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SB204 • 2026

License plates, special; issuance for members of Virginia REALTORS.

An Act to amend and reenact § 46.2-746.8 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 46.2-746.8:3, relating to special license plates; Virginia REALTORS.

Taxes
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Suetterlein
Last action
2026-04-06
Official status
Acts of Assembly Chapter
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official text does not provide details on how much money will be in the relief fund or if other groups besides Virginia Realtors can use this program.

Special License Plates for Virginia REALTORS

This law changes an existing special license plate program for members of the Virginia Realtors to a revenue-sharing program that benefits a disaster relief fund.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the existing non-revenue sharing special license plate program for Virginia Realtors to a revenue-sharing program.
  • Establishes the Virginia REALTORS Disaster Relief Fund, which receives $15 from each fee collected over 1,000 registrations and is used to provide financial assistance in locations affected by natural or man-made disasters.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Members of the Virginia Realtors who want special license plates.
  • People and businesses affected by disasters in Virginia who receive financial help from the new fund.

Terms To Know

Revenue Sharing
When money collected is shared between different groups or funds.
Disaster Relief Fund
A special fund used to help people and businesses after disasters like hurricanes, floods, or fires.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law does not specify how much money will be in the relief fund.
  • It is unclear if other groups besides Virginia Realtors can use this program.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

SB204AS1

2026-02-04 • Committee

Finance and Appropriations Amendment

Plain English: The amendment changes the wording of a section in Virginia's law about special license plates to remove the word 'Disaster' and add 'License Plates for' after 'REALTORS'.

  • Removes the word 'Disaster' from the text.
  • Adds the phrase 'License Plates for' right before mentioning REALTORS.
  • The exact impact of this change on the issuance or design of license plates is not clear from the provided amendment text alone.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-06 Governor

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 301 (effective 7/1/2026)

  2. 2026-04-06 Governor

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 301 (effective 7/1/2026)

  3. 2026-04-06 Governor

    Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0301)

  4. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026

  5. 2026-03-10 Governor

    Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  6. 2026-03-05 Senate

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB204)

  7. 2026-03-04 House

    Signed by Speaker

  8. 2026-03-04 Senate

    Signed by President

  9. 2026-03-04 Senate

    Enrolled

  10. 2026-03-04 Senate

    Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB204ER)

  11. 2026-02-27 House

    Read third time

  12. 2026-02-27 House

    Passed House Block Vote (96-Y 0-N 0-A)

  13. 2026-02-26 House

    Read second time

  14. 2026-02-24 Transportation

    Reported from Transportation (21-Y 0-N)

  15. 2026-02-12 House

    Placed on Calendar

  16. 2026-02-12 House

    Read first time

  17. 2026-02-12 Transportation

    Referred to Committee on Transportation

  18. 2026-02-06 Senate

    Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  19. 2026-02-06 Senate

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB204)

  20. 2026-02-05 Senate

    Read second time

  21. 2026-02-05 Senate

    Engrossed by Senate as amended Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  22. 2026-02-05 Finance and Appropriations

    Finance and Appropriations Amendment agreed to

  23. 2026-02-05 Senate

    Engrossed by Senate Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  24. 2026-02-04 Senate

    Rules suspended

  25. 2026-02-04 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  26. 2026-02-04 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  27. 2026-02-04 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  28. 2026-02-04 Senate

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  29. 2026-02-03 Finance and Appropriations

    Reported from Finance and Appropriations with amendment (15-Y 0-N)

  30. 2026-01-22 Transportation

    Reported from Transportation and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)

  31. 2026-01-15 Senate

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB204)

  32. 2026-01-09 Senate

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102218D

  33. 2026-01-09 Transportation

    Referred to Committee on Transportation

Official Summary Text

Special license plates; Virginia REALTORS.
Converts the existing non-revenue sharing special license plate for members of the Virginia Realtors to a revenue sharing special license plate with the revenue benefiting the Virginia REALTORS Disaster Relief Fund. The bill provides that such existing plates will remain valid until their expiration. This bill is identical to HB 1339.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
An Act to amend and reenact §
46.2-746.8
of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered
46.2-746.8:3
, relating to special license plates; Virginia REALTORS.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §
46.2-746.8
of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered
46.2-746.8:3
as follows:
§
46.2-746.8
. Special license plates for members of certain occupational associations.
On receipt of an application and written evidence that the applicant is a member of such organization, the Commissioner shall issue special license plates to members of
the Virginia Realtors and
the Society of Certified Public Accountants.
§
46.2-746.8:3
. Special license plates for members of Virginia REALTORS; fees.
A. On receipt of an application and written evidence that the applicant is a member of Virginia REALTORS and payment of the fee prescribed by this section, and following the provisions of §
46.2-725
other than those relating to the fee for the plates and its disposition, the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles shall issue to the applicant special license plates for members of Virginia REALTORS.
B. The annual fee for plates issued pursuant to this section shall be $25 in addition to the prescribed fee for state license plates. For each such $25 fee collected in excess of 1,000 registrations pursuant to this section, $15 shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to a special nonreverting fund known as the Virginia REALTORS
License Plates for
Relief Fund established within the Department of Accounts. These funds shall be paid annually to the Virginia REALTORS Disaster Relief Fund and used to provide financial assistance in locations in Virginia that may have suffered financial loss from natural or manmade qualified disasters. All other fees imposed under the provisions of this section shall be paid to, and received by, the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles and paid by him into the state treasury and set aside as a special fund to be used to meet the necessary expenses incurred by the Department of Motor Vehicles.
2. That all special license plates issued to a member of the Virginia Realtors pursuant to §
46.2-746.8
of the Code of Virginia, as amended by this act, prior to July 1, 2026, shall remain valid until their expiration and may thereafter be renewed pursuant to the provisions of §
46.2-746.8:3
of the Code of Virginia, as created by this act.