Waukesha Times

The Wisconsin State Senate has unanimously approved a bill that will waive the license plate personalization fee for Gold Star families. This legislation, which garnered bipartisan support, aims to honor the families of servicemen and women who died in combat by removing the annual $15 fee associated with personalizing their Gold Star plates.

Gold Star plates are issued to immediate family members of service members who lost their lives in combat. Although these plates are provided free of charge, many families opt to personalize them with names, ranks, or units as a tribute to their loved ones. Senate Bill 38 ensures that the 456 Wisconsin families currently holding Gold Star plates can continue this practice without incurring additional costs.

Senator Rob Hutton (R-Brookfield), co-author of the bill, emphasized the significance of this legislative move: “Gold Star families have already made unimaginable sacrifices,” he stated. “Words could never express the gratitude we all feel, but with Memorial Day coming up, eliminating this fee is a timely way to demonstrate the respect that those families deserve.”

The unanimous passage of Senate Bill 38 highlights a shared respect across party lines for military service and sacrifice. Senator Hutton expressed his appreciation for the collaborative effort behind this initiative: “I want to thank the bipartisan group of legislators who came together at a fitting time to remember and honor the sacrifices of those who gave everything for our country and to extend our deep gratitude to their families.”