I've attempted to collect information on which states have some kind of Gold Star Family license plate. Several states have legislation in progress and I have noted that where I can. Be sure to read the details link as some plates have additional documentation requirements in addition to the application, like form DD 1300, Report of Casualty or an additional affirmation form attesting to your relationship to the fallen soldier.

Those qualifying for the Gold Star plate vary by state from mothers only to extended family members. Check the qualifications carefully.

My research is not exhaustive so if you have additional details of pending legislation please .

If you are interested in introducing legislation for a Gold Star Family license plate in your own state see my GSF license plate kit. I recommend you try to make the qualification requirements as wide as possible to get the greatest number of plates on the road. Using the DOD qualifications for wearing the Gold Star Pin will give your legislator a predefined group and ease his work.

Currently 45 states have Gold Star plates (information in "More Information" column); 1 more, WY has passed legislation but the plate is not yet available.

For those states that have introduced no recent legislation; DC, HI, ME, MI, NJ. I've added the number of deaths from those states in Iraq and Afghanistan.

I've also added U S Territories to the list since there have been a significant number of casualties from some of these and there is some effort toward creating GSF plates.

Getting Form DD 1300

Form DD 1300 is issued only to the next of kin specified by the deceased on his or her emergency notification form upon entering the military. You can obtain a copy of DD 1300 from eVetRecs if you are the next of kin. The next of kin can be any of the following: surviving spouse that has not remarried, father, mother, son, daughter, sister, or brother.

Unfortunately many states have made this form a requirement for obtaining their plates but the form is not generally available to all relatives entitled to the plate. If you know the next of kin or the casualty officer try to get a copy from them. If you can't get a copy of DD 1300 see if your state authorities will accept alternate proof that you are related to the deceased.

Bad Links

These government sites tend to be reorganized frequently and the links below go bad. If you find a bad link please let us know. To find the missing information while on the state's web site use their search function to search for "gold star" or "gold star license plate" which will usually find what you want.

