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

The official source confirms the effective date is October 1, 2026, but does not specify if this applies to registrations processed before or after that exact day.

Exempting Veterans from Passport to the Parks Vehicle Fee

This law exempts veterans who provide proof of their status from paying the 'Passport to the Parks' motor vehicle registration fee starting October 1, 2026.

What This Bill Does

Exempts veterans defined in section 27-103 from paying the Passport to the Parks motor vehicle registration fee if they present satisfactory documentation of their status.
Sets an effective date of October 1, 2026, for this exemption.
Keeps all other standard vehicle registration fees and rules unchanged.

Who It Names or Affects

Veterans as defined in section 27-103 who register motor vehicles
The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles and their authorized representatives

Terms To Know

Passport to the Parks Fee: A specific charge added to vehicle registration forms that is deposited into a special account for parks.
Veteran status documentation: Proof showing a person served in the military, which must be accepted by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles or their representative.

Limits and Unknowns

The exemption does not apply to motor vehicles that are not self-propelled.
The exemption does not apply if the vehicle is already exempt from paying a registration fee.
No part of the Passport to the Parks Fee can be refunded under existing refund rules.

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