Georgia House Motor Vehicles Committee approves new specialty plates, renames commercial vehicle unit and approves rural funeral-procession rule

The Georgia House Motor Vehicles Committee on an unspecified recent meeting approved a package of bills that would create two new specialty license plates, authorize separate ambulance and hearse license plates, rename and certify the state's commercial vehicle enforcement unit, update a federal compliance date, and require oncoming traffic on rural roads to yield to funeral processions.

The package, advanced by the committee chaired by Representative Allen Powell, includes House Bill 208 to create a State Parks and Historic Sites specialty plate and a black bass conservation plate; House Bill 114 to update a federal date in motor carrier hazardous-materials guidance; House Bill 116 to change the Motor Carrier Compliance Division name and require its officers to be trained and sworn law enforcement; House Bill 61 to issue separate ambulance and hearse tags; and a bill by Representative Franklin requiring oncoming traffic on rural roads to pull over for funeral processions under specified conditions.

Representative Lady Smith, the sponsor of House Bill 208, told the committee the plate for state parks would highlight Georgia's park system and raise funds to "support improving aging infrastructure" while a black bass plate would "help us raise awareness among anglers" and fund conservation efforts. She said the Department of Revenue had no substantive objections to the bill but requested an effective-date change; the committee substitute sets the effective date at Jan. 1, 2026 (substitute LC394545S).

Commissioner Billy Hitchens of the Georgia Department of Public Safety described House Bill 116 as more than a name change. "This bill will establish that officers working in this division will be trained, sworn, and certified law enforcement officers," he told the committee, saying the change is intended to clarify responsibilities and improve highway safety. Committee members asked about cost; Hitchens said the fiscal impact for patches and vehicle markings was about $65,000 and that training would continue at the existing training site referenced in the hearing.

On House Bill 114, sponsors said the change aligns a date in state law with updated federal guidance for hazardous-materials compliance and moves the compliance date forward by one year. Representative presenters said the change is an annual update the state typically adopts.

Representative Seeball said House Bill 61 separates the previously combined "hearse-ambulance" plate into two distinct plates, so an ambulance and a hearse would carry different tags; the sponsor and a Department of Revenue staff member confirmed the fee for the plate would remain a $20 tag rather than a higher-priced specialty plate.

Representative Franklin described the funeral-procession bill as stemming from a sheriff's office concern about safety for deputies escorting processions. The measure requires, on rural roads, that oncoming traffic pull over and remain stopped while a properly marked procession passes; the bill includes equipment and marking requirements discussed in committee.

Votes at a glance

- HB 208 (LC394545S, substitute) — Creates a State Parks and Historic Sites specialty plate and a black bass conservation plate; Department of Revenue raised no substantive objection; substitute sets effective date 01/01/2026. Action: approved by voice vote (motion and second recorded; voice tally not specified). Notes: sponsor said plates would fund park infrastructure improvements and bass conservation and increase public awareness.

- HB 114 (LC394443) — Annual update aligning state motor-carrier hazardous-materials compliance date with federal guidance (date changed from 01/01/2024 to 01/01/2025). Action: approved by voice vote (motion and second recorded; voice tally not specified).

- HB 116 (LC394485) — Renames the Motor Carrier Compliance Division to the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division and requires its officers be "trained, sworn, and certified law enforcement officers." Action: approved by voice vote (motion and second recorded; voice tally not specified). Fiscal note: approximately $65,000 for vehicle/patch changes; training continuity to continue at the existing training site.

- HB 61 (LC394465) — Authorizes separate license plates for ambulances and hearses (currently a single "hearse ambulance" plate). Action: approved by voice vote (motion and second recorded; voice tally not specified). Fee: $20 tag confirmed as the fee for the new plate.

- Funeral-procession measure (author: Representative Franklin; bill number not specified on the transcript) — Requires oncoming traffic on rural roads to pull over while a marked funeral procession passes and establishes marking/lighting requirements discussed in committee. Action: approved by voice vote (motion and second recorded; voice tally not specified). Notes: sponsor described safety incidents that prompted the measure.

The committee discussion mixed technical detail and brief policy debate. Members asked about training costs and staffing for the newly named enforcement division and about plate-fee classification. Department of Revenue and Department of Public Safety staff were present to answer questions; DOR had requested the effective-date change for HB 208's substitute. Committee chair Allen Powell closed the meeting and noted the next meeting is scheduled for "next Tuesday, 08:00" (standard time), per the hearing record.

Ending: All measures discussed in the hearing were advanced by the committee by voice vote; specific numeric tallies were not recorded in the transcript provided.