HB 131

HB131 INTRODUCED
1 HB131
2 I3YFNZW-1
3 By Representative Ross
4 RFD: Military and Veterans' Affairs
5 First Read: 13-Jan-26
6 PFD: 07-Jan-26
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I3YFNZW-1 12/17/2025 ZAK (L)ZAK 2025-3700
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4 SYNOPSIS:
5Under existing law, veterans who were exposed to
6dangerous levels of radiation due to the atomic bomb
7and weapon testing from 1944 to 1962 may be issued a
8distinctive license tag for a motor vehicle.
9This bill would expand the list of veterans
10eligible to receive a distinctive license tag based on
11exposure to dangerous levels of radiation.
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14A BILL
15TO BE ENTITLED
16AN ACT
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18Relating to license tags; to amend Section 32-6-350,
19 Code of Alabama 1975, to include additional veterans who were
20 exposed to dangerous levels of radiation due to their service
21 to those eligible to receive a distinctive license tag.
22 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
23Section 1. Section 32-6-350, Code of Alabama 1975, is
24 amended to read as follows:
25"§32-6-350
26(a) It is the intent of the Legislature to establish an
27 Alabama Veteran Tag Program to recognize certain veterans.
28(b)(1) The owner of a motor vehicle who is a resident
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  HB131 INTRODUCED
29 of this state and who is an eligible veteran pursuant to
30 subsection (c) may be issued a distinctive license tag
31 pursuant to this division. The veteran shall: (i) make
32 application to the judge of probate or commissioner of
33 licenses,; (ii) comply with state motor vehicle laws relating
34 to registration and licensing of motor vehicles,; (iii) pay
35 the regular license fee for a tag as provided by law for a
36 private passenger or pleasure motor vehicle,; and (iv) pay an
37 additional fee of three dollars ($3) for the initial issuance
38 of the tag except a Vietnam veteran's tag.
39(2) In the case of a Vietnam veteran's tag, the
40 additional fee for the initial issuance of the tag shall be
41 six dollars ($6), three dollars ($3) of which shall be
42 distributed to the Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc., Alabama
43 State Council, to be used to assist Vietnam veterans. For each
44 renewal year, an additional fee of three dollars ($3) shall be
45 paid for the Vietnam veterans tag. The additional fee of three
46 dollars ($3) shall be distributed to the Vietnam Veterans of
47 America, Inc., Alabama State Council, to be used to assist
48 Vietnam veterans.
49(c) The distinctive license tags in the Alabama Veteran
50 Tag Program shall include all of the following:
51(1)veterans Veterans of the United States Armed Forces
52 exposed to dangerous levels of radiation due to the atomic
53 bomb and weapon testing from 1944 to 1962, who:
54a. Directly participated in the detonation of an atomic
55 weapon or device;
56b. Directly participated in the cleanup of radioactive
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57 material resulting from any atmospheric detonation of or
58 accident associated with an atomic weapon; or
59c. Were exposed to ionizing radiation resulting from
60 the operational use of atomic weapons during World War II.
61(2) Vietnam veterans,.
62(3) Korean War veterans,.
63(4) World War II veterans,.
64(5) veterans Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge,.
65(6) veterans Veterans of Desert Shield/Desert Storm,
66 Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm.
67(7) veterans Veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom,.
68(8) veterans Veterans of Operation Enduring
69 Freedom-Afghanistan,.
70(9) veterans Veterans of the Cold War serving at any
71 time between September 2, 1945, and December 26, 1991, and.
72(10) veterans Veterans of Operation Inherent Resolve.
73(d) The distinctive tags shall be issued, printed, and
74 processed in the same manner as other distinctive tags as
75 provided in this chapter. The payment of the required motor
76 vehicle license fees and taxes when required by this section
77 for a year during which a new vehicle license plate is not
78 issued shall be evidenced as provided in Section 32-6-63.
79(d)(e) The Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc., Alabama
80 State Council, for the Vietnam veterans distinctive tag, and
81 the Department of Veterans' Veterans Affairs for the other
82 distinctive veteran tags shall each respectively design or
83 have designed the distinctive veteran tags, subject to
84 approval by the Commissioner of Revenue and compliance with
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85 all laws and rules. An applicant for a Vietnam veteran tag
86 shall be a Vietnam era veteran, and the local veteran's
87 affairs officer in the county in which application is made for
88 the distinctive tag shall certify all Vietnam veterans
89 eligible for a Vietnam veteran distinctive tag. An applicant
90 for other veteran distinctive tags shall be a veteran of the
91 appropriate conflict or otherwise qualify for a veteran tag as
92 authorized by this section, and shall be certified as eligible
93 by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
94(e)(f) The distinctive license tags shall not be
95 transferable between motor vehicle owners and shall be subject
96 to the same provisions of law related to the transferring of
97 distinctive motor vehicle tags provided in Section 32-6-154 or
98 as otherwise provided by law or rule of the Department of
99 Revenue."
100Section 2. This act shall become effective on October
101 1, 2026.
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