An act relating to creating a New England Organ Bank specialty license plate

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Bill Canfield

The bill would create a New England Organ Bank specialty license plate in Vermont, with fees funding organ donation programs and awareness efforts.

Read first time and referred to the Committee on Transportation

Summary of Bill H 896 (2025-2026) – Vermont

Purpose and intent

H 896 proposes the creation of a New England Organ Bank specialty license plate. The primary aim is to raise awareness about organ donation and support organ donation-related activities through plate program funding.

The bill designates branding and funding mechanisms tied to the plate to promote organ procurement, transplantation, and related advocacy.

Key provisions and changes

Establishment of a New England Organ Bank specialty license plate tier, including its appearance, wording, and validation standards (subject to administrative or aesthetic review typical of specialty plates).

Authorization for the issuance of the specialty plate alongside standard Vermont plates, with recipients able to choose the special plate when registering or renewing vehicle licenses.

A funding mechanism: a portion or specified amount of fees or surcharges collected for the specialty plate would be dedicated to the New England Organ Bank or to programs supporting organ donation, transplant services, public awareness campaigns, and related activities. The bill should specify the allocation formula (e.g., a fixed annual contribution per plate, or a percentage of plate fees) and ensure funds are deposited into a designated account.

Administrative and regulatory aspects: requirements for plate design approval, durability standards, and compliance with Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles processes. The bill may also outline reporting and oversight provisions to track fund use and impact.

Contingencies and sunset or renewal: the bill may include provisions about renewal, potential sunset dates, or legislative review to assess effectiveness and continued funding needs.

Affected parties and scope

Vermont vehicle owners who opt for the New England Organ Bank specialty plate.

New England Organ Bank (or its affiliated fund) which would receive and steward the designated funds for organ donation-related programs.

State agencies (primarily the Department of Motor Vehicles) responsible for issuing specialty plates, collecting fees, and distributing funds in accordance with the statute.

Donor advocacy and health organizations could indirectly benefit through public awareness campaigns and donation recruitment efforts funded by the plate program.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Status: Read first time and referred to the Committee on Transportation (as of 2026-02-11).

Next steps typically involve committee consideration, potential amendments, and eventual floor votes in the Vermont House, followed by Senate review and governor’s approval if advanced.

Implementation timeline would depend on committee action and subsequent legislative passage; once enacted, the DMV would establish design specifications, licensing procedures, and fund transfer arrangements.

Notes

Co-sponsor: Bill Canfield.

The summary reflects the bill’s stated objective to create a specialty license plate to support organ donation initiatives, with financial and administrative provisions typically associated with specialty plate laws. For precise language, numeric allocations, and design details, refer to the bill text and any amendments adopted during committee review.