Committee adds Shepherd Center and veterans plates to specialty license bill, approves HB208

A state House committee on an early-morning agenda amended and approved House Bill 208 to add two revenue‑sharing specialty license plates, one benefiting the Shepherd Center and one for the Georgia Veterans Service Foundation.

The Shepherd Center’s director of government relations and advocacy, Abigail Thompson Garcia, told the committee the center treats spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries and that proceeds from a specialty plate would “go back to our foundation, which benefits our patients and their families, and covers everything that insurance doesn't.” She said the hospital will mark its 50th anniversary in August.

Committee members also agreed to add language directing proceeds from a separate plate to the Georgia Veterans Service Foundation, according to the bill presentation. The committee approved the amended bill by voice vote; members indicated support and no opposition during the session.

The Shepherd Center plate would be a revenue‑sharing specialty plate; the bill as amended places the proceeds with the Shepherd Center foundation to cover patient needs not paid by insurance. Committee discussion noted the plate is one of several specialty and revenue‑sharing plates addressed by the bill.

The committee gave the chair’s bill — as amended to include the Shepherd Center and the Georgia Veterans Service Foundation — a favorable vote and moved it forward. The committee did not record a numerical roll-call tally in the transcript; members approved the motion by voice.

The committee hearing included no disagreement on the additions and no further public testimony was recorded on the item. The bill will proceed through the legislative process with the added specialty plate provisions.