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To: Finance
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Senator(s) Hartness
SENATE BILL NO. 2831
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 27-19-51, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, 1
TO REQUIRE THAT MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES 2
DISCHARGED FOR A REASON OTHER THAN RETIREMENT SHALL PRESENT A COPY 3
OF THEIR DD FORM 214 WHEN APPLYING FOR THE DISTINCTIVE MOTOR 4
VEHICLE LICENSE TAG AUTHORIZED UNDER THIS SECTION; AND FOR RELATED 5
PURPOSES. 6
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 7
SECTION 1. Section 27-19-51, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 8
amended as follows: 9
27-19-51. (1) (a) In recognition of their many and varied 10
patriotic services rendered the state, the United States and the 11
citizens thereof, Mississippians who have completed an active duty 12
career with the Armed Forces of the United States and active duty 13
and retired members of the Army National Guard, Air National 14
Guard, and the United States Reserves, including both enlisted and 15
officer personnel, upon application and subject to the provisions 16
of this section may be issued distinctive motor vehicle license 17
plates or tags identifying these persons with such organizations. 18
For the purposes of this section the term "Armed Forces" includes 19
the United States Merchant Marines and members thereof in maritime 20
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service during the period from December 7, 1941 to August 15, 21
1945. The distinctive plates or tags so issued shall comply with 22
the provisions of Section 27-19-41 and shall be of such color and 23
design as may be agreed upon by the Adjutant General and the 24
Department of Revenue for the Army National Guard or Air National 25
Guard, by the Mississippi chapters of the Retired Officers 26
Association and the Retired Non-Commissioned Officers Association 27
and the Department of Revenue for retired active duty members of 28
the Armed Forces of the United States, and by the Department of 29
Revenue for retired members of the United States Merchant Marines. 30
Each distinctive license plate shall bear the words "National 31
Guard" or the name of the appropriate armed service and need not 32
bear prefixed numbers identifying the county of issuance. 33
(b) In recognition of their many and varied patriotic 34
services rendered the state, the United States and the citizens 35
thereof, Mississippians who are active duty and retired members of 36
the Army National Guard and/or the Air National Guard, including 37
both enlisted and officer personnel, upon application and subject 38
to the provisions of this section may be issued distinctive 39
motorcycle license plates or tags identifying these persons with 40
such organizations. The distinctive plates or tags so issued 41
shall comply with the provisions of Section 27-19-41 and shall be 42
of such color and design as may be agreed upon by the Adjutant 43
General and the Department of Revenue. Each distinctive license 44
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plate shall bear the words "National Guard" and need not bear 45
prefixed numbers identifying the county of issuance. 46
(2) The surviving spouse of any person who was issued a 47
distinctive license plate or tag under subsection (1) of this 48
section because of completion of an active duty career with the 49
Armed Forces of the United States or because of retirement from 50
the Army National Guard, Air National Guard or United States 51
Reserves, or any prisoner of war issued a distinctive license 52
plate or tag under Section 27-19-54, shall be eligible to receive 53
the same type of distinctive license plate or tag which the 54
deceased spouse was issued. 55
(3) The distinctive license plates here provided for shall 56
be prepared by the Department of Revenue and shall be issued 57
through the tax collectors of the several counties of the state in 58
like manner as are other motor vehicle license plates or tags and 59
motorcycle license plates or tags and such officers shall be 60
entitled to their regular fees for such service. Applicants for 61
such distinctive plates shall present to the issuing official 62
proof of their membership in the Army National Guard, Air National 63
Guard, or United States Reserves by means of certificate signed by 64
the commanding officer of such applicant on forms prescribed by 65
the Adjutant General of Mississippi. Retired members of the Armed 66
Forces of the United States applying for such plates shall present 67
to the issuing officials a copy of their active duty retirement 68
orders, DD Form 214, or other proof of retirement from active 69
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service with one of the Armed Forces of the United States. Other 70
discharged members of the Armed Forces of the United States 71
applying for such plates shall present to the issuing officials a 72
copy of their DD Form 214. The distinctive license plates or tags 73
so issued shall be used only upon and for personally or jointly 74
owned private passenger vehicles (to include station wagons, 75
recreational motor vehicles and pickup trucks) and/or motorcycles 76
registered in the name, or jointly in the name, of the member 77
making application therefor, and when so issued to such applicant 78
shall be used upon the vehicle or motorcycle for which issued in 79
lieu of the standard license plate or license tag normally issued 80
for such vehicle or motorcycle. 81
(4) In addition to use of such distinctive license plates or 82
tags on such personally or jointly owned vehicles, such 83
distinctive plate or tag may be used on state-owned vehicles 84
operated by the State Military Department provided the prefix 85
"MNG" is placed ahead of the number thereon. Motor vehicles for 86
which such distinctive license plates or tags are issued shall be 87
registered by the proper official as are other motor vehicles. 88
(5) The distinctive license plates issued hereunder shall 89
not be transferable between motor vehicle or motorcycle owners; 90
and in the event the owner of a vehicle or motorcycle bearing such 91
distinctive plate shall sell, trade, exchange or otherwise dispose 92
of the vehicle or motorcycle, such plate shall be retained by the 93
owner to whom issued and returned by the owner to the tax 94
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ST: Distinctive motor vehicle license tag;
require DD-214 as proof of discharge, except for
alternative retirement proof.
collector of the county or the Department of Revenue, as the case 95
may be. 96
(6) The Adjutant General is authorized to recognize not more 97
than one hundred (100) senior staff officers, commanders, command 98
sergeants major and senior enlisted advisors by designating the 99
issue of National Guard distinctive license plates or tags 100
numbered "1" through "100." These license plates or tags shall be 101
retained by the individual so designated and may be transferred 102
between vehicles or individuals under procedures established by 103
the Department of Revenue. The Adjutant General is responsible 104
for furnishing the Department of Revenue necessary information to 105
effect issue or transfer of these specially numbered license 106
plates or tags. 107
(7) National Guard plates or tags shall be prepared and 108
furnished for the licensing year commencing November 1, 1962, and 109
annually thereafter. The Adjutant General shall furnish the 110
Department of Revenue with an estimate of the number of such 111
distinctive plates or tags required in each of the several 112
counties of the state. 113
(8) The provisions of this section are supplementary to the 114
laws of this state pertaining to the licensing of motor vehicles 115
and nothing herein shall be construed as abridging or repealing 116
any of such laws. 117
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 118
and after its passage. 119