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HSB 144

A bill for an act relating to vehicle registration plates, including registration plate frames and Gadsden flag special registration plates, providing fees, and making appropriations.

2025-2026 Regular Session

Creates Gadsden flag license plates with new fees; diverts revenue to the General Fund and DPS grants for gun-rights education, prioritizing NRA-affiliated groups.

Committee report approving bill, renumbered as HF 525.
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Bill Summary · HSB 144

Summary of HSB 144 (Renumbered as HF 525)

Overview
- Bill: HSB 144, relating to vehicle registration plates, including Gadsden flag plates, with fees and appropriations.
- Status: Committee report approving bill; renumbered as HF 525.
- Introduced: February 11, 2025.
- Subject: License plates, motor vehicle registration; related fees, designs, and appropriations.
- Context: The bill focuses on Gadsden flag-themed registration plates, associated fees, and earmarked grant programs administered through the Department of Public Safety (DPS).

What the bill would change or establish
- Gadsden flag plates and personalized plates
- Personalized plate fee: $25 (in addition to the existing special Gadsden flag fee).
- Character limit: Personalized Gadsden flag plates limited to five numerals and letters.
- Special Gadsden flag plates: Annual fee for letter-number designated plates is $50 (in addition to the regular annual registration fee).
- Personalized Gadsden flag plates: Annual fee of $5 (in addition to the special Gadsden flag fee and the regular annual registration fee).
- Issuance/renewal fees: The monthly DOT-dedicated collection must be paid to the Treasurer of State and deposited into the Road Use Tax Fund (RUTF).

  • Revenue transfers and use of funds

    • Monthly transfer from the statutory allocations fund to the General Fund of the state, equal to the special Gadsden flag plate fees collected in the previous month, minus $1 per issuance or renewal that month.
    • Moneys appropriated to DPS to distribute as grants for education and training on the right to keep and bear arms, and on firearm safety.
    • When awarding grants, DPS must give first consideration to official state associations of the National Rifle Association (NRA) and similar nonprofit organizations.

  • Issuance rules and plate design

    • DOT may not condition the issuance of Gadsden flag plates on the receipt of any specific number of orders.
    • Gadsden flag plates are exempt from (a) displaying the county name issuing the plates and (b) maintaining strict consistency with the design/color of regular registration plates.

  • Nonprofit decals on special plates

    • Under current law, nonprofits may apply to DOT for approval to issue a decal of the organization’s own design to be displayed on special registration plates, with space reserved for the organizational decal.
    • The nonprofit may charge a fee and retain any payment received for the organizational decal.

Legislative actions and timeline
- Subcommittee: Recommended passage (Feb 18, 2025).
- Subcommittee hearing: Feb 18, 2025 (House Lounge).
- Committee: Passed and recommended passage (Feb 19, 2025); later committee report approved and renumbered (Feb 20, 2025).

Impact and who is affected
- Vehicle owners choosing Gadsden flag or personalized plates would face new/altered fee structures.
- DPS would administer grant programs focused on gun rights and safety education, with preference given to NRA-affiliated or similar organizations.
- DOT’s issuance process would remain open to a range of orders, without quotas, and plate design exemptions would apply to Gadsden flag plates.
- Nonprofit organizations may participate in decals for special plates under existing mechanisms.

Note: This summary reflects the bill’s introduced text and the subsequent committee actions through HF 525 renumbering; final enactment would require full legislative passage and gubernatorial action.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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