Veterans (Veteran Benefits)

SB 497 modifies West Virginia's vehicle registration fee exemption law to expand eligibility for veterans. Currently, veterans must have a 100% service-connected disability to qualify for fee exemption (subsection 15-16). This bill lowers the required disability percentage to 50% or greater, as certified by the state Department of Veterans' Affairs. The change applies to veterans with qualifying disabilities who own one non-commercial vehicle, maintaining existing restrictions on vehicle type and use. This directly affects veterans with service-connected disabilities between 50% and 99% who previously did not qualify for the exemption.