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 Mark Boyko

Missouri would add NWSL and NWBA to its specialty license plate options, expanding visibility for women’s pro sports within the existing program.

Referred: Emerging Issues(H)

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Summary of HB 2446 (2026) – Missouri

Purpose and intent

HB 2446 seeks to authorize the addition of two professional women’s sports organizations to Missouri’s list of designated special license plates available to vehicle owners. Specifically, it adds the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and the National Women’s Basketball Association (NWBA) to the roster of sports teams or leagues for which a specialty license plate is issued. The bill is intended to expand the range of supported organizations, enhance visibility for women’s professional sports, and potentially generate license plate revenues to support related programs or causes (the bill’s text would specify the designated purpose for revenues, if identified).

Key provisions and changes

New plate designations: Adds NWSL and NWBA to Missouri’s list of available sports team special license plates.

Issuance framework maintained: The addition follows the existing statutory framework governing specialty license plates, including application processes, annual renewal, and any associated fees (the bill would operate within the current program structure unless otherwise specified).

Co-sponsorship: The bill lists Mark Boyko as a co-sponsor, indicating legislative support from at least one additional member.

Who or what is affected

Vehicle owners in Missouri: Individuals who purchase or renew specialty license plates would be eligible to obtain plates featuring the NWSL or NWBA branding, subject to the usual approval and issuance process.

State revenue and program administration: The Missouri Department of Revenue (or the applicable licensing authority) would administer the new plate options, including enrollment numbers, fee collection, and distribution of any designated proceeds, consistent with existing practices for other specialty plates.

Women’s professional sports visibility: The addition aims to raise public visibility for NWSL and NWBA through plate eligibility, potentially supporting related initiatives or causes tied to the plate program.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Introduction and readings:

Prefiled in December 2025.
First reading in the House on January 7, 2026.
Second reading in the House on January 8, 2026.

Referral: Referred to the Emerging Issues Committee (H) on May 15, 2026, for consideration and potential review of broader implications.

Potential enactment pathway: If approved by the committee and the full House, the bill would move to the Senate (subject to its own committee review and floor votes) and then to the governor for signature or veto.

Effective date: The bill’s effective date would be specified in the text (often the date of passage or a defined future date) and would determine when the new plates could be issued.

Notes on impact and implementation

The bill does not modify existing fee levels or the overall structure of the specialty plate program beyond adding two new plate options.

Revenue implications depend on the program’s current funding model and whether proceeds from these plates are earmarked for specific causes or general program support.

Success depends on administrative capacity to issue and promote the new plates and on public demand for NWSL and NWBA-themed plates.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to highlight potential fiscal effects, administrative responsibilities, or comparison with other specialty plate additions in Missouri.