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HB 3273

Adds the National Women's Soccer League and the National Women's Basketball Association to the list of available sports team special license plates

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Wick Thomas

Missouri would allow specialty license plates featuring NWSL and WNBA team emblems, expanding the program to include these leagues alongside existing teams.

Referred: Emerging Issues(H)
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Bill Summary · HB 3273

Summary of Bill HB 3273 (2026) – Missouri

Main purpose and intent

  • Expands the list of professional sports teams whose official emblems may appear on Missouri special license plates.
  • Specifically adds the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) to the existing roster of eligible professional sports teams.

Key provisions and changes

  • Rewrites Missouri Revised Statutes section 301.472 to implement the emblem-based license plate program with the added teams.
  • Eligibility and process:
    • Motor vehicle owners can obtain special plates featuring a professional sports team emblem after paying an emblem-use authorization fee to the team and meeting applicable application requirements.
    • A “professional sports team” now includes teams from the NWSL and the WNBA, in addition to other listed leagues (e.g., NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, MLS, etc.).
  • Emblem-use authorization and plate issuance:
    • The hosting team must agree to an emblem-use arrangement with the state and receive a $35 emblem-use contribution for each vehicle owner who applies.
    • A minimum threshold of 100 applications per specific team is required before production of emblem-bearing plates begins.
    • Vehicle owners must present an emblem-use authorization statement and pay a $15 plate issuance fee (in addition to standard registration fees) to obtain the personalized plate bearing the team’s official emblem. Plates must meet design standards (reflective material, consistent color scheme, visibility at night).
  • License plate maintenance:
    • If a vehicle owner does not provide an emblem-use authorization at renewal, the plate will revert to a non-emblem version under existing law.
  • Revenue flow and administration:
    • The director of revenue negotiates emblem-use agreements with teams and collects the $35 contribution.
    • Contributions, after up to 5% administrative costs, are distributed as follows:
    • In St. Louis area: The Jackson County Sports Authority or the St. Louis Regional Convention and Visitors Commission may receive funds to administer and promote the teams. They must keep revenues in separate accounts per team and may reimburse marketing expenses up to the account balance, with up to 5% for administration.
    • For each team, marketing expenditures are estimated as proportional to the team’s share of total contributions.
    • For Kansas City Chiefs: All emblem-use fees (minus up to 5% administration) go to the Chiefs’ Children’s Fund for local children in need.
  • Administration and rulemaking:
    • The Missouri Department of Revenue is to promulgate rules and regulations governing the program, with standard rulemaking procedures (chapter 536).

Who would be affected

  • Motor vehicle owners in Missouri who opt to obtain a personalized license plate featuring a professional sports team emblem (including NWSL and WNBA teams).
  • Professional sports teams in Missouri that enter emblem-use agreements with the state (including teams in the NWSL and WNBA, and existing leagues).
  • State and regional entities involved in administration and promotion (Jackson County Sports Authority, St. Louis Regional Convention and Visitors Commission, and in Kansas City, the Chiefs’ charitable arm).
  • The Department of Revenue, which would oversee agreements, emblem-use payments, and rulemaking.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Enactment mechanics:
    • The bill repeals and reenacts section 301.472 to implement the emblem program with the added teams.
    • Requires a minimum of 100 applications per team before plates with emblems can be produced.
  • Implementation timeline details are not specified in the bill text (no explicit start date or sunset). Rulemaking would follow standard Missouri procedures, subject to chapter 536.
  • Revenue distribution rules are specified, with caps on administrative costs and per-team handling, but practical rollout would depend on teams securing agreements and applicants meeting the minimum thresholds.

Notable details

  • Emblem-use contribution: $35 per vehicle.
  • Plate issuance fee: $15 (in addition to standard registration fees).
  • Administrative cost cap: up to 5% of contributions retained by administering bodies.
  • Differentiated treatment for Kansas City Chiefs: proceeds directed to a charitable fund (Chiefs’ Children’s Fund) with a similar 5% admin cap.

This summary provides the substantive changes HB 3273 would bring, the affected parties, and the basic operational and fiscal structure of the proposed emblem-based license plates, including the new inclusion of NWSL and WNBA teams.

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

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