Committee approves bill allowing temporary placards for pregnant women with a doctor’s note

The House Transportation Committee approved a bill sponsored by Representative Aaron Pilkington to let pregnant women obtain a temporary placard from the revenue office with a doctor’s note confirming pregnancy; the placard would be valid through the pregnancy and for one year after birth.

Pilkington said the measure is intended to encourage prenatal care and ease mobility for pregnant and postpartum women. “One of the things we found was a lot of women are not actually going to get prenatal care,” Pilkington said, and the placard is intended as an incentive and a temporary accommodation for mobility during pregnancy and recovery from childbirth.

Committee members asked whether the measure would displace existing handicap parking users and whether it would expand the number of reserved spaces; the sponsor and supporters said the bill does not require creation of new parking spaces and that the placard functionally works like other temporary or specialty placards. Representative Perrier and other members raised concerns about potential crowding of spaces used by people with permanent disabilities. Representative Pilkington and supporters said the number of placards issued would be spread across the state and that many pregnant people would not seek the placard.

The bill sets the postpartum period at one year after birth, consistent with other maternal‑health measures and the concept of the “fourth trimester.” Representative Pilkington said the 12‑month period aligns with standard maternal‑health follow‑up metrics. The Office of Motor Vehicles had no position on the bill in committee testimony recorded in the transcript.

After limited floor questions and no testimony in opposition, the committee voted to advance the bill on a voice vote.