State Representative Jim Hoops has introduced the Purple Heart Memorial Plate Act in Columbus. The proposed legislation aims to allow spouses of deceased Purple Heart recipients to keep their Purple Heart license plates.
The bill specifies that the plate is non-transferrable and can only be retained by the surviving spouse. The spouse will continue to pay Ohio’s annual registration renewal fee, and the plate will become invalid if they remarry.
“For many surviving spouses, this plate serves as a symbol of their loved ones’ sacrifice and legacy,” stated Hoops. “This is a meaningful way to honor the valor and tenacity of our Purple Heart recipients and their families.”
If enacted, Ohio would join Louisiana, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, and Washington as states allowing this practice. The bill is pending assignment of a number and House committee review.
