Senate Bill 249 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Will BarfootSenator

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Distinctive license plates; volunteer and professional firefighters plate fee increased, distribution of funds provided for

Summary

SB249 raises firefighter plate fees and directs the extra money to memorial, support, and relief programs, while setting design and eligibility rules for professional and retired firefighter plates with a 2027 effective date.

What This Bill Does

The bill adds annual add-on fees to firefighter distinctive license plates (including separate $1 and $10 components for different plate types) and directs net proceeds to four funds on a monthly basis: the Alabama Firefighter Memorial, the Firefighter Peer Support Program, the Alabama Firefighters Annuity and Benefit Fund, and the Alabama Firefighters Emergency Relief Fund. It creates professional and retired professional firefighter distinctive plates with designs approved by firefighter associations, requires eligibility lists and proof of retirement or membership for initial issuance, and allows out-of-state retirees under certain conditions. Issuance follows standard license plate processes, with regular fees applying and certain fees (like a $3 issuance fee) not required; plates are for personally owned private passenger vehicles, and there are audit and rulemaking provisions plus a penalty for false applications. The act becomes effective January 1, 2027.

Who It Affects

• Volunteer firefighters and their departments, who may receive funding through memorial and support programs and who will see changes to their distinctive plate costs.
• Professional firefighters and retired professional firefighters, who may obtain distinctive plates with new designs and eligibility requirements, and whose plate costs include add-on fees.
• License issuing officials and county probate/license offices, who will manage issuance and distribution of funds.
• The Alabama Joint Fire Council, the Firefighters Personnel Standards and Education Commission, and the various firefighter funds (Memorial, Peer Support, Annuity/Benefit Fund, Emergency Relief Fund), which will receive and administer the new revenues.
• Plate owners of firefighter plates and the general public, who will be affected by the new fees and the use of the funds for memorial and support programs.

Key Provisions

• Distinctive firefighter plates for volunteers include a red Maltese cross on each side and 'Fire Fighter' at the bottom.
• Professional and retired professional firefighter plates have designs created by firefighter associations and may include out-of-state retirees; eligibility lists are maintained, and proof of retirement or membership is required for initial issuance.
• Annual add-on fees: $1 (for certain firefighter plates) and $10 (for professional firefighter plates) added to plate costs, with net proceeds distributed monthly to four funds.
• Net proceeds distribution (monthly) supports the Alabama Firefighter Memorial, Firefighter Peer Support Program, Annuity and Benefit Fund, and Emergency Relief Fund; the distributions are audited.
• Issuance and renewal follow standard license plate rules; the $3 issuance fee may not be required for these plates; proof of retirement/membership is needed for initial issuance and a list is updated by December 1 each year.
• Penalties include Class C misdemeanor for falsely obtaining a distinctive firefighter plate.
• The Department of Revenue may adopt rules to administer the section.
• Effective date of the act is January 1, 2027.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano-2025-08-07 on Mar 13, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Motor Vehicles & Traffic