SB00279 • 2026

AN ACT EXEMPTING VETERANS FROM PAYMENT OF THE PASSPORT TO THE PARKS MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION FEE.

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Veterans' and Military Affairs Committee
Last action: 2026-03-12
Official status: Favorable Change of Reference, House to Committee on Environment
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Exempting Veterans from Passport to Parks Fee

This act removes the requirement for veterans to pay a specific motor vehicle registration fee called the 'Passport to the Parks Fee'.

What This Bill Does

Removes the need for veterans to pay the 'Passport to the Parks' fee when registering or renewing their motor vehicles.
Requires veterans to provide proof of their veteran status to be exempt from this fee.

Who It Names or Affects

Veterans who register or renew the registration of a motor vehicle in Connecticut.

Terms To Know

Passport to the Parks Fee: A fee charged for registering certain types of vehicles, which veterans are exempt from paying under this act.
Veteran: An individual who has served in the military and meets the definition provided by Connecticut law.

Limits and Unknowns

The exemption applies only to motor vehicles that are self-propelled.
It does not affect other fees or taxes related to vehicle registration.
The act takes effect on October 1, 2026.

Bill History

2026-03-12 Connecticut General Assembly
Favorable Change of Reference, Senate to Committee on Environment
2026-03-12 Connecticut General Assembly
Favorable Change of Reference, House to Committee on Environment
2026-03-11 LCO
Filed with Legislative Commissioners' Office
2026-03-11 LCO
Reported Out of Legislative Commissioners' Office
2026-03-10 VA
Joint Favorable Change of Reference Environment
2026-02-20 Connecticut General Assembly
Public Hearing 02/24
2026-02-19 Connecticut General Assembly
Referred to Joint Committee on Veterans' and Military Affairs

Official Summary Text

To exempt veterans from payment of the Passport to the Parks motor vehicle registration fee.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

LCO 1152 1 of 2

General Assembly Raised Bill No. 279
February Session, 2026 LCO No. 1152

Referred to Committee on VETERANS' AND MILITARY
AFFAIRS

Introduced by:
(VA)

AN ACT EXEMPTING VETERANS FROM PAYMENT OF THE
PASSPORT TO THE PARKS MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION FEE.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. Subsection (b) of section 14 -49b of the general statutes is 1
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 2
1, 2026): 3
(b) For each new registration or renewal of registration of any motor 4
vehicle with the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles pursuant to this 5
chapter, the person registering such vehicle shall pay to the 6
commissioner a fee of twenty-four dollars for registration for a triennial 7
period or sixteen dollars for registration for a biennial period for the 8
following registration types: Passenger, motorcycle, motor home, 9
combination or antique; [. Any] except that (1) any person who is sixty-10
five years or older and who obtains a one -year registration renewal 11
under section 14-49 for such registration type shall pay eight dollars for 12
the annual registration period , and (2) any person who is a veteran, as 13
defined in section 27-103, and who presents documentation, satisfactory 14
Raised Bill No. 279

LCO 1152 2 of 2

to the commissioner or the commissioner's authorized representative, 15
indicating such person's status as a veteran shall be exempt from 16
payment of the fee. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to 17
any motor vehicle that is not self -propelled or that is exempted from 18
payment of a registration fee. This fee shall be identified as the "Passport 19
to the Parks Fee" on any registration form provided by the 20
commissioner. Payments collected pursuant to the provisions of this 21
subsection shall be deposited in the Passport to the Parks account 22
established pursuant to section 23 -15h. The fee required by this 23
subsection is in addition to any other fees prescribed by any other 24
provision of this title for the registration of a motor vehicle. No part of 25
the "Passport to the Parks Fee" shall be subject to a refund under 26
subsection (z) of section 14-49. 27
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Section 1 October 1, 2026 14-49b(b)

VA Joint Favorable C/R ENV