HANDICAPPED & SPECIAL REGISTRATION PLATES (NEW).

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View NCGA Bill Details2019-2020 Session
House Bill 449 (Public) Filed Monday, March 25, 2019
AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE OF HANDICAPPED LICENSE PLATES TO A REGISTERED VEHICLE OWNER THAT IS THE GUARDIAN OR PARENT OF A HANDICAPPED PERSON AND TO AUTHORIZE THE DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLES TO PRODUCE VARIOUS SPECIAL REGISTRATION PLATES.
Intro. by Iler, Torbett.

Status: Ch. SL 2019-213 (Sep 4 2019)

SOG comments (2):

Long title change

Senate committee substitute to the 2nd edition changed the long title.  Original long title was AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLES TO PRODUCE VARIOUS SPECIAL REGISTRATION PLATES.

Long title change

Conference report changed the long title.  Previous title was AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLES TO PRODUCE A "KEEPING THE LIGHTS ON" SPECIAL REGISTRATION PLATE.

Bill History:

H 449/S.L. 2019-213

Bill Summaries:

  • Summary date: Sep 5 2019 - View Summary

    AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE OF HANDICAPPED LICENSE PLATES TO A REGISTERED VEHICLE OWNER THAT IS THE GUARDIAN OR PARENT OF A HANDICAPPED PERSON AND TO AUTHORIZE THE DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLES TO PRODUCE VARIOUS SPECIAL REGISTRATION PLATES. SL 2019-213. Enacted September 4, 2019. Effective March 1, 2020.


  • Summary date: Aug 26 2019 - View Summary

    Conference report adds the following to the 4th edition.

    Amends GS 20-37.6, allowing the registered owner of a vehicle who is the guardian or parent of a handicapped person to apply for and display a distinguishing license plate (currently, limited to handicapped persons who are registered vehicle owners). Specifies that a vehicle with a distinguishing license plate can be lawfully used when a handicapped person is not a driver or passenger so long as the vehicle is not using handicapped privileges. Requires a registered owner who is the guardian or parent of a handicapped person and displays a distinguishing license plate to submit certification of the required medical determination every five years, though annual renewal of the distinguishing license plate is required. Makes conforming changes. Amends GS 20-37.5 to add guardian to the defined terms.

    Further enacts new subdivisions to GS 20-79.4(b) to also produce special registration plates for ALS Research and the Town of Wrightsville Beach. Establishes a special plate fee of $30 for the ALS Research plate and requires that $20 of that amount be transferred quarterly to the ALS Association of North Carolina Chapter to support ALS research. Establishes a special plate fee of $20 for the Town of Wrightsville Beach plate and requires that $10 of that amount be transferred quarterly to the Town of Wrightsville Beach to help fund the continuing efforts to maintain and improve recreational opportunities for residents and visitors. 

    Makes the entire act effective March 1, 2020. Makes conforming changes to the act's titles. 


  • Summary date: Jul 9 2019 - View Summary

    Senate amendment to the 3rd edition makes the following changes. 

    In addition to the new subdivision to produce the Keeping the Lights On special registration plate, enacts another new subdivision to GS 20-79.4(b) to produce a special registration plate for POW/MIA Bring Them Home, as described. Plate issuance is contingent on the receipt of at least 350 plate applications under GS 20-79.3A. Establishes a special plate fee of $20 for the POW/MIA Bring Them Home plate and requires that $10 of that amount be transferred quarterly to Rolling Thunder, Inc., Chapter #1. Adds that the POW/MIA Bring Them Home plate is not subject to the new plate requirements of GS 20-79.3A (requiring 500 applications prior to issuance) and the expiration of special registration plate authorization in GS 20-79.8 (sunsetting the authorization if the applicant fails to submit the required items within 60 days of the authorization becoming law). Effective March 1, 2020.

    Makes conforming changes to the act's long title.


  • Summary date: Jul 8 2019 - View Summary

    Senate committee substitute to the 2nd edition makes the following change. Limits the scope of the act to the Keeping the Lights On special registration plate, removing provisions related to the ALS Research, A Pet Is Family, and the Wrightsville Beach registration plates. Makes conforming changes to the act's long title.


  • Summary date: Apr 3 2019 - View Summary

    House committee substitute to the 1st edition makes the following change. Makes act effective March 1, 2020 (was, effective when the act becomes law). 


  • Summary date: Mar 25 2019 - View Summary

    Enacts new subdivisions to GS 20-79.4(b) to produce special registration plates for ALS Research, A Pet Is Family, Keeping The Lights On, and Wrightsville Beach. Adds the Keeping The Lights On plate to those that do not have to be a "First in Flight" plate, "First in Freedom" plate, or "National/State Mottos" plate under GS 20-63. Plate issuance is contingent on the receipt of at least 300 plate applications, and 500 plate applications for the Keeping The Lights On plate, under GS 20-79.3A.

    Establishes a special plate fee of $30 for the ALS Research plate and requires that $20 of that amount be transferred quarterly to the ALS Association of North Carolina Chapter to support ALS research. 

    Establishes a special plate fee of $30 for the Keeping The Lights On plate and requires that $20 of that amount be transferred quarterly to the UNC Jaycee Burn Center. 

    Establishes a special plate fee of $15 for the A Pet Is Family plate and requires that $5 of that amount be transferred quarterly to the Sergei Foundation Inc. to further its mission as specified. 

    Establishes a special plate fee of $20 for the Wrightsville Beach plate and requires that $10 of that amount be transferred quarterly to the Town of Wrightsville Beach to help fund the continuing efforts to maintain and improve recreational opportunities for residents and visitors.