Current through Acts 2023-2024, ch. 1069
Section 55-4-320 - Military and veterans(a)(1) An owner or lessee of a motor vehicle who is a resident of this state, upon complying with state motor vehicle laws relating to registration and licensing of motor vehicles and paying the regular fee applicable to the motor vehicle and the fee provided for in § 55-4-204, shall be issued a Support Our Troops new specialty earmarked license plate for a motor vehicle authorized by § 55-4-210(c).(2) The new specialty earmarked plates provided for in this subsection (a) must contain a pictorial representation of a soldier and a child in an appropriate design. The plates must be designed in consultation with the board of directors of Support Our Troops, Inc.(3) The funds produced from the sale of Support Our Troops new specialty earmarked license plates must be allocated to Support Our Troops, Inc., in accordance with § 55-4-301. The funds must be used exclusively to operate the organization's programs and activities in this state.(b)(1) An owner or lessee of a motor vehicle who is a resident of this state, upon complying with state motor vehicle laws relating to registration and licensing of motor vehicles and paying the regular fee applicable to the motor vehicle and the fee provided for in § 55-4-204, shall be issued an Explore TN new specialty earmarked license plate for a motor vehicle authorized by § 55-4-210(c).(2) The new specialty earmarked plates provided for in this subsection (b) must be designed in consultation with a representative of A Soldier's Child Foundation.(3) The funds produced from the sale of Explore TN new specialty earmarked license plates must be allocated to A Soldier's Child Foundation, in accordance with § 55-4-301. The funds must be used exclusively for the organization's mission to support children of military personnel who have lost their lives while on active duty, including through the provision of birthday celebrations for the children, the payment of fees for camps, and college scholarships.(c)(1) An owner or lessee of a motor vehicle who is a resident of this state, upon complying with state motor vehicle laws relating to registration and licensing of motor vehicles and paying the regular fee applicable to the motor vehicle and the fee provided for in § 55-4-204, must be issued A Soldier's Child new specialty earmarked license plate for a motor vehicle authorized by § 55-4-210(c).(2) The new specialty earmarked license plates provided for in this subsection (c) must be of an appropriate design representative of A Soldier's Child Foundation and be designed in consultation with a representative of A Soldier's Child Foundation.(3) The funds produced from the sale of A Soldier's Child new specialty earmarked license plates must be allocated to A Soldier's Child Foundation in accordance with § 55-4-301. The funds must be used exclusively to support the organization's programs and activities in this state, including serving the children of United States military personnel who have lost their lives while on active duty.(4) Notwithstanding § 55-4-202(k)(1), the A Soldier's Child new specialty earmarked license plate authorized pursuant to this subsection (c) has until July 1, 2025, to meet the applicable minimum issuance requirements of § 55-4-202(k)(1).(d)(1) An owner or lessee of a motor vehicle who is a resident of this state, upon complying with state motor vehicle laws relating to registration and licensing of motor vehicles and paying the regular fee applicable to the motor vehicle and the fee provided for in § 55-4-204, shall be issued an Honoring the Fallen new specialty earmarked license plate for a motor vehicle authorized by § 55-4-210(c).(2) The new specialty earmarked license plates provided for in this subsection (d) must be designed in consultation with a representative of Memories of Honor.(3) The funds produced from the sale of Honoring the Fallen new specialty earmarked license plates must be allocated to Memories of Honor in accordance with § 55-4-301. The funds must be used exclusively in this state to support the organization's mission to honor fallen military and the families left behind through athletics, entertainment, and special events to help provide a healthy and active outlet for depression, grief, post-traumatic stress disorder, and survivor's remorse.(e)(1) An owner or lessee of a motor vehicle who is a resident of this state, upon complying with state motor vehicle laws relating to registration and licensing of motor vehicles and paying the regular fee applicable to the motor vehicle and the fee provided for in § 55-4-204, must be issued a Rolling Thunder new specialty earmarked license plate for a motor vehicle authorized by § 55-4-210(c).(2) The new specialty earmarked license plates provided for in this subsection (e) must be designed in consultation with a representative of Rolling Thunder Charities, Inc.(3) The funds produced from the sale of Rolling Thunder new specialty earmarked license plates must be allocated to Rolling Thunder Charities, Inc., in accordance with § 55-4-301. The funds must be used exclusively to support the organization's programs and activities in this state to help military veterans, active duty servicemembers, and their families, including the provision of financial aid, food, clothing, children's toys, and other essentials.(4)(A) Subject to the requirements of § 55-4-202, the commissioner is authorized and shall issue a registration plate to an owner or lessee of a motorcycle who is otherwise eligible for a Rolling Thunder new specialty earmarked license plate; provided, however, that the owner or lessee shall comply with the state motor vehicle laws relating to registration and licensing of motorcycles and shall pay the regular fee applicable to motorcycles and the applicable fee specified in § 55-4-204 prior to the issuance of the plate.(B) The motorcycle plates authorized by this subsection (e) must be substantially the same in design and configuration, allowing for variations due to size restrictions, as the regular Rolling Thunder new specialty earmarked license plate authorized by subdivision (e)(1).Amended by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 804,s 53, eff. 7/1/2024.Amended by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 804,s 9, eff. 7/1/2024.Added by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 250, s 1, eff. 7/1/2023.