An Act To Require Motor Vehicles To Be Registered on a Biennial Basis
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 0788
Committee: Transportation
Sponsors: CEBRA, BRAKEY, HERRICK, LOCKMAN, O'CONNOR, PARRY, SANDERSON, STEWART, WADSWORTH, WOOD
Amends: 29-A MRSA §351, 29-A MRSA §405, 29-A MRSA §453, 29-A MRSA §455, 29-A MRSA §456, 29-A MRSA §456-A, 29-A MRSA §456-B, 29-A MRSA §456-C, 29-A MRSA §456-D, 29-A MRSA §456-E, 29-A MRSA §456-F, 29-A MRSA §456-G, 29-A MRSA §461, 29-A MRSA §501, 29-A MRSA §502, 29-A MRSA §524, 29-A MRSA §524-B

Legislative Document
No. 788
H.P. 568
House of Representatives, March 2, 2017
An Act To Require Motor Vehicles To Be Registered on a Biennial 
Basis
Reference to the Committee on Transportation suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative CEBRA of Naples.
Cosponsored by Senator BRAKEY of Androscoggin and
Representatives: HERRICK of Paris, LOCKMAN of Amherst, O'CONNOR of Berwick, 
PARRY of Arundel, SANDERSON of Chelsea, STEWART of Presque Isle, WADSWORTH 
of Hiram, WOOD of Greene.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  29-A MRSA §351, sub-§2, ¶C, as amended by PL 1999, c. 68, §1, is 
further amended to read: 
C.  The registration fee is the same as for a full year's registration period. 
Sec. 2.  29-A MRSA §405, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2011, c. 167, §1 and 
affected by §7, is further amended to read: 
1.  Automobile, truck, truck tractor, motor home, moped, semitrailers not 
exceeding a gross vehicle weight of 2,000 pounds, special mobile equipment, tractor 
and camp trailer registration.  Registration for an automobile, truck, truck tractor, 
motor home, moped, semitrailer not exceeding a gross vehicle weight of 2,000 pounds, 
special mobile equipment, tractor and camp trailer is as follows. 
A.  A Except as provided in paragraph A-1, a registration expires on the last day of 
the month one year from the month of issuance. 
A-1.  For a motor vehicle registered biennially under section 501, subsection 1, a 
registration expires on the last day of the month 2 years from the date of issuance. 
B.  When an application is made after the registration for the previous year 
registration period has expired, the term of the renewal begins on the month of the 
issuance of the previous registration. 
C.  A person who has a fleet of 5 or more motor vehicles may petition the Secretary 
of State for a common expiration date of all vehicle registrations. 
Sec. 3.  29-A MRSA §453, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2007, c. 647, §1 and 
affected by §8, is further amended to read: 
2.  Fee.  The annual service fee for a vanity registration plate is $25 in addition to the 
regular motor vehicle registration fee.  The service fee must be credited to the General 
Highway Fund, except that, beginning July 1, 2009, $10 of the service fee must be 
transferred on a quarterly basis by the Treasurer of State to the TransCap Trust Fund 
established by Title 30-A, section 6006-G.  A sum sufficient to defray the cost of this 
program must be allocated annually from the General Highway Fund. 
Sec. 4.  29-A MRSA §455, sub-§4-A, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 703, §2, is 
amended to read: 
4-A.  Renewal fee.  In addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee 
prescribed by law for the particular class of vehicle registered, the annual renewal 
contribution for environmental registration plates is $15, which must be deposited with 
the Treasurer of State and credited as follows: 
A.  Fourteen dollars to the Maine Environmental Trust Fund established in Title 12, 
section 10255; and 
B.  One dollar to the Specialty License Plate Fund established under section 469. 
Sec. 5.  29-A MRSA §456, sub-§5, as amended by PL 2007, c. 703, §3, is further 
amended to read: 
5.  Renewal fee.  In addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee prescribed 
by law, the annual renewal contribution for University of Maine System registration 
plates is $15, which must be deposited with the Treasurer of State and credited as 
follows: 
A.  Thirteen dollars to the University of Maine System Scholarship Fund established 
in Title 20-A, section 10909;  
