Senate Bill 189 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

April WeaverSenator

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Motor vehicles; license plates, validity period extended

Summary

SB189 would extend the minimum valid period for Alabama motor vehicle license plate designs from 5 years to 10 years.

What This Bill Does

The bill requires license plate designs to be valid for at least 10 years (up from 5). It also creates a process for new distinctive plates, including minimum registration thresholds (250 for smaller categories and 1,000 for larger ones), design approvals by an oversight committee, and related funding and production requirements. Additionally, it introduces opt-in/opt-out rules for sharing some personal registration information with sponsoring organizations and adds recertification rules for military, veteran, and Gold Star plates.

Who It Affects

• Vehicle owners in Alabama: their license plate designs would be valid for at least 10 years, and they could opt in to allow certain personal information to be shared with sponsoring organizations.
• Sponsoring organizations (colleges/universities and other groups that sponsor distinctive plates): they must apply for approval, meet minimum registration thresholds, manage plate design and data-sharing rules, and handle associated fees.

Key Provisions

• Minimum 10-year validity for all license plate designs (Sections 32-6-62(a)).
• The Commissioner of Revenue, with License Plates Legislative Oversight Committee approval, may authorize a plate design to be valid for more than the minimum period.
• License plates must have a reflective face to improve nighttime visibility, and numerals must meet specified height and county-designation rules.
• Distinctive plate categories require a minimum of 250 registrations (Quantity Class 1) or 1,000 registrations (Quantity Class 2) to trigger production, with design options for emblem/logo placement and committee approval.
• An initial application fee (up to $100) funds the template production, with funds held in escrow and potential distribution to the sponsor if minimums are not met; a 2.5% commission is retained by the state from the fee.
• Recertification requirements apply to military, veteran, and Alabama Gold Star plates, using specified documentation to prove eligibility every five years.
• Opt-in/opt-out provisions allow owners to control whether their basic personal information (name, address, email) is released to sponsoring organizations; annual disclosure lists may be requested by sponsors, with restrictions on resale or third-party sharing without consent.
• Effective date: October 1, 2025.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 12, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Motor Vehicles & Traffic