	Gold Star Plate Available	More Information
AL		Details Where to Apply	HB715 became law on 5/14/09.
AK		Details1 Details2 Application
AZ		Details Special Plate Application Form 96-0143 or Order Online	SB 1083 was signed by the Governor on 6/6/08.
AR		Details Request for Plate	HB1842 was signed by the governor on 3/27/09. Spouse and parents only.
CA		Details	SB1455 signed by the governor on 9/26/08. Plate issued by Dept of Veterans Affairs but fundraising is needed before plates can be issued. Probably available around Jan 2010. See the next entry also.
CA		Veterans Plates GS Mothers Decal GS Wives Decal	A Veterans Plate with a Gold Star Mother or Gold Star Wives decal is available.
CO		Details Application	Called "Fallen Service Member License Plate". There are 5 different versions of the plate, one for each branch of the military. Scroll down on the Details page to see the various plates.
CT		Details Application	The $10 plate fee was eliminated 7/2/08.
DC	No	Iraq 5 Afghanistan 2
DE		Application	Details are on the second page of the application.
FL		Details Application	The Gold Star Family plate is at the bottom of the Details page. As of 10/1/08 the requirement that the deceased service member be a resident of Florida at the time of death for the family to qualify for the GSF plate has been removed.
GA		Details - Under Military Veterans, Gold Star Family.	Apply at local county tag office. Spouse and parents only. HB 1012 was introduced on 1/28/10 to entitle siblings, children, step-parents and step-grandparents to qualify for the GS plate. Passed by House on 3/24/10. Passed Senate on 4/27/10.
HI	No	Iraq 23 Afghanistan 2
ID		Instructions Application Form GS001	H0024 signed by Governor 4/23/09, effective 7/1/09. See Military Plates on the DMV web site. You will also need form GS001 to verify your relationship to the service member. See also the Division of Veterans Services web site for more information.
IL		Details Affirmation
IN		Details Where to Apply	The Indiana Gold Star Family license plate was unveiled by the Gov on 5/22/09. The plate will be available on 1/1/2010 from the BMV. More information.
IA		Details Application	Application will download rather than display. Go to where you download files and double click on the file 411247.pdf to open it. Sorry, that's the way the state web site works.
KS		Details	HB2691 has been signed by the Governor. Plate is for GS Mothers only. Plates are ordered at the County Treasurers office. HB2138 was introduced in Jan 2010 to create a Military Family Plate with various decals, one of which would be for members of Gold Star Families. SB361 was introduced on 1/13/10 to change the existing law on GS plates to include a broader group of relatives instead of just mothers. As of 1/19/10 in Transportation Comm.
KY		Details	Mothers and spouses only. HB66 has been introduced in the 2009 Regular Session to allow Gold Star Fathers to qualify for the plate. HB261, which would add fathers to those eligible for the Gold Star plate, has been sent to the Governor for signature on 3/17/10.
LA		Details for existing plate holders. Details for new plates.	General information about half way down the page. More comprehensive details for existing plate holders wishing to change to a Gold Star Family Plate.
ME	No		HP0893 has been introduced. On 3/31/09 it was in both the House and Senate Transportation Committees. Appears to have died in the Senate on 5/18/09.
MD		Details Application
MA		Details Application	The House and Senate approved S2352 allowing siblings and grandchildren of veterans who were killed in action to be issued the special "Gold Star Family" license plate. Currently only the parents, children or spouses may be issued the special plates. 11/15/08.
MI	No	Iraq 156 Afghanistan 22	SB 0749 (details near end of Bill text), and identical HB 5738, was introduced on Aug 19, 2009 and immediately referred to Committee on Transportation. SB 0749 was approved by the Senate Transportation Comm, 6/29/10.
MN		Details Application	HF1122 signed by Gov 5/16/09. Plate should be available Oct 1, 2009. Spouses and parents only. DPS web site. Legislation has been introduced, 3/10/10, to extend eligibility to children and siblings. There are 2 plates shown on the Details page. The upper one that says Gold Star Family is a regular size auto plate. The lower one that says only Gold Star is actually smaller and for motorcycles.
MS		More Info	SB 2852 signed by Governor on 5/8/08. Effective 7/1/08. No information on State Tax Commission web site as of 7/26/09. The plate is available. Apply through the normal procedures at your county office. No on line application available.
MO		Details	Near bottom of details page, select "Military" then "Some Gave All".
MT		Details Application	HB0373 was signed by Gov on 4/16/09. Effective 1/1/2010.
NE		Details Application	Laws 2007, LB570, § 3. Plates available Jan 1, 2010.
NV		Details Application	SB139 signed the Gov 5/22/09. Effective 10/1/09. The plate is scheduled to be released on Nov 9, 2009. Check this page for more information after Nov 9: DMV web site.
NH		Must apply as noted at right.	Plate is available only through: New Hampshire Department of Safety Division of Motor Vehicles 33 Hazen Drive Concord, NH 03305 603-271-2251, Other contact info.
NJ	No	Iraq 79 Afghanistan 14	A2654, identical S1890 and A2725 were introduced in the 2008-2009 session and are currently (1/26/09) in their respective transportation committees or the Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee. Similar bills died last year in these committees. Contact your legislator to support these bills. No further action as of 11/10/09. A3713 was introduced 2/5/09 to establish a decal system for special plates. Amended in Assembly 3/5/09. S228 was introduced on 1/12/10 in the 2010-2011 session and referred to the Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee. A2709, the identical Assembly bill was introduced on 5/13/2010 and is in the Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee.
NM		Details Application	HB164 Signed by Gov 4/6/09. Plate should be available around 9/1/09. No information on MVD web site as of 11/10/09. This item was posted as in internal communication within the MVD and has some details.
NY		Details Application	Mothers only.
NC		Details Application
ND		More Info Application	HB1414 was signed by the Governor on 3/24/09. Plate should be available about 7/1/09. It appears that the application process must be started by contacting Gene Kouba of the North Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs Office in Bismarck at 701-328-5465 or visit their website.
OH		Details	Many variations available for different conflicts. You will also need BMV 4635 affidavit. List of Deputy Registrars.
OK		Details	Parents only (spouses see next item). There is no application form. You must apply directly to the Special Tag Section. More details here.
OK		Details Application	This plate is for surviving spouses (parents see previous item); select SPN, Surviving Spouse, on the application. More details here.
OR		Details Certification	Call Robin Steckley, (503) 373-2386 for application details.
PA		Details Application	HB 1723 introduce 6/9/09 to amend existing law to make more relatives eligible for GS plate. Laid on the table (died) 2/9/10.
RI		Existing Veteran plate holders New plate apply at local DMV office	No GS plate but GS parents are entitled to a veterans plate with a GS parent sticker. Note also a property tax exemption for GS parents.
SC		Details Application	See also these other comments.
SD		Details Application	SB151 was signed by the Governor on 3/13/09. Parents only. Plates to be available on July 1, 2009 through county treasurers' offices and will require form MV-101, Rev 7/09 and DD 1300. House Bill 1130 has been introduced on 1/27/10 to entitle spouses, siblings and children to the Gold Star Plate. Passed Transportation Comm. as of 3/9/10.
TN		Details	You must obtain the plate through your county clerk. You will need form DD 1300 Report of Casualty. Delivery takes 3-4 days. The Gold Star Mother plate is no longer available.
TX		Details - Mothers Details - Spouse Details - Family Application	Plates are identical except for Gold Star line at bottom.
UT		Details Application
VT		Details Application	You will also need DD form 1300, Report of Casualty.
VA		Details Application Certification
WA		Details Request for Certification	For parents (broadly defined) only, other family members see next entry. There is no application as such. Fill out the Request for Certification letter and bring it to any Dept of Licensing agent.
WA		Details Application More details from Dept of Veterans Affairs	The spouse of a deceased veteran and certain other family members are eligible for the Armed Forces license plate. Separate plates are available for each service branch. A Gold Star decal is available for these plates. Check the box on the application.
WV		Application
WI		Details Application
WY		Iraq 13 Afghanistan 3	HB0084 was introduced on 2/8/10. Enacted as Act 24 of 2010. Effective 1/1/2011. Parents, grandparents and spouses only.
GU	Guam	Iraq 7 Afghanistan 6	Bill 99 introduced 4/17/09, passed on 11/13/09 and signed into law as Public Law 30-62 on Dec 2, 2009. Plate is still being designed. No information on Guam web site as of 4/27/10. Bill 338-30 has been introduced to include spouses, widows and widowers to the list of those eligible for the Gold Star plate.
MH	Marshal Islands	Iraq 1 Afghanistan 0
FM	Micronesia	Iraq 3 Afghanistan 0
MP	Northern Marianas	Iraq 5 Afghanistan 0
PW	Palau	Iraq 1 Afghanistan 0
PR	Puerto Rico	Iraq 36 Afghanistan 6
VI	Virgin Islands	Iraq 5 Afghanistan 1