HB342 Alabama 2018 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Margie WilcoxRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2018

Title

Motor vehicles, distinctive license plates, registration renewals, disclosure of certain information to sponsoring organization at time of registration, Secs. 32-6-64, 32-6-67 am'd.

Summary

HB 342 lets motor vehicle owners opt in to share certain registration data with plate sponsors or colleges and universities, while updating plate oversight rules and production guidelines.

What This Bill Does

The bill allows owners to consent to their name, address, and email being released from their vehicle registration records to the sponsoring organization of distinctive license plates or to public colleges and universities, with an opt-in at initial registration and opt-out options later. Sponsoring organizations or colleges cannot resell or disclose this information to others without written owner consent. It updates the Legislative Oversight Committee on License Tags and Plates to reflect state agency changes and adds an advisory member. It also sets minimum enrollment thresholds for new distinctive plate categories (250 for Quantity Class 1 and 1,000 for Quantity Class 2) and details funding, design approvals, and timing for producing those plates, including escrow mechanisms if targets aren’t met.

Who It Affects

• Vehicle owners in Alabama, who may opt in to allow their basic registration information to be shared with plate sponsors or colleges/universities for certain distinctive plates and may opt out at any time.
• Sponsoring organizations of distinctive license plates and public colleges/universities, who can request access to the opt-in owner data for outreach but must refrain from reselling or disclosing it without owner consent.

Key Provisions

• Owners may opt in to release name, address, and email from their registration records to sponsoring organizations or colleges/universities for eligible plates; opt-in at initial registration and opt-out later.
• Sponsoring organizations and colleges may list owners who opt in to receive information, but cannot resell or disclose it to third parties without written owner consent.
• The Legislative Oversight Committee on License Tags and Plates is updated for organizational changes and gains an additional advisory member; the committee oversees plate categories, design approvals, and eligibility.
• New distinctive plate categories must meet minimum enrollment: 250 registrations for Quantity Class 1 and 1,000 for Quantity Class 2; if not met within specified time, funds are returned to the sponsor and the sponsor must wait before applying again.
• When a sufficient number of applications is reached, the Department of Revenue begins design and manufacture processes, with escrow funds managed by the Comptroller.
• The Department of Corrections handles production and distribution of license plates and revalidation devices with proper record-keeping; the act also outlines the effective dates for provisions.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Motor Vehicles