BILL AS INTRODUCED S.264
2024 Page 1 of 3
1 S.264
2 Introduced by Senators Weeks, Campion, Gulick, Hashim, Ingalls, Norris,
3 Williams and Wrenner
4 Referred to Committee on
5 Date:
6 Subject: Motor vehicles; special plates; veterans; members of the U.S. Armed
7 Forces; Distinguished Flying Cross; Silver Star
8 Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to require the
9 Commissioner of Motor Vehicles to design and issue special plates for use on
10 certain motor vehicles to applicants who have received the Distinguished
11 Flying Cross or Silver Star and to codify the issuance of special plates
12 currently offered to veterans and members of the U.S. Armed Forces.
13 An act relating to special plates for motor vehicles for veterans and
14 members of the U.S. Armed Forces
15 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
16 Sec. 1. 23 V.S.A. § 304(j) is amended to read:
17 (j) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall, upon proper application,
18 issue special plates to Vermont veterans, as defined in 38 U.S.C. § 101(2), and
19 to members of the U.S. Armed Forces, as defined in 38 U.S.C. § 101(10), for
20 use on vehicles registered at the pleasure car rate, on vehicles registered at the VT LEG #372441 v.2
BILL AS INTRODUCED S.264
2024 Page 2 of 3
1 motorcycle rate, and on trucks registered for less than 26,001 pounds and
2 excluding vehicles registered under the International Registration Plan. The
3 type and style of the plate shall be determined by the Commissioner, except
4 that an American flag, or a veteran- or military-related emblem selected by the
5 Commissioner and the Vermont Office of Veterans’ Affairs shall appear on
6 one side of the plate. At a minimum, emblems shall be available to recognize
7 recipients of the Air Medal, Bronze Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple
8 Heart, and Silver Star; Pearl Harbor survivors,; former prisoners of war,; and
9 veterans; disabled veterans; veterans of foreign wars who served in
10 Afghanistan; the Gulf War; the Iraq War; the Korean War; the Vietnam War;
11 and World War II; members of the Vermont National Guard; and Gold Star
12 Families. An applicant shall apply on a form prescribed by the Commissioner,
13 and the applicant’s eligibility as a member of one of the groups recognized will
14 be certified by the Office of Veterans’ Affairs. The plates shall be reissued
15 only to the original holder of the plates or the surviving spouse. The
16 Commissioner may adopt rules to implement the provisions of this subsection.
17 Except for new or renewed registrations, applications for the issuance of plates
18 under this subsection shall be processed in the order received by the
19 Department subject to normal workflow considerations. The costs associated
20 with developing new emblems shall be borne by the Department of Motor
21 Vehicles.
VT LEG #372441 v.2
BILL AS INTRODUCED S.264
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1 Sec. 2. IMPLEMENTATION
2 The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall update applicable registration
3 forms and design a special plate for the individuals who have received the
4 Distinguished Flying Cross or Silver Star in accordance with 23 V.S.A.
5 § 304(j) as amended by Sec. 1 of this act not later than January 1, 2025. All
6 special plates that are currently available to veterans and members of the U.S.
7 Armed Forces shall continue to be made available to eligible applicants.
8 Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATES
9 (a) Sec. 1 (special plates; 23 V.S.A. § 304(j)) shall take effect on January 1,
10 2025.
11 (b) All other sections shall take effect on passage.
VT LEG #372441 v.2
Statutes affected: As Introduced: 23-304(j), 23-304