# Georgia SB 293: License Plates for Certain Veterans; the number of free license plates issued to certain veterans; increase

Georgia SB 293, License Plates for Certain Veterans; the number of free license plates issued to certain veterans; increase, is a 2025-2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by John Albers (Republican), Jason Anavitarte (Republican), Lee Anderson (Republican) and 33 others; status signed, last action 2026-07-01 (Effective Date); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB293-2025-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Georgia SB 293
- State: Georgia
- Session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
- Title: License Plates for Certain Veterans; the number of free license plates issued to certain veterans; increase
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-02-27
- Last action: 2026-07-01, Effective Date
- Sponsors: John Albers (Republican), Jason Anavitarte (Republican), Lee Anderson (Republican), Timothy Bearden (Republican), Matt Brass (Republican), Max Burns (Republican), Clint Dixon (Republican), Greg Dolezal (Republican), Drew Echols (Republican), Jason Esteves (Democrat), Steve Gooch (Republican), Russ Goodman (Republican), Marty Harbin (Republican), Ed Harbison (Democrat), Bo Hatchett (Republican), Billy Hickman (Republican), Mike Hodges (Republican), Chuck Hufstetler (Republican), Harold Jones II (Democrat), Emanuel Jones (Democrat), John F. Kennedy (Republican), Kay Kirkpatrick (Republican), Josh McLaurin (Democrat), Chuck Payne (Republican), Sheikh Rahman (Democrat), Michael 'Doc' Rhett (Democrat), Randy Robertson (Republican), Ed Setzler (Republican), Freddie Powell Sims (Democrat), Shawn Still (Republican), Brian Strickland (Republican), Carden Summers (Republican), Larry Walker (Republican), Ben Watson (Republican), Sam Watson (Republican), Rick Williams (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Subjects: Motor Vehicles, Public Safety, General Bill
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 5 (477 yes, 6 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 8

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Larger payouts for odometer fraud victims: benefit, high. Beginning July 1, 2026, people harmed by intentional odometer fraud can recover three times their actual damages or $10,000, whichever is greater. The previous dollar alternative was $1,500. A successful claim can also include case costs and reasonable lawyer fees. The law sets a two-year time limi…
- Dealer staff face private plate limits: cost, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, private dealer-plate use is limited to dealership-owned vehicles held for sale or lease. Private use cannot exceed six months per vehicle. The driver must be a dealership employee or corporate officer. An employee must work at least 36 hours per week at the dealership.
- Tougher penalties for vehicle document fraud: cost, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, violations of Georgia's odometer law are felonies rather than misdemeanors. Knowingly falsifying title mileage or specified title-application dates with fraudulent intent also falls under felony title offenses. Covered dates include vehicle sales, purchases, and the creation…
- Higher plate fees for vehicle businesses: cost, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, covered dealers, distributors, manufacturers, and manufacturer headquarters pay an $80 plate application fee, up from $62. Each additional plate costs $15, up from $12. Beginning January 1, 2027, plates issued under these rules must be metal. Their text and designs must be r…
- Dealer licensing eases residency, tightens oversight: mixed, medium. Beginning July 1, 2026, used vehicle dealers need a $50,000 bond for each covered license or supplemental license, up from $35,000. Used parts dealers still need a $10,000 bond; these amounts are not the price paid for the bond. Applicants can meet the residency requirement by living in Georgia or…
- Free buyer permits with time limits: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, dealers must give vehicle buyers a temporary operating permit at sale without charge. The permit must show the vehicle identification number and expires 45 days after purchase. An authorized registration extension can extend the permit. The requirements exclude vehicles regi…
- Businesses gain limited unregistered vehicle permits: mixed, low. Beginning January 1, 2027, Georgia's Revenue Department can issue 12-month permits allowing limited highway use of unregistered vehicles. Applicants need business-address documents, minimum liability insurance, and either a continuous bond of at least $50,000 or a current used parts dealer license.…
- Drivers face tougher plate misuse penalties: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, covered plate offenses carry a fine of at least $750, up to 12 months in jail, or both. They include knowingly misusing another vehicle's plate and willfully altering or hiding plate information. They also cover intentional plate removal or unauthorized attachment to hide ve…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: John Albers (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Jason Anavitarte (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Lee Anderson (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Timothy Bearden (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Matt Brass (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Max Burns (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Clint Dixon (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Greg Dolezal (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Drew Echols (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Jason Esteves (Democrat), Senate
- Sponsor: Steve Gooch (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Russ Goodman (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Marty Harbin (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Ed Harbison (Democrat), Senate
- Sponsor: Bo Hatchett (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Billy Hickman (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Mike Hodges (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Chuck Hufstetler (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Harold Jones II (Democrat), Senate
- Sponsor: Emanuel Jones (Democrat), Senate
- Sponsor: John F. Kennedy (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Kay Kirkpatrick (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Josh McLaurin (Democrat), Senate
- Sponsor: Chuck Payne (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Sheikh Rahman (Democrat), Senate
- Sponsor: Michael 'Doc' Rhett (Democrat), Senate
- Sponsor: Randy Robertson (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Ed Setzler (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Freddie Powell Sims (Democrat), Senate
- Sponsor: Shawn Still (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Brian Strickland (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Carden Summers (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Larry Walker (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Ben Watson (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Sam Watson (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Rick Williams (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: John Corbett (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-31 | House | Agree to Senate Amend to House Sub | pass | 168 | 1 | 6 |
| 2026-03-27 | Senate | ADOPTION OF AMEND #1A BY SEN FROM THE 6TH TO AMEND #1 BY SEN FROM THE 6TH | pass | 43 | 3 | 2 |
| 2026-03-27 | Senate | AGREE TO HOUSE SUBSTITUTE AS AMENDED | pass | 41 | 2 | 5 |
| 2026-03-18 | House | PASSAGE | pass | 169 | 0 | 5 |
| 2025-03-06 | Senate | PASSAGE | pass | 56 | 0 |   |

