SB156 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Gerald H. AllenSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

License plates, impose a one dollar fee on firefighter license plates, distribute fee to Alabama Joint Fire Council and the Alabama Fire College, Secs. 32-6-271, 32-6-280 am'd.

Summary

SB156 would raise the annual fee for firefighter license plates to $1 and split the money between maintaining the Firefighter Memorial and supporting the Firefighter Peer Support program, instead of the old 25-cent fee.

What This Bill Does

Raises the annual fee for distinctive firefighter license plates from 25 cents to $1 starting January 1, 2022. Distributes the net proceeds monthly: 50 cents to a fund managed by the Alabama Joint Fire Council for expanding and maintaining the Alabama Firefighter Memorial in Tuscaloosa, and 50 cents to the Council for expenses of the Firefighter Peer Support program. Eliminates the three-dollar issuance fee for these plates and ensures the funds are audited every three years by the appropriate state or independent auditor. Amends the relevant license plate statutes and allows the Department of Revenue to adopt rules to administer the provisions.

Who It Affects

• Firefighters who apply for or renew distinctive firefighter license plates (both professional and retired) — they will pay a $1 annual fee and will not be required to pay the $3 issuance fee.
• The Alabama Joint Fire Council and related programs (Firefighter Memorial and Firefighter Peer Support program) — will receive half of the new fee each year to fund memorial expansion/maintenance and peer support expenses.
• License-issuance officials and state agencies (Department of Revenue and the State Comptroller) — responsible for collecting the fee, distributing it monthly, and auditing the funds.

Key Provisions

• Amends Sections 32-6-271 and 32-6-280 to set an annual $1 fee for firefighter plates, effective January 1, 2022.
• Allocates 50 cents of each dollar to the Alabama Joint Fire Council for the Firefighter Memorial in Tuscaloosa and 50 cents to the Council for the Firefighter Peer Support program.
• Eliminates the $3 issuance fee for these distinctive plates.
• Funds are subject to audit by the Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts or an independent CPA once every three calendar years.
• The Department of Revenue may adopt rules to administer the provisions.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 23, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

License Plates