HF833

The legislative bill H.F. No. 02172025, authored by Dotseth, proposes amendments to Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 168.123, concerning special veterans license plates. Here's a simple breakdown of what the bill aims to achieve:

1. General Eligibility and Fees: Veterans eligible for the special license plates must have served honorably in the armed forces during a foreign war and must be registered owners of certain types of vehicles (like passenger cars or motorcycles). They need to pay a fee set for special license plates and the usual registration tax.

2. Special Plate Categories: The bill outlines various veteran categories, with each category having a designated license plate design:

   • Vietnam Veterans
   • Pearl Harbor Survivors
   • World War II Veterans
   • Korean Conflict Veterans
   • Purple Heart Recipients
   • Persian Gulf War Veterans
   • Laos War Veterans
   • Special Campaign and Service Medal Recipients: Including Iraq Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and Korean Defense Service Medal.
   • Army of Occupation Medal
   • Bronze Star and Silver Star Recipients
   • Woman Veterans

3. Design and Approval: The designs for these plates, including any inscriptions and emblems, must be approved by the Commissioner of Veterans Affairs.

4. Transfer and Administration:

   • The special plates can be transferred to another vehicle of the same type if it qualifies and is registered under the same veteran.
   • A transfer fee of $5 is applicable.
   • The commissioner may adopt rules to govern the issuance and use of these special plates.

This bill is designed to honor various groups of veterans by providing them with special recognition through distinctive license plates, reflecting their service and specific contributions or honors received. The proposal includes both technical changes and expansions on the eligibility and design of the veterans' special license plates.