## Actions (20)

- 2026-07-01: Effective Date
- 2026-05-11: Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
- 2026-05-11: Act 503
- 2026-04-10: Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
- 2026-03-31: House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub (House)
- 2026-03-27: Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub As Amended (Senate)
- 2026-03-18: House Third Readers (House)
- 2026-03-18: House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
- 2026-03-12: House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
- 2025-04-04: House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
- 2025-03-31: House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
- 2025-03-18: House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
- 2025-03-11: House Second Readers (House)
- 2025-03-10: House First Readers (House)
- 2025-03-06: Senate Third Read (Senate)
- 2025-03-06: Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
- 2025-03-04: Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
- 2025-03-03: Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
- 2025-02-28: Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- 2025-02-27: Senate Hopper (Senate)

## Bill text

- SB 293/AP* (v14): [PDF](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/248648)

## Related bills

- SB 160: Reckless Stunt Driving; a motor vehicle involved in a second offense of reckless stunt driving; replace the forfeiture penalty (signed)
- SB 384: Motor Vehicle; optional five-year motor vehicle registration and revalidation for certain motor vehicles; provide (signed)
- SB 76: License Plates; specialty license plate benefitting the Georgia Veterans Service Foundation; establish (signed)
- SB 406: "Georgia Property Owners' Bill of Rights Act"; enact (signed)
- HB 1391: Specialty license plates; honor public safety officers; establish (signed)
- HB 1344: Georgia Insurance Affordability and Claims Integrity Act; enact (signed)

## Sources
- [SB 293/AP* (v14) (PDF)](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/248648)

## Related
- [SB 160: Reckless Stunt Driving; a motor vehicle involved in a second offense of reckles…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB160-2025-2026)
- [SB 384: Motor Vehicle; optional five-year motor vehicle registration and revalidation f…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB384-2025-2026)
- [SB 76: License Plates; specialty license plate benefitting the Georgia Veterans Servic…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB76-2025-2026)
- [SB 406: "Georgia Property Owners' Bill of Rights Act"; enact](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB406-2025-2026)
- [HB 1391: Specialty license plates; honor public safety officers; establish](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1391-2025-2026)
- [HB 1344: Georgia Insurance Affordability and Claims Integrity Act; enact](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1344-2025-2026)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB293-2025-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).