B.  One dollar to the Highway Fund; and 
C.  One dollar to the Specialty License Plate Fund established under section 469. 
Sec. 6.  29-A MRSA §456-A, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2009, c. 435, §2, is 
further amended to read: 
1.  Lobster plates.  The Secretary of State, upon receiving an application and 
evidence of payment of the excise tax required by Title 36, section 1482, the annual 
motor vehicle registration fee required by section 501 and the contribution provided for in 
subsection 2, shall issue a registration certificate and a set of lobster special registration 
plates to be used in lieu of regular registration plates.  These plates must bear 
identification numbers and letters.  The Secretary of State may issue lobster plates to 
certain state-owned vehicles in accordance with section 517. 
Sec. 7.  29-A MRSA §456-A, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2007, c. 703, §4, is 
further amended to read: 
4.  Renewal fee.  In addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee prescribed 
by law, the annual renewal contribution for lobster special registration plates is $15, 
which must be deposited with the Treasurer of State and credited as follows: 
A.  Ten dollars to the Lobster Research, Education and Development Fund 
established in Title 12, section 6465;  
B.  Four dollars to the Highway Fund for administrative and production costs; and 
C.  One dollar to the Specialty License Plate Fund established under section 469. 
Sec. 8.  29-A MRSA §456-B, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 623, §4, is 
amended to read: 
1.  Maine Black Bears plates.  The Secretary of State, upon receiving an application 
and evidence of payment of the excise tax required by Title 36, section 1482, the annual 
motor vehicle registration fee required by section 501 and the contribution provided for in 
subsection 2, shall issue a registration certificate and a set of Maine Black Bears special 
registration plates to be used in lieu of regular registration plates.  These plates must bear 
identification numbers and letters. 
Sec. 9.  29-A MRSA §456-B, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2007, c. 703, §5, is 
further amended to read: 
4.  Renewal fee.  In addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee prescribed 
by law, the annual renewal contribution for Maine Black Bears special registration plates 
is $15, which must be deposited with the Treasurer of State and credited as follows: 
A.  Ten dollars to the Maine Black Bears Scholarship Fund established in Title 20-A, 
section 10971;  
B.  Four dollars to the Highway Fund for administrative and production costs; and 
C.  One dollar to the Specialty License Plate Fund established under section 469. 
Sec. 10.  29-A MRSA §456-C, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2011, c. 576, §7, is 
further amended to read: 
3.  Renewal fee.  In addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee prescribed 
by law, the annual renewal contribution for sportsman registration plates is $20, which 
must be deposited with the Treasurer of State and credited as follows:   
A.  Eighteen dollars credited as follows: 
(1) Fifty percent to the fish hatchery maintenance fund established in Title 12, 
section 10252; 
(2) Fifteen percent to the Boat Launch Facilities Fund established in Title 12, 
section 10261; 
(3) Ten percent to the Maine Endangered and Nongame Wildlife Fund 
established in Title 12, section 10253; and 
(4) Twenty-five percent to the landowner relations program in Title 12, section 
10108, subsection 4-A; 
B.  One dollar to the Highway Fund for administrative and production costs; and 
C.  One dollar to the Specialty License Plate Fund established under section 469. 
Sec. 11.  29-A MRSA §456-D, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2009, c. 481, §3, is 
further amended to read: 
3.  Renewal fee.  In addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee required 
under section 501, the annual renewal contribution for We Support Our Troops plates is 
$15, which must be deposited with the Treasurer of State and credited as follows: 
A.  Ten dollars to the Maine Military Family Relief Fund as established in Title 37-B, 
section 158; 
B.  Four dollars to the Highway Fund for administrative and production costs; and 
C.  One dollar to the Specialty License Plate Fund established under section 469. 
Sec. 12.  29-A MRSA §456-E, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 547, §2, is 
amended to read: 
1.  Breast cancer support services plates.  The Secretary of State, upon receiving an 
application and evidence of payment of the excise tax required by Title 36, section 1482, 
the annual motor vehicle registration fee required by section 501 and the contribution 
provided for in subsection 2, shall issue a registration certificate and a set of breast cancer 
support services special registration plates to be used in lieu of regular registration plates. 
