SB263 Alabama 2010 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Ben H. Brooks
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2010
Title: Motor vehicles, distinctive license tags, veterans, Purple Heart and Medal of Honor recipients and former prisoners of war, and surviving spouses, additional tags without payment of license tax or registration fee, including ad valorem tax, authorized, Sec. 32-6-250 am'd.
Summary: SB263 would make free distinctive license plates for Medal of Honor recipients, Purple Heart recipients, and former prisoners of war (and their surviving spouses), and allow free additional plates for those groups on other vehicles.
What This Bill Does
It changes Alabama law to remove fees and ad valorem taxes for the initial distinctive license plate issued to MOH recipients, MOH surviving spouses, Purple Heart recipients, former prisoners of war, and their surviving spouses (with Purple Heart waiving ad valorem tax as well). It also allows these groups to obtain additional distinctive plates for extra vehicles, either by paying standard license taxes and registration fees or, upon request, without payment of those taxes and fees for the additional vehicles, if all requirements are met. The bill provides definitions for former prisoners of war and sets renewal and eligibility rules for plates and decals.

Who It Affects
Medal of Honor recipients and their surviving spouses: would receive a free distinctive MOH plate for their vehicle; may obtain additional plates for other vehicles without paying certain taxes/fees upon request.
Purple Heart recipients and their surviving spouses: would receive a free distinctive Purple Heart plate (including ad valorem tax) for their vehicle; may obtain additional plates for other vehicles without paying license taxes or registration fees upon request.
Former prisoners of war and their surviving spouses: would receive a free distinctive POW plate for their vehicle; may obtain additional plates for other vehicles without paying license taxes or registration fees upon request.

Key Provisions
Amends Section 32-6-250 to authorize a distinctive permanent plate for MOH recipients or MOH surviving spouses, Purple Heart recipients or their spouses, and recognized former prisoners of war or their spouses, with no fee or tax for the plate, and waives ad valorem tax for these groups (including Purple Heart).
Allows eligible individuals to obtain additional distinctive plates for other vehicles, with standard license tax/registration fees (including ad valorem taxes) unless no-fee/no-tax issuance is requested and other requirements are met.
Provides that renewal decals and annual renewals apply after payment of applicable fees when new tags/plates are not issued, and clarifies definitions for former prisoners of war.
Effective date: the act takes effect on the first day of the third month after passage and governor’s approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Motor Vehicles