cial personalized prestige274 license plates by the commissioner. Special personalized license plates issued pursuant to275 this Code section shall be subject to an additional annual regi stration fee of $35.00 as a276 condition of obtaining an annual revalidation decal for renewing such license plate which277 fee shall be collected by the county tag agent at the time of collection of other registration278 fees and shall be remitted to the state as provided in Code Section 40-2-34."279 SECTION 15.280 Said chapter is further amended in Code Section 40-2-60.1, rela ting to standardized281 administrative process for special license plates, designs, fees, and application process, by282 revising paragraph (5) of subsection (c) as follows:283 "(5) 'Special license plate renewal fee' means a $35.00 fee pai d at the time a special284 license plate is renewed and a revalidation decal is issued."285 SECTION 16.286 Said chapter is further amended by revising Code Section 40-2-61, relating to license plates287 for U.S. Senators and Congressmen, state constitutional officer s, Speaker of the House of288 Representatives, Justices of Supreme Court, Judges of Court of Appeals, and Public Service289 Commission members, as follows:290 H. B. 1465 (SUB) - 12 - 26 LC 39 5015S "40-2-61.291 The commissioner shall design and issue distinctive license pla tes to each United States292 Senator and Congressman elected from the State of Georgia, each state constitutional293 officer, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, each Just ice of the Supreme Court294 and each Judge of the Court of Appeals, and each member of the Public Service295 Commission to be placed on such official's personal motor vehicle. Each such distinctive296 license plate shall indicate the individual's elected office and no county name decal need297 be affixed to such plate as required pursuant to Code Section 40-2-9. The special license298 plate authorized by this Code section shall be issued to such e lected official upon299 application and payment of a manufacturing fee of $25.00 and upon compliance with the300 state laws relating to registration and licensing of motor vehicles and shall be transferred301 as provided in Code Section 40-2-80. Distinctive license plate s issued pursuant to this302 Code section shall be renewed annually, and revalidation decals shall be issued upon303 compliance with the laws relating to registration and licensing and upon payment of an304 additional registration fee of $35.00 which shall be collected by the county tag agent at the305 time for collection of other registration fees and shall be remitted to the state as provided306 in Code Section 40-2-34. For purposes of this Code section, the term 'state constitutional307 officer' means the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General,308 State School Superintendent, Commissioner of Insurance, Commissioner of Agriculture,309 or Commissioner of Labor."310 SECTION 17.311 Said chapter is further amended by revising Code Section 40-2-62, relating to license plates312 for current and former members of the General Assembly, as follows:313 "40-2-62.314 The commissioner shall mail special and distinctive license plates printed for members of315 the General Assembly and former members of the General Assembly who are hereby316 H. B. 1465 (SUB) - 13 - 26 LC 39 5015S deemed to have emeritus status after having served in the General Assembly eight or more317 years to the local tag agent in the counties wherein such membe rs or former members318 reside on or before the owner's registration period each year. Such special and distinctive319 license plates shall be issued only upon applications made to t he local tag agent and320 payment of a $25.00 manufacturing fee. License plates may be i ssued by the local tag321 agent upon a proper application and in accordance with the terms of this chapter. License322 plates issued pursuant to this Code section need not contain a place for the county name323 decal, and no county name decal need be affixed to a license plate issued pursuant to this324 Code section. Special and distinctive license plates issued pu rsuant to this Code section325 shall be renewed annually, and revalidation decals shall be issued upon compliance with326 the laws relating to registration and licensing and upon paymen t of an additional327 registration fee of $35.00 which shall be collected by the county tag agent at the time for328 collection of other registration fees and shall be remitted to the state as provided in Code329 Section 40-2-34. The special license plates issued pursuant to this Code section shall be330 transferred to another vehicle as provided in Code Section 40-2-80."331 SECTION 18.332 Said chapter is further amended in Code Section 40-2-63.1, rela ting to license plates for333 public safety first responders injured in the line of duty, by revising subsection (b) as follows:334 "(b) License plates issued pursuant to this Code section need n ot contain a place for the335 county name decal as required pursuant to Code Section 40-2-9, and a county name decal336 need not be affixed to a license plate issued pursuant to this Code section. Special and337 distinctive license plates issued pursuant to this Code section shall be renewed annually,338 and free revalidation decals shall be issued upon compliance wi th the laws relating to339 