These plates must bear identification numbers and letters. 
Sec. 13.  29-A MRSA §456-E, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2007, c. 703, §9, is 
further amended to read: 
4.  Renewal fee.  In addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee prescribed 
by law, the annual renewal contribution for breast cancer support services special 
registration plates is $15, which must be deposited with the Treasurer of State and 
credited as follows: 
A.  Ten dollars to the Breast Cancer Services Special Program Fund, as established in 
Title 22, section 1408; 
B.  Four dollars to the Highway Fund for administrative and production costs; and 
C.  One dollar to the Specialty License Plate Fund established under section 469. 
Sec. 14.  29-A MRSA §456-F, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2009, c. 435, §3, is 
further amended to read: 
1.  Agriculture education plates. The Secretary of State, upon receiving an 
application and evidence of payment of the excise tax required by Title 36, section 1482, 
the annual motor vehicle registration fee required by section 501, section 504, subsection 
or section 505 and the contribution provided for in subsection 2, shall issue a 
registration certificate and a set of agriculture education special registration plates to be 
used in lieu of regular registration plates.  These plates must bear identification numbers 
and letters.  The Secretary of State may issue agricultural education plates to certain state-
owned vehicles in accordance with section 517. 
Sec. 15.  29-A MRSA §456-F, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 703, §10, is 
amended to read: 
4.  Renewal fee. In addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee prescribed 
by law, the annual renewal contribution for agriculture education special registration 
plates is $15, which must be deposited with the Treasurer of State and credited as 
follows: 
A.  Ten dollars to the Maine Agriculture in the Classroom Council established in 
Title 5, section 12004-G, subsection 4-C; 
B.  Four dollars to the Highway Fund for administrative and production costs; and 
C.  One dollar to the Specialty License Plate Fund established under section 469. 
Sec. 16.  29-A MRSA §456-G, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 73, §1, is 
amended to read: 
1.  Support Animal Welfare plates.  The Secretary of State, upon receiving an 
application and evidence of payment of the excise tax required by Title 36, section 1482, 
the annual motor vehicle registration fee required by section 501 and the contribution 
provided for in subsection 2, shall issue a registration certificate and a set of Support 
Animal Welfare special registration plates to be used in lieu of regular registration plates. 
Sec. 17.  29-A MRSA §456-G, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 73, §1, is 
amended to read: 
4.  Renewal fee.  In addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fee prescribed 
by law, the annual renewal contribution for Support Animal Welfare special registration 
plates is $15, which must be deposited with the Treasurer of State and credited as 
follows: 
A.  Five dollars to the animal welfare auxiliary fund pursuant to Title 7, section 
3906-B, subsection 16; 
B.  Five dollars to the Companion Animal Sterilization Fund established in Title 7, 
section 3910-B; 
C.  Four dollars to the Highway Fund for administrative and production costs; 
D.  One dollar to the Specialty License Plate Fund established under section 469. 
Sec. 18.  29-A MRSA §461, as amended by PL 1999, c. 470, §4, is further 
amended to read: 
§461.  Reservation of same number 
1.  Plate issue year. In a year in which new registration plates are issued, the 
Secretary of State shall reserve until July 1st the same registration number for the 
succeeding registration year period for a person who notifies in writing the Secretary of 
State prior to May 1st of that person's desire to retain that registration number. The fee for 
retention of the same registration number is $15. 
The Secretary of State may issue a facsimile plate that is valid for a 90-day period during 
production of a reserved plate.  A facsimile plate must be attached to the rear plate 
bracket. 
If a person does not have a vehicle to register on May 1st, a registration number may be 
held for a maximum of 2 registration years periods by depositing with the Secretary of 
State $15 for each year; except that the registration period.  The registered owner of an 
antique vehicle may reserve the antique registration assigned to that person for 4 years by 
depositing the sum of $15 for each registration year. These fees are not refundable and 
may not be applied against the registration fee. 
All numbers other than those reserved must be released and issued in rotation after July 
1st. 
A person wishing to select a number out of rotation may do so by paying the registration 
fee and a reserved number fee of $15. 
