License tags for disabled veterans; each tag shall bear the International Symbol of Access logo in lower left corner of the plate.
Summary
SB 2435 amends Mississippi’s disabled veteran license plate law to require the Mississippi Department of Revenue to print a special decal bearing the International Symbol of Access on each license tag issued to qualifying disabled veterans. The bill applies to the existing special plate program for Mississippi residents rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as 100% permanent service-connected disabled or at least 70% nonpermanent service-connected disabled, including the related provisions for passenger vehicles, pickup trucks, motorcycles, and surviving spouses.
The measure does not change the underlying eligibility standards, fee structure, tax exemptions, or limits on the number of plates available under Section 27-19-53. Qualified veterans may still obtain plates for $1 each, receive the existing disabled American veteran emblem, and remain subject to the same application, renewal, and anti-fraud rules. The new requirement is the addition of the accessibility decal in the lower left corner of each qualifying plate or tag, with the act taking effect July 1, 2025.
Impact
The bill directly amends Section 27-19-53 of the Mississippi Code, which governs special license plates and tax exemptions for disabled veterans. Its legal effect is narrow but specific: it adds a mandatory visual accessibility marker to the plates issued under this program, while leaving intact the existing tax exemptions, plate limits, surviving-spouse rights, and enforcement provisions. The Department of Revenue would be responsible for implementing the decal requirement when issuing these plates.
Sentiment
The available context suggests the bill is straightforward and likely noncontroversial. Its caption and text frame it as a veterans’ benefit and accessibility measure, and there are no recorded committee transcripts or votes indicating opposition or debate. The absence of recorded dissent, combined with the limited administrative nature of the change, suggests generally favorable or neutral sentiment around the proposal.
Contention
No specific points of contention are reflected in the provided materials. Because the bill does not alter eligibility, fees, or tax exemptions, potential concerns would likely be administrative rather than policy-based, such as the cost or logistics of adding the International Symbol of Access decal and how it would be integrated into existing plate production. However, no committee discussion or vote history is available showing that these issues were raised by legislators, veterans’ advocates, or the Department of Revenue.