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HD 1101

An Act relative to license plate year of manufacture registration

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by David DeCoste and 1 co-sponsor

Exempts restoring Year-of-Manufacture plates to their original colors and design on antique cars from being treated as plate alterations.

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Bill Summary · HD 1101

Summary of House Bill HD 1101: An Act relative to license plate year of manufacture registration

Overview

  • Bill number: House Docket No. 1101 (HD 1101)
  • Title: An Act relative to license plate year of manufacture registration
  • Status: Introduced in the 2025-2026 session (similar matter previously filed in 2023-2024 as House No. 3339)
  • Sponsor: Representative Steven S. Howitt (with co-petitioners David F. DeCoste and Steven George Xiarhos)
  • Filing history: The version available for review was filed on January 14, 2025 (House No. 3686)

Purpose and intent

The bill would clarify and protect the restoration of year-of-manufacture (YOM) license plates used on antique automobiles. Specifically, it creates an exemption stating that restoring a YOM plate—painted and restored to its original year-of-manufacture colors and design—shall not be considered “altering” the plate when it is used on an antique automobile. This aims to support preservation and authenticity efforts for historic vehicles by allowing legitimate restoration without triggering penalties or regulatory concerns tied to plate alteration.

Key provisions

  • Legislative change to Chapter 90, Section 6 of the General Laws (as it appears in the 2022 Official Edition).
  • Inserts a new clause after the word “section” (in line 42) clarifying that restoration of YOM registration plates, when painted and restored to the original colors and design of the YOM, will not be deemed altering the plates when used on antique automobiles.
  • The language operates as an explicit exception to otherwise applicable general or special laws or regulations regarding license plates.

Who would be affected

  • Owners and enthusiasts of antique automobiles (vehicles typically recognized for preserving historical characteristics).
  • Individuals engaged in restoring YOM plates to their original appearance for use on historic cars.
  • Potential regulatory and enforcement bodies responsible for license plate standards and alterations.

Practical impact

  • Provides legal protection for YOM plate restoration projects, aligning regulatory interpretation with preservation practices.
  • May reduce regulatory risk for antique car owners who restore plates to their original year, color, and design.
  • Clarifies that such restoration, when faithful to original specifications, is not considered an alteration under current law.

Procedural and timeline notes

  • The bill content provided does not specify an effective date or sunset; it would become law upon passage and signing, as with other acts.
  • It remains a proposed bill within the Massachusetts General Court for the 2025-2026 session.

Context and related information

  • The bill mirrors similar prior proposals (e.g., House No. 3339 from the 2023-2024 session), indicating ongoing consideration of YOM plate restoration issues in Massachusetts.
  • No funding provisions or regulatory costs are stated in the text provided; the change is a definitional/interpretive adjustment to existing law.

This summary captures the bill’s core intent and the practical effect of its proposed language, focusing on how the restoration of YOM plates would be treated when used on antique automobiles.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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