The bill proposes significant amendments to the Code of West Virginia, primarily aimed at eliminating fees for license plates, vehicle registration, operator's licenses, and inspection fees for volunteer firefighters. It introduces provisions for special license plates for various groups, including elected officials, military members, and youth organizations, while establishing specific eligibility criteria and application processes. Key changes include the removal of certain requirements for registration plates, such as the commissioner’s discretion in assigning registration numbers and the suspension of registration for damaged plates. The bill also sets forth structured fees for special plates, including a $15 annual fee for elected officials and a $10 initial application fee for veterans and emergency personnel.

Additionally, the bill outlines new requirements for organizations seeking to create special registration plates, necessitating a minimum number of applications before production can begin. It allows surviving spouses of veterans to continue using their deceased spouse's special plates under certain conditions and waives renewal fees for driver's licenses for volunteer firefighters. The bill also reduces the maximum inspection fee for vehicles from $19 to $14 and eliminates the inspection fee for one Class A vehicle owned by a volunteer firefighter, provided it is not used for commercial purposes. Overall, the bill aims to enhance benefits for veterans and military personnel while alleviating financial burdens for volunteer firefighters and ensuring compliance with existing insurance and tax requirements.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 17A-3-14, 17A-10-8, 17B-2-1, 17C-16-6