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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

Energy
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 source material does not provide specific details on application processes or verification methods for radiation exposure eligibility.

Veteran License Tags for Radiation-Exposed Veterans

This bill adds veterans exposed to dangerous levels of radiation during military service to the list of those eligible for distinctive license tags in Alabama.

What This Bill Does

  • Expands eligibility for distinctive veteran license tags to include veterans who were exposed to dangerous levels of radiation due to their service.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Veterans who were exposed to dangerous levels of radiation during military service from 1944 to 1962 and beyond.
  • Motor vehicle owners in Alabama who are eligible under this bill.

Terms To Know

distinctive license tag
A special type of license plate that recognizes certain groups of people, such as military veterans, with unique designs or symbols.
radiation exposure
Being exposed to high levels of radiation from sources like atomic bomb testing or nuclear accidents.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify the exact design for these new distinctive tags.
  • It is unclear how many veterans will be eligible under this expanded definition.
  • There are no details on how to verify radiation exposure for eligibility purposes.

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
Page 4
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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