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HB 2506

Relating to vehicles exempt from payment of registration fees for certain veterans

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Eric Brooks and 10 co-sponsors

Allows 50%+ VA-disability veterans to get a military-series plate with no basic registration fee for one vehicle; extra issuance/renewal fees still apply (effective Jan 1, 2026).

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Bill Summary · HB 2506

HB 2506 — Summary (Public Act 104-0230)

Status: Enacted (Public Act 104-0230) — Governor approved 2025-08-15. Effective date: January 1, 2026. Citation amended: 625 ILCS 5/3-609.3.

Note: the posted document contained unrelated Arizona bill text; this summary covers the Illinois enactment identified as Public Act 104-0230.

Purpose

Clarify the scope of a fee waiver for military-series vehicle registration plates issued to veterans with service-connected disabilities so that optional additional charges associated with specialty plates are not waived.

Key provisions

  • Amends Section 3-609.3 of the Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/3-609.3).
  • Confirms veterans who provide proof from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs of a service-connected disability of 50% or greater may apply for a military-series registration plate and be issued that plate without payment of the basic registration fee for one vehicle.
    • Eligible vehicle: one motor vehicle of the first division or one second-division motor vehicle weighing not more than 8,000 pounds.
  • Explicitly states that any additional fee collected for issuance and renewal of a military-series registration plate (for example, extra fees specified by the provision authorizing a particular special plate) is not included in the fee waiver authorized by this section. In short, the waiver covers the basic registration fee only; optional or statutory additional charges still apply.

Who is affected

  • Veterans with a VA-certified service-connected disability of 50% or greater who apply for military-series license plates.
  • Illinois Secretary of State (administers plate issuance and fee collection).
  • State and local finances to the extent fee-waiver scope affects revenue collection.

Procedural/timeline notes

  • Filed: February 2025; passed both legislative houses (May 22, 2025); sent to Governor: June 20, 2025; approved: August 15, 2025.
  • Effective January 1, 2026.

Potential impact

  • Retains veterans’ eligibility for a no-basic-registration-fee military-series plate for one qualifying vehicle.
  • Preserves collection of any extra statutory or programmatic fees tied to special plate issuance or renewals, limiting the fiscal effect of the waiver relative to a broader waiver.

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

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