registration and licensing without payment of an annual renewal fee. The special license340 plates issued pursuant to this Code section shall be transferre d to another vehicle as341 provided in Code Section 40-2-80."342 H. B. 1465 (SUB) - 14 - 26 LC 39 5015S SECTION 19.343 Said chapter is further amended in Code Section 40-2-81, relati ng to license plates for344 members of the Georgia State Defense Force, by revising subsection (f) as follows:345 "(f) Special license plates issued under this Code section, exc ept as provided in346 subparagraph (b)(2)(A) of this Code section, shall be renewed annually with a revalidation347 decal as provided in Code Section 40-2-31 without payment of an additional $25.00 annual348 registration fee."349 SECTION 20.350 Said chapter is further amended in Code Section 40-2-85, relati ng to license plates for351 veterans who survived attack on Pearl Harbor, by revising subsection (e) as follows:352 "(e) Special license plates issued under this Code section shall be renewed annually with353 a revalidation decal as provided in Code Section 40-2-31. It shall be a requirement that a354 county name decal shall be affixed and displayed on license plates issued under this Code355 section."356 SECTION 21.357 Said chapter is further amended in Code Section 40-2-85.1, rela ting to license plates for358 certain veterans, by revising subsection (f) as follows:359 (f) Special license plates issued under this Code section, exc ept as provided in360 subparagraph (b)(2)(A) of this Code section, shall be renewed annually with a revalidation361 decal as provided in Code Section 40-2-31 without payment of an additional $25.00 annual362 registration fee."363 SECTION 22.364 Said chapter is further amended in Code Section 40-2-85.2, rela ting to license plates for365 veterans of the Chosin Reservoir Campaign, by revising subsection (e) as follows:366 H. B. 1465 (SUB) - 15 - 26 LC 39 5015S "(e) Special license plates issued under this Code section shall be renewed annually with367 a revalidation decal , as provided in Code Section 40-2-31, without payment of an368 additional $25.00 annual registration fee. Special license pla tes issued under this Code369 section shall be transferred between vehicles as provided in Code Section 40-2-80."370 SECTION 23.371 Said chapter is further amended in Code Section 40-2-85.3, relating to license plates for Gold372 Star family members, by revising subsections (d), (g), and (h) as follows:373 "(d) Any motor vehicle owner who is a resident of Georgia, othe r than one registering374 under the International Registration Plan, upon complying with state laws relating to375 registration and licensing of motor vehicles shall be issued such a special license plate upon376 application therefor. Special license plates issued under this Code section shall be renewed377 annually with a revalidation decal as provided in Code Section 40-2-31. Upon payment378 of all ad valorem taxes and other fees due at registration of a motor vehicle, an eligible379 family member may apply for a Gold Star license plate. In order to qualify as an eligible380 family member for purposes of this Code section, the person must be related to the fallen381 service member as a spouse, mother, father, sibling, child, stepparent, or surviving spouse382 of such service member's sibling. Up to two free license plate s shall be allowed for any383 eligible family member and they may purchase additional license plates for each motor384 vehicle they register in this state. If a Gold Star license plate is lost, damaged, or stolen,385 the eligible family member must pay the reasonable cost, to be established by the386 department, but not to exceed the cost of other specialty license plates, to replace the Gold387 Star license plate."388 "(g) Renewal decals shall be issued at no cost to No fee shall be required for the renewal389 of a registration for any person that received a free license plate under the provisions of this390 Code section upon the payment of ad valorem taxes and other registration fees, provided391 that the renewal is applied for on or within 30 days prior to the renewal date of the eligible392 H. B. 1465 (SUB) - 16 - 26 LC 39 5015S person. If the eligible person fails to renew within such time, he or she shall pay a standard393 renewal fee and be subject to the standard penalties for late payment of ad valorem taxes394 due on the motor vehicle."395 "(h) An eligible family member may request a Gold Star license plate at any time during396 his or her registration period. If such a license plate is to replace a current valid license397 plate, the license plate shall be issued with appropriate renewal decals attached."398 SECTION 24.399 Said chapter is further amended in Code Section 40-2-86, relating to license plates promoting400 or supporting certain agencies, funds, or nonprofit corporations with proceeds disbursed to401 the general fund and the agency, fund, or nonprofit corporation, by revising subparagraph402 (a)(1)(C), subsection (d), and subsection (f) as follows:403 "(C) 'Special license plate renewal fee' means a $35.00 fee pai d at the time a404 revalidation decal is issued the registration for a special license plate is renewed."405 "(d) Any Georgia resident who is the owner of a motor vehicle, except a vehicle registered406 under the International Registra tion Plan, upon complying with