DISABLED VETERAN PLATE; EXTEND H.B. 5127:
SUMMARY OF BILL
REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE
House Bill 5127 (as reported without amendment)
Sponsor: Representative Mike McFall
House Committee: Transportation, Mobility, and Infrastructure
Senate Committee: Veterans and Emergency Services
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to extend eligibility for a disabled veteran special registration plate to partially disabled veterans for whom the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) had determined a service-connected disability rating of at least 50%. An eligible partially disabled veteran would have to pay applicable license plate fees.
BRIEF RATIONALE
The bill would allow more disabled veterans to access State parks because disabled veteran s plates provide access to State parks without the purchase of a recreational passport. Freer use of Michigan s State parks could help mitigate veteran-specific mental health issues like post-traumatic stress disorder, a mental health condition that may lead to depression or suicide.
PREVIOUS LEGISLATION
(This section does not provide a comprehensive account of previous legislative efforts on this subject matter.)
The bill is similar to Senate Bill 191 and House Bill 5234 of the 2019-2020 Legislative Session.
Legislative Analyst: Alex Krabill
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact as the proposed change to allow partially disabled veterans to apply for a special disabled veteran license plate would require the payment of the registration tax as prescribed in Section 801 of the Code. There would be no loss in registration tax revenue.
Date Completed: 9-24-24 Fiscal Analyst: Joe Carrasco, Jr.
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.