OHIO LEGISLATIVE SERVICE COMMISSION
Office of Research Legislative Budget
www.lsc.ohio.gov and Drafting Office
H.B. 216 Bill Analysis
134th General Assembly
Click here for H.B. 216’s Fiscal Note
Version: As Reported by House Transportation and Public Safety
Primary Sponsor: Rep. Galonski
Effective Date:
Helena Volzer, Attorney
SUMMARY
 Requires the Registrar of Motor Vehicles to accept a county issued veterans
identification card in lieu of an applicant’s DD-214 as documentary evidence of service
from a person who applies for a military license plate.
DETAILED ANALYSIS
Military license plates
The bill requires the Registrar of Motor Vehicles to accept a county issued veterans
identification card, from a person applying for a military license plate, as documentary evidence
of service. Under continuing law, the Director of Veterans Services and the Registrar of Motor
Vehicles must: (1) maintain a program to issue nonstandard license plates recognizing military
service and military honors pertaining to valor and service, and (2) jointly adopt rules under the
Administrative Procedure Act1 for the program, including a rule to establish requirements
governing any necessary documentary evidence required to be presented by an applicant for a
nonstandard license plate.
The bill specifically requires that the rules adopted, with respect to documentary
evidence required to be presented, must allow an applicant to present a county issued veterans
identification card in lieu of a copy of the applicant’s DD-214 or equivalent document. (The
DD-214 is the standard armed forces discharge record issued by the United States Department
of Defense). Under the bill, the rule also must specify that an applicant may be required to
present additional evidence if the veteran’s identification card does not show all of the
This analysis was prepared before the report of the House Transportation and Public Safety Committee
appeared in the House Journal. Note that the legislative history is incomplete.
1 Chapter 119 of the Revised Code.
October 26, 2021
Office of Research and Drafting LSC Legislative Budget Office
information needed for issuance of the specific nonstandard license plate requested by the
applicant.2
Continuing law authorizes a board of county commissioners to authorize a county
recorder or county veterans service office to issue Ohio veterans identification cards to
qualifying individuals. Presentation of an individual’s armed forces discharge record is one of
the requirements for obtaining the county issued veterans identification card.3
HISTORY
Action Date
Introduced 03-16-21
Reported, H. Transportation and Public Safety --
H0216-RH-134/ts
2 R.C. 4503.29(B)(4).
3 R.C. 317.241, not in the bill.
P a g e |2 H.B. 216
As Reported by House Transportation and Public Safety


Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 4503.29
As Reported By House Committee: 4503.29