HB195 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

K.L. Brown

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

Motor vehicles, distinctive license tags, expand eligibility to include honorably discharged veterans of the Cold War, Secs. 32-6-350, 32-6-350.1 am'd.

Summary

HB195 expands the Alabama Veteran Tag Program to include Cold War veterans and adds a personalized tag option with fee distributions to veterans' programs.

What This Bill Does

It adds honorably discharged Cold War veterans (Sept 2, 1945 to Dec 26, 1991) to the eligible groups for distinctive Alabama Veteran Tags. It maintains existing veteran tag categories and establishes specific fee rules: a $3 initial issuance fee for most tags, a $6 initial issuance fee for Vietnam tags (with $3 of that going to the Vietnam Veterans of America Alabama State Council), and a $3 renewal fee for Vietnam tags. It creates a personalized tag option for certain veterans at a $50 annual fee, with proceeds allocated to the Alabama Veterans' Assistance Fund and, for Vietnam personalized plates, $20 per plate to the Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc., Alabama State Council, plus the remainder to the fund. The act clarifies eligibility certification, non-transferability of tags, and that personalized tag fees are charitable contributions, with an effective date of January 1, 2022.

Who It Affects

• Honorably discharged Cold War era veterans in Alabama who are residents and eligible as certified by the Department of Veterans' Affairs, allowing them to obtain a distinctive veteran license tag.
• Vietnam veterans and other listed veterans (e.g., WWII, Korean War, Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan, Battle of the Bulge, etc.) who want a distinguished tag or a personalized tag, with associated fee distributions supporting veterans' causes.

Key Provisions

• Expands eligibility in the distinctive Alabama Veteran Tag Program to include Cold War veterans (Sept 2, 1945–Dec 26, 1991).
• For distinctive tags, sets initial issuance fees: $3 for non-Vietnam veteran tags; $6 for Vietnam veteran tags (with $3 of the $6 distributed to the Vietnam Veterans of America Alabama State Council). Renewal for Vietnam tags adds a $3 fee distributed to the same organization.
• Maintains non-transferability of distinctive veteran tags and requires certification of eligibility by the Department of Veterans' Affairs; local county veterans officers certify Vietnam-era eligibility.
• Creates a personalized license tag option for certain veterans at $50 annually, inscribed with approved marks or text, issued like other personalized tags, and treated as a charitable contribution.
• Distributes funds from personalized tags: after manufacturing and administration costs, balance goes to the Alabama Veterans' Assistance Fund; $20 per Vietnam personalized plate goes to the Vietnam Veterans of America Alabama State Council; remainder goes to the Alabama Veterans' Assistance Fund; Vietnam personalized plates follow special handling for costs and allocations.
• Tags are overseen by the legislative oversight committee and the act becomes effective January 1, 2022.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Motor Vehicles