A new bill filed by State Rep. Phil Shepard seeks to authorize the Division of Motor Vehicles to issue a military veteran license plate with specific design elements, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 741 on April 2 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Veterans Registration Plate Modifications.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill authorizes the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles to issue a Military Veteran special registration plate with a personalized background and modifies its description. Specifically, the plate will bear the words “U.S. Military Veteran” across the top and will display the name and insignia of the branch of service on the left side. The plate is issuable to individuals who have served honorably in the U.S. Armed Forces. It is not subject to the application and issuance provisions of G.S. 20-79.3A or G.S. 20-79.8. This act is set to take effect on Oct. 1, 2025.
Of the four sponsors of this bill, Diane Wheatley proposed the most bills (29) during the 2025 regular session.
Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.
You can read more about the bills and other measures here.
Shepard, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2011 to represent the state’s 15th House district, replacing previous state representative Robert Grady.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phil Shepard, Diane Wheatley, Frank Iler, and Hugh Blackwell | HB 741 | 04/02/2025 | Veterans Registration Plate Modifications. |
| Phil Shepard, Diane Wheatley, Edward C. Goodwin, and Matthew Winslow | HB 703 | 04/02/2025 | Memorials in Veterans Cemeteries. |
| Phil Shepard, Allen Chesser, Frank Iler, and Jeffrey C. McNeely | HB 652 | 04/01/2025 | Transportation Goods Unit Pricing Cost. |
| Phil Shepard, Diane Wheatley, Garland E. Pierce, and Grant L. Campbell, MD | HB 663 | 04/01/2025 | Living Donor Protection Act. |
| Phil Shepard, Cody Huneycutt, Larry W. Potts, and Timothy Reeder, MD | HB 565 | 03/27/2025 | Check Yes, Save Lives. |
| Phil Shepard and Wyatt Gable | HB 333 | 03/06/2025 | Jacksonville/ETJ Prohibited. |