A holder of vanity registration plates must pay the sum of $15 to reserve those letters or 
combination of letters and numbers, which is credited toward the renewal fee. 
2.  Nonplate issue year.  In other than a plate issue year, when a person fails to 
reregister and the registration remains expired for 6 consecutive months, the reservation 
of the same number ceases and the number becomes available for reissuance. 
For a maximum of 2 registration years periods, a person may reserve the registration 
number assigned to that person by depositing with the Secretary of State the sum of $15 
for each year; except that the registration period.  The registered owner of an antique 
motor vehicle may reserve the antique registration assigned to that person for 4 years by 
depositing with the Secretary of State the sum of $15 for each year.  A person wishing to 
select a number out of rotation may do so by paying the registration fee and a reserved 
number fee of $15. 
Sec. 19.  29-A MRSA §501, first ¶, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and 
affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read: 
The annual fees for the registration of motor vehicles must accompany the 
application for registration and are as follows. 
Sec. 20.  29-A MRSA §501, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2015, c. 206, §4, is 
further amended to read: 
1.  Automobiles; pickup trucks.  The biennial fee for an automobile, a pickup truck 
registered for 6,000 pounds or less or a sport utility vehicle used for the conveyance of 
passengers or interchangeably for passengers or property is $35 $50.  The biennial fee for 
a pickup truck registered for more than 6,000 pounds but no more than 10,000 pounds is 
$37 $50. 
An automobile or sport utility vehicle used for the conveyance of passengers or property 
is a "combination" vehicle and may be issued a special plate with the word "combination" 
instead of "Vacationland."  A passenger vehicle used under contract with the State, a 
municipality or a school district to transport students must be designated as 
"combination."  A vehicle owned or operated by parents or legal guardians is exempt 
from this subsection. 
Commercial plates may not be issued for or displayed on an automobile. 
A sport utility vehicle may be registered either as an automobile or a truck.  A sport 
utility vehicle with a gross vehicle weight or combined gross vehicle weight in excess of 
10,000 pounds and used in the furtherance of a commercial enterprise must be registered 
as a truck according to its actual gross weight as provided in section 504. 
The gross weight of a pickup truck registered as provided by this subsection may not 
exceed 10,000 pounds.  An owner of a pickup truck who operates the pickup truck with a 
gross weight in excess of 10,000 pounds or the pickup truck drawing a semitrailer with a 
combined gross weight in excess of 10,000 pounds must register the truck as provided in 
section 504. 
A combination of vehicles consisting of a motor vehicle and a camp trailer is not required 
to be registered for the gross weight of the combination. 
Beginning July 1, 2009, $10 of the fee must be transferred on a quarterly basis by the 
Treasurer of State to the TransCap Trust Fund established by Title 30-A, section 6006-G. 
Sec. 21.  29-A MRSA §502, as amended by PL 2009, c. 598, §2, is further 
amended to read: 
§502.  Transfer and return of registration; prorated registration fees 
1.  Transferring registration.  A person who transfers the ownership or discontinues 
the use of a registered motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer and applies for registration of 
another motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer in the same registration year period may use 
the same number plates on payment of a transfer fee of $8, as long as the registration fee 
is the same as that of the former vehicle.  If the fee for the vehicle to be registered is 
greater than the fee for the vehicle first registered, that person must also pay the 
difference.  If application is made for a truck camper or a trailer with a gross weight of 
2,000 pounds or less, the transfer fee is $5. 
3.  Refunds; credits.  No portion of a fee is refundable, but credits toward the 
registration of another vehicle may be given.  On registration by an owner or owner's 
surviving spouse, a credit is allowed as follows. 
A.  For the first 8 months of a registration year, the full fee may be credited toward 
the registration of another vehicle. 
B.  For the last 4 months of a registration year, an amount not to exceed 1/2 of the 
original fee may be credited toward the registration of another vehicle. 
C.  For a motor vehicle registered biennially under section 501, subsection 1, for the 
last 16 months of a registration biennium, the full fee may be credited toward the 
registration of another vehicle. 