the motor vehicle laws407 relating to registration and licensing of motor vehicles and up on the payment of the408 appropriate fees in addition to the regular motor vehicle regis tration fee shall be able to409 apply for a special license plate listed in this Code section. Revalidation decals shall be410 issued for special license plates in the same manner as provided for general issue license411 plates."412 "(f) An applicant may request a special license plate any time during the applicant's413 registration period. If such a license plate is to replace a c urrent valid license plate, the414 special license plate shall be issued with appropriate decals attached upon payment of the415 manufacturing fee and the special license plate renewal fee."416 H. B. 1465 (SUB) - 17 - 26 LC 39 5015S SECTION 25.417 Said chapter is further amended in Code Section 40-2-86.1, rela ting to license plates418 promoting or supporting certain agencies, funds, or nonprofit c orporations or issued to419 qualified motor vehicles or owners with proceeds deposited in the general fund, by revising420 subsections (d) and (g) and subparagraph (l)(9)(B) as follows:421 "(d) Any Georgia resident who is the owner of a motor vehicle, except a vehicle registered422 under the International Registration Plan, upon complying with the motor vehicle laws423 relating to registration and licensing of motor vehicles and up on the payment of a424 manufacturing fee of $25.00 and a special license plate fee of $35.00, in addition to the425 regular motor vehicle registration fee, shall be able to apply for a special license plate listed426 in subsection (l) of this Code section. Revalidation decals sh all be issued for special427 license plates in the same manner as provided for general issue license plates, with the428 addition of a A $35.00 special license plate renewal fee shall be required for registration429 renewals, provided that special license plates issued pursuant to parag raph (9) of430 subsection (l) of this Code section shall be exempt from such special license plate renewal431 fee."432 "(g) An applicant may request a special license plate any time during the applicant's433 registration period. If such a license plate is to replace a c urrent valid license plate, the434 special license plate shall be issued with appropriate decals attached, upon the payment of435 any applicable registration fees, the manufacturing fee, and the special license plate fee."436 "(B) Should a certified firefighter or volunteer firefighter who has been issued a special437 and distinctive license plate be separated from such firefighte r's department for any438 reason other than retirement from employment, the separated firefighter shall, within439 14 days of such separation, return such special and distinctive license plate to the440 issuing county tag agent. Upon receipt of such special and distinctive license plate, a441 county tag agent shall reissue a regular license plate and the appropriate revalidation442 decal for the applicable registration period, at no additional charg e, to such former443 H. B. 1465 (SUB) - 18 - 26 LC 39 5015S firefighter to replace the special and distinctive license plate. Should a firefighter return444 to service with the same or another fire department, the chief of the fire department445 employing such firefighter shall secure the regular license pla te of such person and446 return same to the commissioner, along with a certificate to the effect that such person447 has become a member of the fire department, and the effective date thereof, whereupon448 the commissioner shall, upon application and upon the payment o f a $35.00449 manufacturing fee and all other applicable registration and licensing fees at the time of450 registration, reissue a special and distinctive license plate t o such new member to451 replace the returned regular license plate."452 SECTION 26.453 Said chapter is further amended in Code Section 40-2-135, relating to revocation and seizure454 of license plates and renewal decals, by revising subsection (c) as follows:455 "(c) Any state or county law enforcement officer or any special agent or enforcement456 officer appointed under Code Section 40-2-134 may, upon the direction or request of the457 commissioner, go upon public or private property to seize a license plate or renewal decal458 which has been revoked as provided in subsection (a) of this Code section."459 SECTION 27.460 Code Section 48-5C-1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to alternative ad461 valorem taxation of motor vehicles and title ad valorem tax fee , is amended by revising462 paragraph (5) of subsection (d) as follows:463 "(5) Any motor vehicle subject to state and local title ad valo rem tax fees under464 paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of this Code section shall cont inue to be subject to the465 title, license plate, revalidation decal, and registration requirements and applicable fees466 as otherwise provided in Title 40 in the same manner as motor v ehicles which are not467 H. B. 1465 (SUB) - 19 - 26 LC 39 5015S subject to state and local title ad valorem tax fees under paragraph (1) of subsection (b)468 of this Code section."469 SECTION 28.470 This Act shall become effective on January 1, 2027.471 SECTION 29.472 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.473 H. B. 1465 (SUB) - 20 -