HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2420

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As Reported by House Committee On:

Transportation

Title: An act relating to Congressional Medal of Honor special license plates.

Brief Description: Authorizing Congressional Medal of Honor recipients to receive special license plates for up to two motor vehicles.

Sponsors: Representatives Klippert, Moscoso, Muri, Fey, Hayes, Seaquist, Hargrove, MacEwen, Haler, Ryu, Smith, Tarleton, Zeiger, Bergquist, Morrell, Shea, Santos, Ormsby and Freeman.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Transportation: 1/27/14, 1/29/14, 1/30/14, 2/6/14 [DPS].

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

  • Allows registered owners who have been awarded the Medal of Honor to apply for Medal of Honor special license plates for use on no more than three motor vehicles.

  • Allows the Medal of Honor special license plates to be displayed on a vehicle where the Medal of Honor recipient is recorded as one of the registered owners.

  • Removes "Congressional" in reference to the title of the medal.

  • Allows registered owners who are eligible for the Medal of Honor special license plates to receive the fee exemptions associated with Medal of Honor special license plates for regular issue license plates for no more than three motor vehicles.

  • Defines "Medal of Honor" as the military decoration awarded by the President of the United States, in the name of Congress.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 29 members: Representatives Clibborn, Chair; Farrell, Vice Chair; Fey, Vice Chair; Moscoso, Vice Chair; Orcutt, Ranking Minority Member; Hargrove, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Overstreet, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Bergquist, Fitzgibbon, Habib, Hawkins, Hayes, Johnson, Klippert, Kochmar, Moeller, Morris, Muri, Ortiz-Self, Pike, Riccelli, Ryu, Sells, Shea, Takko, Tarleton, Walkinshaw, Young and Zeiger.

Staff: Paul Ingiosi (786-7114).

Background:

In 1979 the Legislature authorized the creation of a Congressional Medal of Honor special license plate. Washington residents who have received the Congressional Medal of Honor may apply for the special license plate for display on a vehicle of which they are the registered owner through the Department of Licensing (DOL) by completing a military license plate application and submitting a letter of eligibility from the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) verifying that they have received the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Under current law, the Congressional Medal of Honor special license plates must be issued for use on a single motor vehicle owned by the person who has received the Congressional Medal of Honor and without payment of vehicle license fees, license plate fees, and motor vehicle excise taxes. The plates must also be replaced, free of charge, if the plates become lost, stolen, damaged, defaced, or destroyed. The plates may be transferred, free of charge, from one motor vehicle to another owned by the Congressional Medal of Honor recipient upon application to the DOL, county auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by the Director of the DOL.

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Summary of Substitute Bill:

The substitute bill allows registered owners who have been awarded the Medal of Honor to apply for Medal of Honor special license plates for use on no more than three motor vehicles. The Medal of Honor special license plates may be used on vehicles where the Medal of Honor recipient is recorded as one of the registered owners. Those owners who are eligible for the Medal of Honor plates and choose not to utilize them may receive the fee exemptions associated with the Medal of Honor special license plates for regular issue plates for no more than three vehicles.

Additionally, the substitute bill removes references to "Congressional" in the title of the medal and provides a definition for the Medal of Honor.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

The substitute bill increases the number of motor vehicles on which a Medal of Honor recipient may display the Medal of Honor special license plates from two to three, removes "Congressional" in reference to the title of the medal, and adds a definition for "Medal of Honor" to clarify it as the military decoration awarded by the President of the United States, in the name of Congress. The substitute bill also allows registered owners who are eligible for the Medal of Honor special license plates to receive the fee exemptions associated with Medal of Honor special license plates for regular issue license plates for no more than three motor vehicles. These exemptions include vehicle license fees, license plate fees, and motor vehicle excise taxes.

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Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) The Medal of Honor recipients deserve this. They are not trying to get a pat on the back; they just did their job in an exceptional manner. It is not a huge ask of Washington to thank their veterans who did such an honorable thing.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: Representative Klippert, prime sponsor.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.