House Bill 651 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Ernie YarbroughRepresentative

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Military related distinctive license plates; certain individuals from recertification exempted

Summary

HB651 would exempt people with permanent military, veteran, or gold star family status from the 5-year recertification requirement for distinctive license plates.

What This Bill Does

The bill amends the law to remove the mandatory five-year recertification for those whose military, veteran, or gold star family status is permanent. People with non-permanent qualifying status would still need recertification every five years. Proof of eligibility would still rely on DD214 or VA documents, with alternative VA certification if those are unavailable. The act takes effect January 1, 2027 and keeps existing rules around plate design, issuance, and oversight.

Who It Affects

• Individuals who qualify for military, veteran, or gold star family distinctive license plates with permanent qualifying status are exempt from the five-year recertification requirement.
• Individuals who qualify for these plates but do not have permanent status must continue to be recertified every five years.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 32-6-64 to exempt permanent qualifying status holders from recertification for military, veteran, or gold star family distinctive plates.
• Non-permanent qualifiers still must be recertified at five-year intervals, using DD214 or VA documentation (or VA certification with other evidence) as proof of eligibility.
• Effective January 1, 2027.
• Maintains privacy provisions allowing opt-in/opt-out for releasing personal information to sponsoring organizations, with oversight by the legislative oversight committee.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano-2025-08-07 on Mar 31, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Motor Vehicles & Traffic