Vehicle Registration Fee Exemption Extension for Disabled Veterans

Virginia Legislative Events

Published March 31st, 2026

Detected April 3rd, 2026

Summary

Virginia HB94 extends the existing vehicle registration fee exemption for disabled veterans and their unremarried surviving spouses to include vehicles with standard passenger license plates, not just disabled veteran special license plates. The bill was enacted on March 31, 2026, with an effective date of July 1, 2026.

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What changed

Virginia HB94 amends state law to expand the vehicle registration fee exemption for disabled veterans and their unremarried surviving spouses. The prior law limited the exemption to vehicles displaying disabled veteran special license plates. The new law extends the exemption to eligible vehicles with standard passenger license plates, broadening access to the fee waiver.

Virginia DMVs and veterans affairs agencies should prepare for the expanded eligibility criteria effective July 1, 2026. Disabled veterans and unremarried surviving spouses who previously did not qualify due to license plate type should now be eligible for the annual registration fee exemption. Implementation may require system updates to reflect the expanded vehicle eligibility criteria.

What to do next

Update vehicle registration systems to reflect expanded exemption eligibility for standard passenger plates
Review and update eligibility documentation requirements for disabled veteran fee exemptions
Communicate expanded eligibility to veterans and surviving spouses applying for vehicle registration

Source document (simplified)

ChangeBridge / Virginia / HB94 Enacted HB94 House Bill Enacted 2026-03-31

Vehicle registration fees; disabled veterans.

Vehicle registration fees; disabled veterans. Extends the current exemption from annual vehicle registration fees for disabled veterans or their unremarried surviving spouse to eligible vehicles displaying a standard passenger license plate. Current law applies such exemption to a vehicle displaying disabled veteran special license plates.

Bill Details

State Virginia

Session 2026 Regular Regular Session

Chamber House

Official Source lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB94

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Action History

2026-03-31 Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0039) 2026-03-31 Approved by Governor-Chapter 39 (effective 7/1/2026) 2026-03-10 Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 2026-03-10 H Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026 2026-03-06 S Signed by President 2026-03-06 H Signed by Speaker 2026-03-06 H Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB94) 2026-03-06 H Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB94ER) 2026-03-06 H Enrolled 2026-03-02 S Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A) 2026-02-27 S Passed by for the day 2026-02-27 S Read third time 2026-02-26 S Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) 2026-02-26 S Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) 2026-02-26 S Rules suspended 2026-02-25 S Reported from Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N) 2026-02-19 S Reported from Transportation and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N 1-A) 2026-02-05 S Referred to Committee on Transportation 2026-02-05 S Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) 2026-02-04 H Passed House (98-Y 0-N 0-A) 2026-02-04 H Reconsideration of passage agreed to by House 2026-02-04 H Read third time and passed House (97-Y 1-N 0-A) 2026-02-04 H Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB94) 2026-02-04 H Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB94) 2026-02-03 H Engrossed by House as amended 2026-02-03 H committee amendments agreed to 2026-02-03 H Read second time 2026-02-02 H Read first time 2026-01-29 H Reported from Transportation with amendment(s) (21-Y 0-N) 2026-01-27 H Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) and referring to Appropriations (10-Y 0-N) 2026-01-26 H House subcommittee offered 2026-01-23 H Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB94) 2026-01-19 H Assigned HTRAN sub: Department of Motor Vehicles 2026-01-02 H Referred to Committee on Transportation 2026-01-02 H Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100158D

Votes

2026-01-29 Reported from Transportation with amendment(s) (21-Y 0-N) Yea: 21 Nay: 0 2026-01-27 Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) and referring to Appropriations (10-Y 0-N) Yea: 10 Nay: 0 2026-02-04 Read third time and passed House (97-Y 1-N 0-A) Yea: 97 Nay: 1 2026-02-04 Passed House (98-Y 0-N 0-A) Yea: 98 Nay: 0 2026-02-19 Reported from Transportation and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N 1-A) Yea: 14 Nay: 0 2026-02-25 Reported from Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N) Yea: 14 Nay: 0 2026-02-26 Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) Yea: 40 Nay: 0 2026-03-02 Passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A) Yea: 40 Nay: 0

Committee Referrals

2026-01-02 H Transportation 2026-01-19 H Transportation: Department of Motor Vehicles 2026-02-05 S Transportation 2026-02-19 S Finance and Appropriations