HB988 • 2026

MTR VEHICLE/LICEN PLATES: Modifies the current and retired legislators special prestige license plates fee distribution

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Larry Bagley
Last action: 2026-05-28
Official status: Sent to Governor
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and digest do not provide specific details on how much money will be collected or what happens if there is insufficient funding.

Special License Plates for Current and Retired Legislators

This bill changes how fees collected from special license plates for current and retired Louisiana legislators are distributed, directing the money to the division of administration for restoration efforts.

What This Bill Does

Changes the annual fee for special license plates for current and retired legislators to $25 per year.
Requires that all money collected from these annual fees be sent to the division of administration.
Specifies that the funds must be used for restoration efforts, particularly for the Pentagon Barracks.
Allows the secretary to make rules about how these plates are handled, including what happens when a legislator dies.

Who It Names or Affects

Current and retired Louisiana legislators who have special license plates.
The department responsible for motor vehicle registration in Louisiana.
The division of administration that receives the funds from the fees.

Terms To Know

Pentagon Barracks: A historic building in Louisiana that is being restored using money collected from special license plate fees.
Royalty fee: The yearly charge for keeping a special license plate, which goes to the state for specific purposes.

Limits and Unknowns

It does not specify how much money will be collected or what happens if there is not enough money to fully restore the Pentagon Barracks.
Does not explain who pays the handling fee of $3.50 per plate.
The bill only changes how funds are used, but it doesn't create new plates or give them out.

Bill History

2026-05-28 H
Sent to the Governor for executive approval.
2026-05-27 S
Signed by the President of the Senate.
2026-05-26 H
Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.
2026-05-26 H
Received from the Senate without amendments.
2026-05-26 S
Rules suspended. Read by title, passed by a vote of 34 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
2026-05-20 S
Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.
2026-05-19 S
Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
2026-05-18 S
Reported favorably.
2026-04-29 S
Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works.
2026-04-28 S
Received in the Senate. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.
2026-04-28 H
Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 92, nays 0. The bill, having received two-thirds vote of the elected members, was finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
2026-04-23 H
Scheduled for floor debate on 04/28/2026.
2026-04-23 H
Read by title, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.
2026-04-22 H
Reported favorably (14-0).
2026-03-24 H
Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works.
2026-03-23 H
Read by title. Lies over under the rules.

Official Summary Text

MTR VEHICLE/LICEN PLATES: Modifies the current and retired legislators special prestige license plates fee distribution

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

ENROLLED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 988
BY REPRESENTATIVE BAGLEY
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 47:463.37(B) and (C) and 463.49(B) and (C) and to enact R.S.
3 47:463.37(D) and 463.49(D), relative to current and retired legislator special prestige
4 license plates; to provide for the annual royalty fees applicable to such license plates;
5 to provide for implementation; and to provide for related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 47:463.37(B) and (C) and 463.49(B) and (C) are hereby amended
8 and reenacted and R.S. 47:463.37(D) and 463.49(D) are hereby enacted to read as follows:
9 §463.37. Special prestige license plates; retired legislators
10 * * *
11 B. The charge for this special license plate shall be a one-time fee of
12 twenty-five dollars for each plate, which shall be in addition to the regular motor
13 vehicle registration license fee charged under the provisions of R.S. 47:463 The
14 department shall collect an annual royalty fee of twenty-five dollars that shall be
15 disbursed in accordance with Subsection C of this Section. This fee shall be in
16 addition to the standard motor vehicle license tax imposed by Article VII, Section
17 5 of the Constitution of Louisiana, and a handling fee of three dollars and fifty cents
18 for each plate to be retained by the department to offset a portion of administrative
19 costs.
20 C. The annual royalty fee shall be collected by the department and forwarded
21 to the division of administration. The monies received from the royalty fees shall be
22 used for the restoration efforts of the Pentagon Barracks.
23 C. D. The secretary shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to
24 implement the provisions of this Section, including rules and regulations governing
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HB NO. 988 ENROLLED
1 the transfer and disposition of the license plates upon the death of the recipient and
2 governing the design of the plate.
3 * * *
4 §463.49. Special prestige license plates; legislators
5 * * *
6 B. The charge for this special license plate shall be a one-time fee of
7 twenty-five dollars for each plate, which shall be in addition to the regular motor
8 vehicle registration license fee charged under the provisions of R.S. 47:463 The
9 department shall collect an annual royalty fee of twenty-five dollars that shall be
10 disbursed in accordance with Subsection C of this Section. This fee shall be in
11 addition to the standard motor vehicle license tax imposed by Article VII, Section
12 5 of the Constitution of Louisiana, and a handling fee of three dollars and fifty cents
13 for each plate to be retained by the department to offset a portion of administrative
14 costs.
15 C. The annual royalty fee shall be collected by the department and forwarded
16 to the division of administration. The monies received from the royalty fees shall be
17 used for the restoration efforts of the Pentagon Barracks.
18 C. D. The secretary shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to
19 implement the provisions of this Section, including rules and regulations governing
20 the transfer and disposition of the license plates upon the death of the recipient and
21 governing the design of the plate.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.