AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- SALES AND USE TAXES -- LIABILITY AND COMPUTATION

2025 Regular Session Introduced by David Bennett and 8 co-sponsors

Reimburses eligible veterans and service members for the Military Order of the Purple Heart license plate cost, cutting their out-of-pocket expenses.

04/10/2025 Committee recommended measure be held for further study

Purpose

HB 5787 would provide state reimbursement to veterans and members of the armed forces who join a chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) and who obtain a motor vehicle number plate that recognizes the Military Order of the Purple Heart. The bill is intended to reduce or eliminate out‑of‑pocket costs for eligible service members and veterans who choose the specialty plate honoring MOPH.

Key provisions (as indicated by the bill title)

The state would reimburse eligible veterans and service members for the fee(s) associated with receiving a Motor Vehicle Department number plate that recognizes the Military Order of the Purple Heart.

Eligibility is tied to membership in a chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart and to actually receiving the designated MOPH recognition plate.

The Motor Vehicle Department (DMV) would be the administrative agency involved in issuing the specialty plates and implementing any reimbursement procedure.

The measure implicates motor vehicle license plate fees and state reimbursement processes; specific mechanics (one‑time reimbursement, annual, amount covered, application process) are not specified in the available summary.

Who is affected

Directly affected: veterans and current members of the U.S. armed forces who are members of a MOPH chapter and who obtain the MOPH recognition license plate.

Administrative/financially affected: Connecticut DMV (administration of plates and reimbursements) and the state budget (payment for reimbursements).

Indirectly affected: veterans’ organizations and service‑member advocacy groups that may help members claim reimbursements.

Fiscal and administrative considerations

The bill will create a state fiscal obligation to reimburse qualifying individuals; the total cost depends on the number of applicants and the reimbursement amount per plate.

The Office of Fiscal Analysis was referred to review the bill (OLR/OFA referrals noted 02/27/2025).

Exact reimbursement amounts, eligibility verification procedures, and timing for payments were not included in the available summary and would be detailed in the bill text or in OFA analysis.

Legislative status and timeline

Introduced: January 21, 2025; referred to the Joint Committee on Veterans’ and Military Affairs.

Public hearing held: February 13, 2025.

Jointly favorably reported: February 18, 2025.

Referred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis: February 27, 2025.

Reported out of LCO with favorable report and placed on House calendar: March 5, 2025. File No. 40; House Calendar No. 54.

Notes / Open questions

The publicly available summary does not include the precise reimbursement amount or procedures (e.g., whether reimbursement is full fee, one‑time, or requires an application).

The bill title indicates the policy objective; readers should consult the bill text or OFA fiscal note for implementation details and projected fiscal impact.

Bill