SB186 • 2026

Motor vehicles, distinctive license plates, issuance of "Invisible Disability" plates, authorized

Healthcare Taxes

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Coleman (M)
Last action: 2026-01-20
Official status: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

While the bill text states it was introduced and passed both chambers, the official status label indicates 'Passed Legislature' but also notes a last action date in January 2026 with pending committee action. The effective date is explicitly set for October 1, 2026.

Creating Special License Plates for Invisible Disabilities

This bill creates a new special license plate in Alabama for people with certain medical conditions that are not always visible and their primary caregivers.

What This Bill Does

Authorizes the issuance of distinctive 'Invisible Disability' license plates to eligible individuals living in Alabama.
Defines invisible disabilities as specific physical or mental conditions, including autism spectrum disorder, diabetes, heart conditions, cognitive disability, epilepsy, schizophrenia, and others that may interfere with communication with first responders.
Requires applicants to pay regular registration fees plus an additional $40 annual fee.
Mandates that a physician licensed in Alabama provide proof of the diagnosis for approval.
Sets the validity period for these plates at five years before they must be replaced or renewed.
Directs net proceeds from the extra fee to Kulturecity, Incorporated to fund sensory accessibility and inclusion projects.

Who It Names or Affects

Alabama residents diagnosed with one of the listed invisible disabilities.
Primary caregivers for individuals who have been diagnosed with an invisible disability.
The Alabama Department of Revenue, which will manage fees and adopt rules to implement the law.
Kulturecity, Incorporated, which is responsible for designing the plate and receiving funds.

Terms To Know

Invisible Disability: A physical or mental condition that may interfere with an individual's ability to communicate with a first responder, including autism spectrum disorder, epilepsy, diabetes, heart conditions, and others listed in the bill.
Primary Caregiver: An individual who is the primary caretaker of someone diagnosed with an invisible disability.

Limits and Unknowns

This law only takes effect on October 1, 2026.
Applicants must provide a diagnosis from a physician licensed to practice medicine in Alabama; out-of-state doctors are not mentioned as acceptable sources.
The specific design of the license plate is subject to approval by the Commissioner of Revenue.

Bill History

2026-01-20 Senate
Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
2026-01-20 Senate
Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Finance and Taxation General Fund

Official Summary Text

Motor vehicles, distinctive license plates, issuance of "Invisible Disability" plates, authorized

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB186 INTRODUCED
Page 0
SB186
2JU3CKK-1
By Senators Coleman, Chambliss
RFD: Finance and Taxation General Fund
First Read: 20-Jan-26
1
2
3
4
5
2JU3CKK-1 12/18/2025 GED (L)ma 2025-3733
Page 1
First Read: 20-Jan-26
SYNOPSIS:
Existing law authorizes the issuance of
distinctive motor vehicle license plates.
This bill would authorize the issuance of a
distinctive motor vehicle license plate to individuals
who live with invisible disabilities and to the primary
caregivers of those individuals.
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to motor vehicle registration and distinctive
license plates; to authorize the issuance of a distinctive
motor vehicle license plate to individuals who have certain
medical conditions and tp the primary caregivers of those
individuals; and to provide for the distribution of proceeds
from the license plate fee.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. (a) For purposes of this section, the term
"invisible disability" means a physical or mental condition
that may interfere with an individual's ability to communicate
with a first responder, including:
(1) A communication impediment;
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
SB186 INTRODUCED
Page 2
(1) A communication impediment;
(2) Hearing loss;
(3) Blindness or a visual impairment;
(4) Autism spectrum disorder;
(5) Traumatic brain injury;
(6) Schizophrenia;
(7) Alzheimer's disease or dementia;
(8) Post traumatic stress disorder;
(9) Epilepsy;
(10) A developmental disability;
(11) Down syndrome;
(12) Diabetes;
(13) A heart condition; or
(14) A cognitive disability.
(b) Notwithstanding Sections 32-6-64, 32-6-65, 32-6-67,
and 32-6-68, Code of Alabama 1975, an owner of a motor vehicle
who is a resident of Alabama and who has been diagnosed with
an invisible disability or an individual who is the primary
caretaker of an individual who has been diagnosed with an
invisible disability shall be issued a distinctive "Invisible
Disability" license plate upon:
(1) Application to the judge of probate, license
commissioner, or other issuing official;
(2) Compliance with motor vehicle registration and
licensing laws;
(3) Payment of regular fees required by law for license
plates for private passenger or pleasure motor vehicles; and
(4) Payment of an additional annual fee of forty
dollars ($40).
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
SB186 INTRODUCED
Page 3
dollars ($40).
(c) To receive an "Invisible Disability" license plate,
the individual shall provide proof of the diagnosis from a
physician licensed to practice medicine in this state.
(d) The "Invisible Disability" license plates shall be
valid for five years and may then be replaced with either
conventional, personalized, or new "Invisible Disability"
license plates.
(e) Payment of required license fees and taxes for the
years during which a new plate is not issued shall be
evidenced as provided in Section 32-6-63, Code of Alabama
1975.
(f) Kulturecity, Incorporated shall be responsible for
the design of the distinctive license plate subject to
approval by the Commissioner of Revenue and compliance with
all laws and rules.
(g) Proceeds from the additional revenues generated by
the forty dollars ($40) minus the production and
administrative costs for the "Invisible Disability" license
plates shall be submitted monthly by the Department of Revenue
or other appropriate official to Kulturecity, Incorporated.
The proceeds shall be used to assist in accomplishing its goal
of creating sensory accessibility and inclusion for
individuals with invisible disabilities within the state.
(h) The Department of Revenue may adopt rules to
implement this section.
Section 2. This act shall become effective on October
1, 2026.
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83