wa-law.org > bill > 2025-26 > SB 5444 > Substitute Bill
The department must review and either approve or reject special license plate applications submitted by sponsoring organizations. Except for special license plates created under this act, the department may not issue any new special license plates until January 1, 2029, and therefore no applications for any new special license plates may be accepted until January 1, 2029. The department must prominently display this special license plate moratorium on its website.
Duties of the department include, but are not limited to, the following:
Review and approve the annual financial reports submitted by sponsoring organizations with active special license plate series and present those annual financial reports to the joint transportation committee;
Report annually to the joint transportation committee on the special license plate applications that were considered by the department;
Issue approval and rejection notification letters to sponsoring organizations, the executive committee of the joint transportation committee, and the legislative sponsors identified in each application. The letters must be issued within seven days of making a determination on the status of an application; and
Review annually the number of plates sold for each special license plate series created after January 1, 2003. The department may submit a recommendation to discontinue a special plate series to the executive committee of the joint transportation committee.
The high cost of implementing a new special license plate series, coupled with the uncertainty of the state's ability to recoup its costs, has led the legislature to delay the implementation of new special license plates. In order to address these issues, it is the intent of the legislature to create a mechanism that will allow for the opportunity to review and evaluate the special license plate process, to ensure efficacy of the program, and to ensure this program does not result in undue costs to the state of Washington.
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The department of licensing must convene a special license work group to conduct a comprehensive review of current provisions associated with special license plates.
The membership of the work group will be determined by the department of licensing, but the interests represented must include internal and external entities involved in the approval, reporting, and issuance of special license plates.
Each calendar year, the members of the joint transportation committee must be invited to attend at least one of the work group meetings.
By December 1st of calendar years 2025 through 2026, the work group must provide a status update and give a presentation to the joint transportation committee.
By November 15, 2027, the department of licensing must provide a preliminary final report and give a presentation to the joint transportation committee detailing its preliminary recommendations as specified in subsection (3) of this section.
Based on the direction and input provided by the joint transportation committee, the department of licensing must then submit a final report with draft legislation to the transportation committees of the legislature by January 1, 2028.
The special license work group must review, analyze, and make recommendations on the following issues:
Developing more active review and oversight of special license plates by the joint transportation committee, including reviewing information submitted pursuant to RCW 46.18.060;
Increasing the signature and other application requirements for creating special license plates;
Removing the ability to create nonreviewed special license plates without meeting the signature and other application requirements;
Modifying the current startup and other cost commitments to create a new special license plate;
Making information more readily available to potential organizations sponsoring new special license plates of the average and likely net revenues raised by proposed special license plates before a sponsoring organization starts the application process;
Improving the transparency and availability of financial and use of special license plate proceeds information provided by special license plate sponsoring organizations on an annual basis;
Identifying metrics and methods by which the legislature and the department of licensing must use for the discontinuation of low performing special license plates; and
Implementing other mechanisms to make the special license plate application, creation process, and use of funds more rigorous and accountable.
This section expires January 15, 2028.
The joint transportation committee is created. The executive committee of the joint committee consists of the chairs and ranking members of the house and senate transportation committees. The chairs of the house and senate transportation committees shall serve as cochairs of the joint committee. All members of the house and senate standing committees on transportation are eligible for membership of the joint committee and shall serve when appointed by the executive committee.
The joint transportation committee shall review and research transportation programs and issues in order to educate and promote the dissemination of transportation research to state and local government policymakers, including legislators and associated staff. All four members of the executive committee shall approve the annual work plan. Membership of the committee may vary depending on the subject matter of oversight and research projects. The committee may also make recommendations for functional or performance audits to the transportation performance audit board.
The executive committee shall adopt rules and procedures for its operations.
By December 20, 2028, and at least every two years thereafter, the joint transportation committee must hold a work session on the implementation of special license plate process improvements established as a result of this act and other relevant issues as it may determine.
In addition to all fees and taxes required to be paid upon application for a vehicle registration in chapter 46.16A RCW, the holder of a special license plate shall pay the appropriate special license plate fee as listed in this section.
(1) Special license plate series reviewed and approved by the department:
(1) The department shall:
(1) The department shall:
The veterans stewardship account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. Disbursements of funds must be on the authorization of the director or the director's designee, and only for the purposes stated in subsection (4) of this section. In order to maintain an effective expenditure and revenue control, funds are subject in all respects to chapter 43.88 RCW, but no appropriation is required to permit expenditure of the funds.
The department may request and accept nondedicated contributions, grants, or gifts in cash or otherwise, including funds generated by the issuance of the armed forces license plate collection and the United States Naval Academy license plate under chapter 46.18 RCW.
All receipts from the sale of armed forces license plates, United States Naval Academy license plates, and Purple Heart license plates as required under RCW 46.68.425(2) must be deposited into the veterans stewardship account.
All moneys deposited into the veterans stewardship account must be used by the department for activities that benefit veterans or their families, including but not limited to, providing programs and services for homeless veterans; establishing memorials honoring veterans; and maintaining state veterans' cemeteries. Funds from the account may not be used to supplant existing funds received by the department.
"Keep Washington evergreen license plate" means special license plates issued under RCW 46.18.200 that display green lettering on a white background in a style similar to the license plates issued by the department in the 1970s.
The department shall create, design, and issue a keep Washington evergreen license plate that may be used in lieu of standard issue or personalized license plates for motor vehicles required to display one or two license plates, excluding vehicles registered under chapter 46.87 RCW, upon terms and conditions established by the department.
A registered owner may apply to the department, county auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by the director for a keep Washington evergreen license plate. The registered owner shall pay the special license plate fee required under RCW 46.17.220(16), in addition to any other fee or tax required by law.
"LeMay-America's Car Museum license plates" means special license plates issued under RCW 46.18.200 that display the LeMay-America's car museum logo, name, or related image.
"Mount St. Helens license plates" means special license plates issued under RCW 46.18.200 that display an image of Mount St. Helens.
"Nautical Northwest license plates" means special license plates issued under RCW 46.18.200 that display a Northwest maritime scene.
"Smokey Bear license plates" means special license plates issued under RCW 46.18.200 that display the name, image, and likeness of Smokey Bear promoting wildfire prevention and the state department of natural resources' wildland wildfire program.
"Working forests license plates" means special license plates issued under RCW 46.18.200 that display images embodying working forests.
"State sport license plates" means special license plates issued under RCW 46.18.200 that recognize the state sport of pickleball.
"Seattle Reign FC license plates" means special license plates issued under RCW 46.18.200 that display the logo of the Seattle Reign FC.
"Washington honey bees and pollinators license plates" means special license plates issued under RCW 46.18.200 that display images of honey bees and pollinators.
"Firefighter memorial license plates" means special license plates issued under RCW 46.18.200 that display the Maltese cross with the words "never forget."
"Donate life license plates" means special license plates issued under RCW 46.18.200 that displays the donate life logo.
"United States Naval Academy license plates" means special license plates issued under RCW 46.18.200 that display a design related to the United States Naval Academy.
"Historical throwback license plates" means special license plates issued under RCW 46.18.200 that display white lettering on a black background in a style similar to historical license plates issued in the early 20th century.
In addition to all fees and taxes required to be paid upon application for a vehicle registration under chapter 46.16A RCW, the holder of a personalized license plate shall pay an initial fee of $52 and $52 for each renewal. The personalized license plate fee must be distributed as provided in RCW 46.68.435.
Sections 3 through 23 of this act take effect November 1, 2025.