Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §§46.2-742.1, 46.2-742.2, 46.2-745.1, and 46.2-745.2 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding sections numbered 46.2-725.3, 46.2-745.4, and 46.2-745.5 as follows:

§46.2-725.3. Special license plates for recipients of certain military decorations.

A. No special license plate for recipients of a military decoration shall be considered by the General Assembly unless and until the person or entity seeking the authorization of such special plate has demonstrated to the satisfaction of the General Assembly the order of precedence of such military decoration as determined by the federal Department of Defense or other relevant federal agency.

B. Any special license plate for recipients of a military decoration falling below the Medal of Honor and above the Purple Heart in order of precedence shall be authorized for issuance by the Department with a $10 one-time fee in addition to the prescribed cost of state license plates. Any special license plate for recipients of a military decoration falling below the Purple Heart in the order of precedence shall be authorized for issuance by the Department with a $10 annual special license plate fee in addition to the prescribed cost of state license plates. Special license plates for recipients of the Purple Heart shall be issued as provided in §46.2-742. The Department is authorized to issue an additional plate reflecting the "V" for Valor for any plate currently issued by the Department reflecting a military decoration that the federal Department of Defense or other relevant federal agency has determined is eligible for the "V" for Valor Device. The Department shall charge only the prescribed cost of state license plates for any plate design reflecting the "V" for Valor Device.

C. Notwithstanding §46.2-725, special license plates for the recipients of a military decoration are exempt from subdivisions B 1 and 2 of §46.2-725. Unremarried surviving spouses of individuals eligible to receive such special license plates are also authorized to receive such special license plates.

§46.2-742.1. Special license plates for persons awarded the Bronze Star, Bronze Star with a "V" for valor, or the Silver Star; fee.

On receipt of an application and written evidence that the applicant has been awarded a Bronze Star, Bronze Star with a "V" for valor, or Silver Star Medal, the Commissioner shall issue to the applicant special license plates.

For each set of license plates issued under this section, other than those that reflect the Bronze Star, the Commissioner shall charge the prescribed cost of state license plates. For Bronze Star license plates, the Commissioner shall charge, in addition to the prescribed cost of state license plates, a one-time fee of $10 at the time the plates are issued.

The provisions of subdivisions B 1 and 2 of subsection B of §46.2-725 shall not apply to license plates issued under this section.

The design of license plates issued under this section to persons who have been awarded multiple decorations shall reflect the number of such decorations.

Unremarried surviving spouses of persons eligible to receive special license plates under this section may also be issued special license plates under this section.

§46.2-742.2. Special license plates for persons awarded the Navy Cross, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Air Force Cross, the Distinguished Flying Cross, or the Distinguished Flying Cross with a "V" for Valor.

On receipt of an application and written evidence that the applicant has been awarded the Navy Cross, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Air Force Cross, or the Distinguished Flying Cross, or the Distinguished Flying Cross with a "V" for Valor, the Commissioner shall issue to the applicant special license plates.

The provisions of subdivisions B 1 and 2 of subsection B of §46.2-725 shall not apply to license plates issued under this section.

Unremarried surviving spouses of persons eligible to receive special license plates under this section may also be issued special license plates under this section.

The design of license plates issued under this section to persons who have been awarded multiple decorations shall reflect the number of such decorations.

For each set of license plates issued under this section, other than those that reflect the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Commissioner shall charge the prescribed cost of state license plates. For Distinguished Flying Cross license plates, the Commissioner shall charge, in addition to the prescribed cost of state license plates, a one-time fee of $10 at the time the plates are issued.

§46.2-745.1. Special license plates for persons awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, the Airman's Medal, the Army Soldier's Medal, or the Coast Guard Medal.

On receipt of an application and written confirmation from one of the armed services of the United States that the applicant has been awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, the Airman's Medal, the Army Soldier's Medal, or the Coast Guard Medal, the Commissioner shall issue special license plates to such persons. No fee shall be charged for the issuance of these license plates under this section to any one motor vehicle owned and used personally by any applicant. For each additional set of license plates issued to an applicant under this section, the Commissioner shall charge the prescribed fee for state license plates. For each set of license plates issued under this section, the Commissioner shall charge, in addition to the prescribed cost of state license plates, a one-time fee of $10 at the time the plates are issued.

It shall be unlawful for any person who is not a person described in this section to willfully and falsely represent himself as having the qualifications to obtain the special license plates herein provided for.

The provisions of subdivisions B 1 and 2 of §46.2-725 shall not apply to license plates issued under this section.

Unremarried surviving spouses of persons eligible to receive special license plates under this section may also be issued special license plates under this section.

§46.2-745.2. Special license plates for persons awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.

On receipt of an application and written confirmation from one of the armed services that the applicant has been awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Commissioner shall issue special license plates to such persons and to unremarried surviving spouses of such persons.

For each set of plates issued under this section, the Commissioner shall charge, in addition to the prescribed cost of state license plates, a one-time an annual fee of $10 at the time the plates are issued.

It shall be unlawful for any person who is not a person described in this section to willfully and falsely represent himself as having the qualifications to obtain the special license plates herein provided for.

The provisions of subdivisions B 1 and 2 of §46.2-725 shall not apply to license plates issued under this section.

Unremarried surviving spouses of persons eligible to receive special license plates under this section may also be issued special license plates under this section.

§46.2-745.4. Special license plates for persons awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, the Marine Corps Distinguished Service Medal, or the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal.

On receipt of an application and written confirmation from one of the armed services that the applicant has been awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, the Marine Corps Distinguished Service Medal, or the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, the Commissioner shall issue special license plates to such persons.

For each set of plates issued under this section, the Commissioner shall charge, in addition to the prescribed cost of state license plates, a one-time fee of $10 at the time the plates are issued.

It shall be unlawful for any person who is not a person described in this section to willfully and falsely represent himself as having the qualifications to obtain the special license plates herein provided for.

The provisions of subdivisions B 1 and 2 of §46.2-725 shall not apply to license plates issued under this section.

Unremarried surviving spouses of persons eligible to receive special license plates under this section may also be issued special license plates under this section.

§46.2-745.5. Special license plates for persons awarded the Defense Distinguished Service Medal or the Defense Superior Service Medal.

On receipt of an application and written confirmation from one of the armed services that the applicant has been awarded the Defense Distinguished Service Medal or the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Commissioner shall issue special license plates to such persons.

For each set of plates issued under this section, the Commissioner shall charge, in addition to the prescribed cost of state license plates, a one-time fee of $10 at the time the plates are issued.

It shall be unlawful for any person who is not a person described in this section to willfully and falsely represent himself as having the qualifications to obtain the special license plates herein provided for.

The provisions of subdivisions B 1 and 2 of §46.2-725 shall not apply to license plates issued under this section.

Unremarried surviving spouses of persons eligible to receive special license plates under this section may also be issued special license plates under this section.

2. That all license plates issued pursuant to §46.2-745.1 or 46.2-745.2 of the Code of Virginia prior to July 1, 2021, shall remain valid until their expiration and shall be renewed under the provisions of § 46.2-745.1 or 46.2-745.2 of the Code of Virginia as they existed prior to July 1, 2021.