Bill No. 1598 amends Section 1135.2 of the Oklahoma Statutes to enhance the issuance of special license plates for disabled veterans and military personnel. The bill empowers Service Oklahoma to design and issue plates that recognize various military honors, including those for prisoners of war and Congressional Medal of Honor recipients. It establishes that these special plates are non-transferable and must be removed upon vehicle ownership transfer. The legislation also introduces a system for licensed operators to process applications, confirming eligibility for various categories of plates available to veterans, police officers, and Red Cross volunteers, while streamlining the application and renewal process.

A significant change in the bill increases the number of vehicles for which a disabled veteran can apply for a license plate from two to four, and it allows surviving spouses of deceased disabled veterans to apply for a plate for one vehicle. The bill proposes specialized plates for specific military honors and groups, including victims of the Oklahoma City bombing and members of the Civil Air Patrol. It outlines a fee structure of $8.00 for these plates, which will be redirected to the Service Oklahoma Reimbursement Fund after January 1, 2023. The bill is set to take effect on November 1, 2025, following its passage in the House of Representatives.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 47-1135.2
Floor (House): 47-1135.2
Engrossed: 47-1135.2