A bill introduced by State Sen. Marty Harbin in the Georgia Senate seeks to broaden the range of specialty license plates and create one honoring the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, as reported by the Georgia State Senate.
Filed as SB561 on Tuesday, Feb. 24, during the 2026 regular session of the 158th General Assembly, the measure is formally titled: ’Motor Vehicles; additional license plate design honoring the 250th anniversary of the United States of America’s independence; provide’.
Below is a summary drawn from the official bill text, which includes clarifying interpretation where needed.
This legislation updates Georgia’s vehicle license plate statutes by introducing additional commemorative and specialty designs effective Jan. 1, 2027. License plates produced from 2026 through 2030 must conform to existing semiquincentennial design provisions, with an added plate marking the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence that features “250 years of freedom and liberty” in place of a county decal. Another specialty plate would celebrate the Girl Scouts of Georgia, with all proceeds equally distributed to the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta and Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia. Adoption depends on a two-thirds majority vote in both legislative chambers.
Sen. Elena Parent (Democrat-44th), Sen. Brian Strickland (Republican-42nd), and two additional senators have co-sponsored the bill.
Since this session began, Harbin has proposed 14 additional bills, one of which has been adopted.
Harbin holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Georgia State University, earned in 1977.
Elected in 2015, Republican Harbin serves as state senator for Georgia’s 16th Senate District, succeeding former legislator Ronnie Chance.
In Georgia, the legislative process starts when a legislator, frequently in response to a constituent’s request, collaborates with the Office of Legislative Counsel to craft legislation. Afterward, the proposal is submitted to the Clerk of the House or Senate Secretary and read for the first time before referral to a committee for review and hearings. If it passes committee, the bill goes to the floor for a third reading, discussion, and a vote. For passage into law, both chambers must approve, and if necessary, settle differences via conference committee, before advancing the bill to the governor. During session, the governor has six days to act or up to 40 days after adjournment (Sine Die) to sign, veto, or permit the bill to pass without signature. The Georgia General Assembly meets each year for a 40-day regular session beginning the second Monday in January.
| Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| SB537 | 02/19/2026 | Education; schools that receive state funds from displaying any flag other than the flag of the United States or the flag, coat of arms, or state emblem of the State of Georgia; prohibit |
| SB524 | 02/18/2026 | License Plates; specialty license plate honoring Girl Scouts of Georgia; establish |
| SB503 | 02/12/2026 | Insurance; rental home marketplace guarantees from the definition of property insurance; exempt |
| SB441 | 01/29/2026 | Local Government Investment Pool; certain pooled investments to be approved by the State Depository Board; require |
| SB426 | 01/27/2026 | Education; high school students seeking a high school diploma to achieve a minimum score of 70 percent on the United States Citizenship Civics Test; require |
| SB425 | 01/27/2026 | Education; all schools that receive state funding with students in any of grades three through five to provide instruction in cursive handwriting to all students by no later than third grade; require |
| SB424 | 01/27/2026 | “Transactional Gold and Silver Act”; enact |
| SB399 | 01/14/2026 | “Mason Sells AED Coordination Act”; enact |
| SB325 | 03/05/2025 | Education; local school systems and public schools to employ or accept as volunteers school chaplains; authorize |
| SB324 | 03/05/2025 | Life Insurance; certain protections for life insurance policyholders and beneficiaries; provide |
| SB261 | 02/26/2025 | Magistrates Retirement Fund; early retirement benefit; provide |
| SB120 | 02/06/2025 | Education; public schools, local education agencies, and public postsecondary institutions shall not promote, support, or maintain any programs or activities that advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion |
| SB121 | 02/06/2025 | Uninsured Motorist Coverage; minimum required under motor vehicle liability policies for a individual convicted of driving under the influence or reckless driving; increase |
| SB46 | 01/28/2025 | “Government Serves the People Act”; enact |
The information for this story comes from the Georgia State Senate. The original data can be accessed here.
