HB 1171

                                                            Introduced Version
           HOUSE BILL No. 1171
                 _____
              DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL
Citations Affected: IC 9-18.5.
Synopsis: Epilepsy foundation trust license plate. Establishes the
epilepsy foundation trust license plate as a special group recognition
license plate. Establishes the epilepsy foundation trust fund.
Effective: July 1, 2026.
                              Klinker
   January 5, 2026, read first time and referred to Committee on Roads and Transportation.
2026  IN 1171—LS 6233/DI 137
                                                                                       Introduced
            Second Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2026)
 PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
 Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type,
 additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
   Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional
 provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the
 word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds
 a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
  Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts
 between statutes enacted by the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
                   HOUSE BILL No. 1171
   A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
 motor vehicles.
     Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
1     SECTION 1. IC 9-18.5-2-1, AS AMENDED BY P.L.118-2022,
2 SECTION 7, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
3 JULY 1, 2026]: Sec. 1. (a) A person may apply to the bureau for a
4 personalized license plate to display on the person's vehicle.
5     (b) The following license plates may be designed as a personalized
6 license plate under this chapter:
7(1) IC 9-18.5-4 (prisoner of war license plates).
8(2) IC 9-18.5-5 (disabled Hoosier veteran license plates).
9(3) IC 9-18.5-6 (Purple Heart license plates).
10(4) IC 9-18.5-7 (National Guard license plates).
11(5) IC 9-18.5-8 (license plates for persons with disabilities).
12(6) IC 9-18.5-9 (amateur radio operator license plates).
13(7) IC 9-18.5-10 (civic event license plates).
14(8) IC 9-18.5-11 (In God We Trust license plates).
15(9) IC 9-18.5-12 (special group recognition license plates).
16(10) IC 9-18.5-13 (environmental license plates).
17(11) IC 9-18.5-14 (kids first trust license plates).
 2026  IN 1171—LS 6233/DI 137
                                    2
1(12) IC 9-18.5-15 (education license plates).
2(13) IC 9-18.5-16 (Indiana FFA trust license plates).
3(14) IC 9-18.5-17 (Indiana firefighter license plates).
4(15) IC 9-18.5-18 (Indiana boy scouts trust license plates).
5(16) IC 9-18.5-19 (D.A.R.E. Indiana trust license plates).
6(17) IC 9-18.5-20 (Indiana arts trust license plates).
7(18) IC 9-18.5-21 (Indiana health trust license plates).
8(19) IC 9-18.5-22 (Indiana Native American trust license plates).
9(20) IC 9-18.5-24 (Pearl Harbor survivor license plates).
10(21) IC 9-18.5-25 (Indiana state educational institution trust
11license plates).
12(22) IC 9-18.5-26 (Lewis and Clark expedition license plates).
13(23) IC 9-18.5-27 (Riley Children's Foundation license plates).
14(24) IC 9-18.5-28 (National Football League franchised
15professional football team license plates).
16(25) IC 9-18.5-29 (Hoosier veteran license plates).
17(26) IC 9-18.5-30 (support our troops license plates).
18(27) IC 9-18.5-31 (Abraham Lincoln's boyhood home license
19plates).
20(28) IC 9-18.5-33 (Indiana Gold Star family member license
21plates).
22(29) IC 9-18.5-35 (Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal license
23plates).
24(30) IC 9-18.5-37 (epilepsy foundation trust license plates).
25(30) (31) A license plate issued under IC 9-18 (before its
26expiration) or IC 9-18.1.
27     SECTION 2. IC 9-18.5-37 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
28 AS A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
29 JULY 1, 2026]:
30     Chapter 37. Epilepsy Foundation Trust License Plates
31     Sec. 1. The bureau shall design and issue an epilepsy foundation
32 trust license plate. The epilepsy foundation trust license plate shall
33 be designed and issued as a special group recognition license plate
34 under IC 9-18.5-12 and must include the following:
35(1) A basic design for the plate, with consecutive numbers or
36letters, or both, to properly identify the vehicle.
37(2) A background design, an emblem, or colors that designate
38the license plate as an epilepsy foundation trust license plate.
39(3) Any other information the bureau considers necessary.
40     Sec. 2. A person that is eligible to register a vehicle under this
41 title is eligible to receive an epilepsy foundation trust license plate
42 under this chapter upon doing the following:
 2026  IN 1171—LS 6233/DI 137
                                  3
1(1) Completing an application for an epilepsy foundation trust
2license plate.
3(2) Paying the fees under section 3 of this chapter.
4     Sec. 3. (a) The bureau shall collect the following fees for an
5 epilepsy foundation trust license plate:
6(1) An annual supplemental fee of fifteen dollars ($15) under
7IC 9-18.5-12-16.
8(2) An annual fee of not more than twenty-five dollars ($25)
9under IC 9-18.5-12-14(d)(2) or IC 9-18.5-12-15(b).
10     (b) The bureau shall collect the annual fee described in
11 subsection (a)(2) and deposit the annual fee in the epilepsy
12 foundation trust fund established by section 4 of this chapter.
13     Sec. 4. (a) The epilepsy foundation trust fund is established.
14     (b) The treasurer of state shall invest the money in the epilepsy
15 foundation trust fund not currently needed to meet the obligations
16 of the epilepsy foundation trust fund in the same manner as other
17 public trust funds are invested. Interest that accrues from these
18 investments shall be deposited in the epilepsy foundation trust
19 fund.
20     (c) The bureau shall administer the epilepsy foundation trust
21 fund. Expenses of administering the epilepsy foundation trust fund
22 shall be paid from money in the epilepsy foundation trust fund.
23     (d) The bureau shall distribute at least one (1) time each month
24 the money from the epilepsy foundation trust fund to the Epilepsy
25 Foundation Indiana.
26     (e) Money in the epilepsy foundation trust fund at the end of the
27 state fiscal year does not revert to the state general fund.
 2026  IN 1171—LS 6233/DI 137