HB482 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Arnold MooneyRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to motor vehicles; to amend Section 32-6-65, Code of Alabama 1975, to define centralized motor vehicle registration; to allow for certain data collection; to provide for retroactive effect; and to make nonsubstantive, technical revisions to update the existing code language to current style.

Summary

HB482 defines centralized motor vehicle registration, prohibits it and keeps registration at the county level, creates a statewide uniform renewal form, allows limited data collection, and applies retroactively to 2022.

What This Bill Does

It defines what centralized motor vehicle registration means and states that such centralization is prohibited, keeping registration work at the county level. It requires one statewide uniform renewal form for transfers and registrations, with receipts to county agencies and color data captured in permanent records. It clarifies that some statewide data collection is allowed without counting as centralized registration and prohibits the state from mandating a specific software system. It also adds late-registration penalties, provides a deployment-related exemption for military members, and applies retroactively to October 1, 2022, with related penalties distributed like other fees and includes nonsubstantive, technical revisions to the code language.

Who It Affects

• County motor vehicle offices and registrars, who will continue to handle registration work at the county level and implement the uniform renewal form and data capture requirements.
• Vehicle owners and registrants, who will be subject to late-registration penalties, enforcement actions for operating without valid plates, and potential deployment-related exemptions.
• Law enforcement and state agencies (e.g., Department of Revenue), who are restricted from centralizing registration and from mandating specific software, while managing penalties and data handling within the new framework.

Key Provisions

• Defines 'centralized motor vehicle registration' as a state-agency-controlled system that processes issuance of registration certificates or plates and clarifies that a statewide data system processing county/local data is not considered centralized registration.
• Prohibits centralized motor vehicle registration and affirms that registration should remain at the county level; requires one statewide uniform renewal form for transfers and registration, with receipts to county agencies and vehicle color captured in permanent records.
• States no state agency may impose or require a specific software system for registration processing and allows certain data collection at the state level without counting as centralized registration.
• Imposes a $15 late-registration penalty and defines late registration to include failure to register within 20 days of purchase, failure to renew in the designated month, and failure to register under existing statutes; directs enforcement to arrest unregistered vehicle operation with a minimum $25 fine upon conviction.
• Provides a deployment-related exemption: military personnel renewing within 30 days after deployment ends are not charged late penalties or interest, with documented deployment evidence.
• Distributes penalties like other motor vehicle license/registration fees and repeals conflicting portions of related statutes.
• Effective immediately upon governor's approval and retroactive to October 1, 2022; includes nonsubstantive, technical revisions to update language to current style.

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