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Bill

AB 997

Child health and safety: "Have a Heart, Be a Star, Help Our Kids" license plate program.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Catherine Stefani

California creates voluntary "Have a Heart, Be a Star, Help Our Kids" license plates to fund child health and safety programs through consumer purchases.

In committee: Held under submission.
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Bill Summary · AB 997

Legislative bill overview

AB 997 establishes a special "Have a Heart, Be a Star, Help Our Kids" license plate program in California designed to fund child health and safety initiatives. Revenue generated from the sale of these specialized plates would support programs benefiting children's welfare, health, and safety services. The bill creates a new funding mechanism through voluntary consumer participation in the license plate purchase process.

Why is this important

Special license plate programs generate dedicated funding streams for causes without requiring direct tax increases, allowing interested citizens to voluntarily contribute. Child health and safety funding directly impacts vulnerable populations and public health outcomes, making revenue allocation in this area a significant policy priority. The program's success depends on consumer adoption rates and public awareness of the cause.

Potential points of contention

  • Funding adequacy: Special plate programs often generate modest revenues; skeptics question whether this mechanism creates meaningful funding for child programs or serves primarily as symbolic support
  • Administrative costs: Unclear how much of plate sale revenue actually reaches child services versus covering administrative overhead, marketing, and DMV processing
  • Program oversight: Questions about which specific child health/safety programs receive funding and what accountability mechanisms ensure effective use of revenues

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

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