CHAPTER 129
HB 1354 - FINAL VERSION
2024 SESSION
24-2235
11/08
HOUSE BILL 1354
AN ACT relative to special number plates for surviving spouses of veterans.
SPONSORS: Rep. Sellers, Graf. 18; Rep. McGough, Hills. 12; Rep. Creighton, Hills. 30; Rep. Post, Hills. 42; Rep. Pauer, Hills. 36; Rep. B. Boyd, Hills. 12; Rep. Calabro, Hills. 45; Rep. Seidel, Hills. 29; Sen. Innis, Dist 7
COMMITTEE: Transportation
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ANALYSIS
This bill allows unmarried surviving spouses of veterans to use special number plates for veterans indefinitely.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
24-2235
11/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Four
AN ACT relative to special number plates for surviving spouses of veterans.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
129:1 Special Number Plates for Veterans. Amend RSA 261:87-b, I to read as follows:
I. The director is hereby authorized to issue special number plates to be used on motor vehicles owned by veterans of the United States armed services, in lieu of other number plates. The design of these special plates shall be determined by the commissioner, and shall be distinct from the design or designs of those plates issued under RSA 261:86. Such plates shall be issued only to veterans as defined in RSA 21:50, I(a) upon application, proof of veteran status in a form authorized by RSA 21:50, I(b), and payment of the regular motor vehicle registration fee and the $4 per plate fees under RSA 261:75. The director shall also issue such plates to any person providing proof of honorable discharge from the armed services of any nation allied with the United States during World War II and proof of such person's service during World War II. Renewals of such special number plates shall be charged the fee assessed for standard motor vehicles as prescribed under RSA 261:141. The plates furnished pursuant to this section are non-transferable [and shall expire upon the death of the veteran], except that the surviving spouse may use the plates [for one year] indefinitely after the death of the veteran until the date that the surviving spouse remarries. [and shall be eligible to replace the plates during that year at no charge under RSA 261:75.]
129:2 Special Number Plates. Amend RSA 261:91 to read as follows:
261:91 Special Number Plates. Upon payment of the motor vehicle registration fee, if any, the director shall issue and shall designate a special plate, to be affixed to the vehicle of the county sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, members or retired members of the national guard of any state, active-duty members of the armed forces, justices of the supreme and superior courts, and vehicles of state police and motor vehicle divisions and municipal police departments. The special plates shall have the state motto, "Live Free or Die," written on them and shall be issued with no number plate fee being charged to the state other than for those plates furnished to the state police and motor vehicle divisions. Special number plates issued to members or retired members of the national guard of any state, active-duty members of the armed forces, and justices of the supreme and superior courts may be attached only to vehicles registered in the name of the person issued the plates, except as provided in this section. Special plates for active-duty members of the armed forces shall be distinct from special number plates for veterans. Surviving spouses of retired members of the national guard of any state may use the special number plates indefinitely after the death of the retired member until the date that the surviving spouse remarries. Upon surrendering special number plates for a deceased active-duty member of the armed forces, surviving spouses of the active-duty members are eligible to be issued special number plates for veterans under RSA 261:87-b, as long as the deceased active duty member qualifies as a veteran as defined in RSA 21:50, and the surviving spouse may use the special number plates for veterans indefinitely after the death of the active duty member until the date that the surviving spouse remarries.
129:3 Eligibility. Amend RSA 261-C:3 to read as follows:
261-C:3 Eligibility. Multi-use veterans decal plates shall be issued only to those veterans defined in RSA 21:50, I(a). Additionally, an individual shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the director of the division of veteran’s services that he or she was a member of a specific branch of service or was awarded the medal represented on the requested decal. The plates furnished pursuant to this section are non-transferable except that the surviving spouse may use the plates indefinitely after the death of the veteran until the date that the surviving spouse remarries.
129:4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
Approved: July 03, 2024
Effective Date: September 01, 2024
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 30, 2024 | House | Hearing |
| Feb. 13, 2024 | House | Exec Session |
| Feb. 13, 2024 | House | Floor Vote |
| April 2, 2024 | Senate | Hearing |
| May 16, 2024 | Senate | Floor Vote |
July 22, 2024: Signed by Governor Sununu 07/03/2024; Chapter 129; eff. 09/01/2024
June 19, 2024: Enrolled (in recess of) 06/13/2024 HJ 16 P. 43
June 19, 2024: Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/13/2024); SJ 18
May 9, 2024: Ought to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/15/2024; SJ 12
May 8, 2024: Committee Report: Ought to Pass, 05/16/2024; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 19
March 28, 2024: Hearing: 04/02/2024, Room 101, LOB, 01:10 pm; SC 13
March 13, 2024: Introduced 03/07/2024 and Referred to Transportation; SJ 7
March 7, 2024: Ought to Pass: MA VV 03/07/2024 HJ 7 P. 24
Feb. 20, 2024: Committee Report: Ought to Pass 02/13/2024 (Vote 19-0; CC) HC 9 P. 15
Feb. 7, 2024: Executive Session: 02/13/2024 10:00 am LOB 203
Jan. 25, 2024: Public Hearing: 01/30/2024 10:20 am LOB 203
Dec. 6, 2023: Introduced 01/03/2024 and referred to Transportation HJ 1 P. 17