Senate Bill No. 1150 proposes to eliminate renewal fees for driver's licenses and identity cards for veterans who have the veteran designation on their current documents. The bill amends Section 14-41 of the general statutes, allowing the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles to waive these fees. Additionally, veterans who apply for renewal more than six months before their license or card expires will receive a voucher for free renewal during that period. The bill also allows contractors and municipalities to issue duplicate licenses and identity cards and conduct registration transactions, with a maximum convenience fee of eight dollars.

Moreover, the bill repeals and substitutes Section 1-1h, which governs the application process for identity cards, enabling the Commissioner to waive application fees for certain individuals, including veterans who are blind or homeless. The new provisions specify that an original identity card will expire within seven years of the applicant's next birthday, and the Commissioner may notify cardholders before expiration to facilitate renewals. The bill also introduces penalties for individuals who misrepresent their age or engage in deceitful practices to obtain an identity card, classifying such actions as a class D misdemeanor. The legislation is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and is projected to result in an annual revenue loss of approximately $180,000 to the Special Transportation Fund due to the waived fees for veterans.

Statutes affected:
Committee Bill: 14-41, 1-1h
VA Joint Favorable: 14-41, 1-1h
File No. 252: 14-41, 1-1h