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SB33 • 2026

Veteran license tags; certain veterans exposed to radiation added to those eligible for distinctive tag

Veteran license tags; certain veterans exposed to radiation added to those eligible for distinctive tag

Firearms
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Kitchens
Last action
2026-01-29
Official status
Read Second Time in Second House
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official status indicates the bill passed both chambers, but the effective date is set for October 1, 2026.

SB33: Expanding Radiation Exposure Eligibility for Veteran License Tags

This bill adds veterans exposed to dangerous radiation from atomic weapons and testing between 1944 and 1962, including those involved in detonations or cleanups, to the list of people who can get a special license tag in Alabama.

What This Bill Does

  • Expands eligibility for distinctive veteran license tags to include veterans exposed to dangerous radiation from atomic bomb testing between 1944 and 1962.
  • Adds veterans who directly participated in the detonation of an atomic weapon or device to the eligible list.
  • Adds veterans who directly participated in cleaning up radioactive material from atmospheric detonations or accidents involving atomic weapons to the eligible list.
  • Includes veterans exposed to ionizing radiation resulting from the operational use of atomic weapons during World War II.
  • Amends Section 32-6-350 of the Code of Alabama 1975 to include these new categories of radiation-exposed veterans.
  • Requires applicants for non-Vietnam veteran tags to be certified as eligible by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • Sets an effective date of October 1, 2026.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Veterans exposed to dangerous radiation from atomic bomb testing or use between 1944 and 1962 who were not previously eligible under the specific criteria.
  • The Department of Veterans Affairs, which must certify eligibility for these new applicants.

Terms To Know

Distinctive License Tag
A special type of car tag issued to recognize certain veterans under the Alabama Veteran Tag Program.
Ionizing Radiation
Radiation resulting from the operational use of atomic weapons during World War II, as specified in the bill for eligibility purposes.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The specific design of the tags is determined by veteran organizations or the Department of Veterans Affairs subject to approval.
  • The text does not state if there are limits on the number of tags that can be issued.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-29 House

    Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar

  2. 2026-01-28 House

    Reported Out of Committee Second House

  3. 2026-01-21 House

    Pending Committee Action in Second House

  4. 2026-01-21 House

    Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Military and Veterans' Affairs

  5. 2026-01-20 Senate

    Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 50 (Yeas 30, Nays 0)

  6. 2026-01-20 Senate

    Third Reading in House of Origin (Yeas 30, Nays 0)

  7. 2026-01-14 Senate

    Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar

  8. 2026-01-14 Senate

    Reported Out of Committee House of Origin

  9. 2026-01-13 Senate

    Pending Committee Action in House of Origin

  10. 2026-01-13 Senate

    Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Safety

Official Summary Text

Veteran license tags; certain veterans exposed to radiation added to those eligible for distinctive tag

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
SB33 INTRODUCED
Page 0
SB33
I3PCYZZ-1
By Senator Kitchens
RFD: Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Safety
First Read: 13-Jan-26
PFD: 17-Dec-25
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I3PCYZZ-1 09/09/2025 ZAK (L)ZAK 2025-2641
Page 1
PFD: 17-Dec-25
SYNOPSIS:
Under existing law, veterans who were exposed to
dangerous levels of radiation due to the atomic bomb
and weapon testing from 1944 to 1962 may be issued a
distinctive license tag for a motor vehicle.
This bill would expand the list of veterans
eligible to receive a distinctive license tag based on
exposure to dangerous levels of radiation.
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to license tags; to amend Section 32-6-350,
Code of Alabama 1975, to include additional veterans who were
exposed to dangerous levels of radiation due to their service
to those eligible to receive a distinctive license tag.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. Section 32-6-350, Code of Alabama 1975, is
amended to read as follows:
"§32-6-350
(a) It is the intent of the Legislature to establish an
Alabama Veteran Tag Program to recognize certain veterans.
(b)(1) The owner of a motor vehicle who is a resident
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SB33 INTRODUCED
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(b)(1) The owner of a motor vehicle who is a resident
of this state and who is an eligible veteran pursuant to
subsection (c) may be issued a distinctive license tag
pursuant to this division. The veteran shall : (i) make
application to the judge of probate or commissioner of
licenses ,; (ii) comply with state motor vehicle laws relating
to registration and licensing of motor vehicles ,; (iii) pay
the regular license fee for a tag as provided by law for a
private passenger or pleasure motor vehicle ,; and (iv) pay an
additional fee of three dollars ($3) for the initial issuance
of the tag except a Vietnam veteran's tag.
(2) In the case of a Vietnam veteran's tag, the
additional fee for the initial issuance of the tag shall be
six dollars ($6), three dollars ($3) of which shall be
distributed to the Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc., Alabama
State Council, to be used to assist Vietnam veterans. For each
renewal year, an additional fee of three dollars ($3) shall be
paid for the Vietnam veterans tag. The additional fee of three
dollars ($3) shall be distributed to the Vietnam Veterans of
America, Inc., Alabama State Council, to be used to assist
Vietnam veterans.
(c) The distinctive license tags in the Alabama Veteran
Tag Program shall include all of the following:
(1)veterans Veterans of the United States Armed Forces
exposed to dangerous levels of radiation due to the atomic
bomb and weapon testing from 1944 to 1962, who:
a. Directly participated in the detonation of an atomic
weapon or device;
b. Directly participated in the cleanup of radioactive
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SB33 INTRODUCED
Page 3
b. Directly participated in the cleanup of radioactive
material resulting from any atmospheric detonation of or
accident associated with an atomic weapon; or
c. Were exposed to ionizing radiation resulting from
the operational use of atomic weapons during World War II.
(2) Vietnam veterans ,.
(3) Korean War veterans ,.
(4) World War II veterans ,.
(5) veterans Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge ,.
(6) veterans Veterans of Desert Shield/Desert Storm,
Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm.
(7) veterans Veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom ,.
(8) veterans Veterans of Operation Enduring
Freedom-Afghanistan ,.
(9) veterans Veterans of the Cold War serving at any
time between September 2, 1945, and December 26, 1991 , and.
(10) veterans Veterans of Operation Inherent Resolve.
(d) The distinctive tags shall be issued, printed, and
processed in the same manner as other distinctive tags as
provided in this chapter. The payment of the required motor
vehicle license fees and taxes when required by this section
for a year during which a new vehicle license plate is not
issued shall be evidenced as provided in Section 32-6-63.
(d)(e) The Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc., Alabama
State Council , for the Vietnam veterans distinctive tag, and
the Department of Veterans' Veterans Affairs for the other
distinctive veteran tags shall each respectively design or
have designed the distinctive veteran tags, subject to
approval by the Commissioner of Revenue and compliance with
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SB33 INTRODUCED
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approval by the Commissioner of Revenue and compliance with
all laws and rules. An applicant for a Vietnam veteran tag
shall be a Vietnam era veteran, and the local veteran's
affairs officer in the county in which application is made for
the distinctive tag shall certify all Vietnam veterans
eligible for a Vietnam veteran distinctive tag. An applicant
for other veteran distinctive tags shall be a veteran of the
appropriate conflict or otherwise qualify for a veteran tag as
authorized by this section , and shall be certified as eligible
by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
(e)(f) The distinctive license tags shall not be
transferable between motor vehicle owners and shall be subject
to the same provisions of law related to the transferring of
distinctive motor vehicle tags provided in Section 32-6-154 or
as otherwise provided by law or rule of the Department of
Revenue."
Section 2. This act shall become effective on October
1, 2026.
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