D.  For a motor vehicle registered biennially under section 501, subsection 1, for the 
last 8 months of a registration biennium, an amount not to exceed 1/2 of the original 
fee may be credited toward the registration of another vehicle. 
4.  Prorated fee.  On any application for registration made during the last 4 months 
of a registration year, the registration fee is 1/2 the annual registration fee.  For a motor 
vehicle registered biennially under section 501, subsection 1, on any application for 
registration made during the last 8 months of a registration biennium, the registration fee 
is 1/2 the biennial registration fee. 
Sec. 22.  29-A MRSA §524, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2011, c. 356, §13, is 
further amended to read: 
4.  Purple Heart medal recipients; special license plates.  The Secretary of State, 
on application and upon evidence of payment of the excise tax required by Title 36, 
section 1482, shall issue, at no fee, a registration certificate and a set of Purple Heart 
registration plates, to be used in lieu of regular registration plates, to a person who is a 
Purple Heart medal recipient.  
An application for Purple Heart plates must be accompanied by proof that the applicant 
has been awarded the Purple Heart medal.  The Secretary of State shall verify the 
documentation presented by the applicant.  Misrepresentation of documents is in violation 
of section 2103, subsection 5. 
The Secretary of State may issue Purple Heart plates for display only on an automobile or 
truck registered for not more than 10,000 pounds.  A Purple Heart recipient may be 
issued Purple Heart plates for no more than 2 vehicles. 
The surviving spouse of a Purple Heart recipient issued plates in accordance with this 
subsection may retain and use the Purple Heart plates as long as the surviving spouse 
remains unmarried.  Upon remarriage, the surviving spouse may not use the Purple Heart 
plates on a motor vehicle, but may retain them.  Upon the death of the surviving spouse, 
the family may retain the Purple Heart plates, but may not use them on a motor vehicle. 
The Secretary of State shall determine the design of the Purple Heart plate.  Upon request 
and as provided by section 453, the Secretary of State shall issue Purple Heart plates that 
are also vanity plates.  Purple Heart vanity plates are issued in accordance with this 
section and section 453.  The annual service fee for vanity plates required in section 453 
is credited to the Highway Fund. 
A Purple Heart recipient or the surviving spouse of a Purple Heart recipient who does not 
operate a motor vehicle or register a motor vehicle and who otherwise qualifies for the 
issuance of special Purple Heart registration plates may apply to the Secretary of State for 
a special single plate recognizing that award. 
The Secretary of State shall design and identify these single plates for recognition 
purposes only.  Single Purple Heart plates may not be attached to a motor vehicle.  Only 
one plate may be issued to each recipient. 
Sec. 23.  29-A MRSA §524-B, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2015, c. 17, §1 and 
affected by §3, is further amended to read: 
1.  Eligibility.  Notwithstanding the requirements in section 468-A, the Secretary of 
State, upon application and upon evidence of payment of the excise tax required by Title 
36, section 1482 and the annual motor vehicle registration fee required by section 501, 
shall issue a registration certificate and a set of gold star family registration plates, to be 
used in lieu of regular registration plates, to: 
A.  A person who is eligible to receive a gold star lapel button under 10 United States 
Code, Section 1126 (2010);  
B.  A grandparent of a member of the United States Armed Forces, if that member 
dies after March 28, 1973 as a result of: 
(1)  An international terrorist attack against the United States or a foreign nation 
friendly to the United States, recognized as such an attack by the United States 
Secretary of Defense; or 
(2)  Military operations while serving outside the United States, including the 
commonwealths, territories and possessions of the United States, as a part of a 
peacekeeping force; 
C.  A person who is not eligible to receive a gold star lapel button under 10 United 
States Code, Section 1126 (2010) but who is eligible for a lapel button for next of kin 
of deceased personnel under 32 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 578.63 (2006); 
and 
D.  A grandparent of a member of the United States Armed Forces, if that member 
dies while serving on active duty or while assigned in the reserve components of the 
United States Armed Forces or Army National Guard unit in a drill status. 
SUMMARY 
This bill changes the annual registration requirement and fee for automobiles, pickup 
trucks registered for 10,000 pounds or less and sport utility vehicles to a biennial 
registration at a fee of $50.