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HB 72 Alabama House · 2025 Regular Session

Motor vehicles, firefighter distinctive license plate for volunteer and professional firefighters, fee increased, distribution of funds

HB 72 amends provisions related to distinctive license plates for volunteer and professional firefighters. The bill increases the annual additional fee associated with these specialized motor vehicle plates, including raising the fee for retired professional firefighter plates from $1 to $10. It also revises the method for distributing the net proceeds collected from these additional fees, changing from fixed dollar amounts to percentage-based allocations among various recipients. Additionally, the funds generated by this increased fee will be subject to audit.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2024
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House Passage
Feb 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Dec 4, 2024 Last action Apr 17, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Engrossed · 5 edits · Feb 13, 2025
MODERATE
This bill was updated from its introduced version to an engrossed version, incorporating substantive changes to firefighter license plate fees and fund distribution. The primary changes involve increasing the annual fee from $1 to $10, adjusting how collected funds are distributed among fire-related organizations, and adding new requirements for auditing and eligibility verification.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded to include a new audit requirement and modified fund distribution percentages, while maintaining the same core purpose of supporting firefighter programs through license plate fees.
FISCAL

The annual additional fee for firefighter license plates increased from $1 to $10, effective January 1, 2022.

Fund distribution percentages changed from fixed dollar amounts to percentages: 15% to the Alabama Joint Fire Council for memorial maintenance, 15% for peer support program expenses, and 35% each to the Firefighters Annuity and Benefit Fund and Emergency Relief Fund.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement that funds be subject to audit every three calendar years by either the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts or an independent certified public accountant.

Added a requirement that the Firefighters' Personnel Standards and Education Commission submit a list of eligible firefighters to county officials by December 1 each year.

TECHNICAL

Minor formatting and text cleanup changes throughout the document, including removal of duplicate sections and correction of text formatting.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
15
Key actions
6
Committee
4
Amendments
2
Apr 16, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported Out of Committee Second House
upper
Feb 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
Pending Committee Action in Second House (Finance and Taxation General Fund)
upper
Feb 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 136
lower
Feb 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 135
lower
Feb 13, 2025
Introduced
Ways and Means General Fund Engrossed Substitute Offered (Ways and Means General Fund)
lower
Feb 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported Out of Committee House of Origin (Ways and Means General Fund)
lower
Feb 12, 2025
Introduced
Ways and Means General Fund 1st Amendment (Ways and Means General Fund)
lower
Feb 4, 2025
Lower · Passed
Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Ways and Means General Fund)
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.