Panel hears bill to add special license-plate categories for veterans including Space Force and fallen military

The committee considered Assembly Bill 409, which would revise provisions governing special license plates to add additional categories for decorated veterans and include the U.S. Space Force among veteran plate options.

Assemblyman Gregory Hafen II (Assembly District 36), the sponsor, said the bill seeks to extend prior benefits given to decorated veterans and to add categories the Legislature previously omitted, including Air Force Cross, Coast Guard Cross, Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross and a category described as "fallen military." He also said the Department of Motor Vehicles requested inclusion of the Space Force in the list of veteran-designated plates.

Sean Severe of the Nevada DMV testified the agency is neutral on AB 409 and that the bill has a $0 fiscal impact to the DMV; he said implementation is low impact on in‑house programming hours and that DMV typically programs plates after session, sometimes using contractors but assessing the workload as small.

Andrew Lee Pilbit, chairman of the United Veterans Legislative Council of Nevada, testified in support and provided information on how many recipients of the specified decorations reside in Nevada and how many plates could be produced if recipients opt to purchase them. No opposition testimony was recorded during the hearing.

The committee closed the hearing without taking a recorded vote in the transcript of the hearing portion. The DMV representative and veteran advocates emphasized the change is intended to expand personalization and parity for veterans across military branches and decorations.