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Bill

SB 5444

Creating several new special license plates.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Mike Chapman and 4 co-sponsors

Authorizes new special license plates but imposes a moratorium on creating additional plates until Jan 1, 2029, with DOL oversight and funding oversight requirements.

Effective date 7/27/2025*.
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Bill Summary · SB 5444

SB 5444 — Summary

Status: Passed Legislature; Governor signed May 20, 2025. Effective date: July 27, 2025.
Primary subject: Creation and oversight of special (organizational/charitable) motor vehicle license plates.

Main purpose and intent

  • Authorize several new special license plate series and set fees for them.
  • Temporarily pause (moratorium) creation of any additional new special plates (except those created by this act) through January 1, 2029.
  • Require a Department of Licensing (DOL)‑led workgroup and enhanced legislative oversight to review the special plate program, reduce state cost exposure, and recommend process, application, transparency, and discontinuation criteria improvements.

Key provisions

  • Moratorium: DOL may not issue or accept applications for any new special license plates until January 1, 2029, except for plates created by this act. DOL must prominently display the moratorium on its website.
  • New/authorized plates: The bill authorizes multiple special plate series (the bill text enumerates many plate types and the statutory fee schedule). The House and staff summaries highlight a phased implementation beginning Nov 1, 2025 for several new plates, including:
    • Mount St. Helens (proceeds to Mount St. Helens Institute)
    • LeMay – America’s Car Museum (education/job training)
    • Smokey Bear (proceeds to Department of Natural Resources for wildfire prevention)
    • State Sport (proceeds to Seattle Metro Pickleball Association for dedicated courts)
    • Keep Washington Evergreen (proceeds to the Electric Vehicle Account for charging stations)
    • Historical Throwback (driver’s education programs)
    • Washington State Honey Bees and Pollinators (research and education via WA State Beekeepers Association)
  • Fees: In addition to regular registration taxes/fees, many special plates carry a $40 initial issuance fee and $30 renewal fee. Certain plates/tiers have different fees (examples in the bill: some amateur/military radio plates $5; collector/horseless carriage $35; a few plates show $25 or $45 initial fees). DOL may deduct administrative expenses (not to exceed specified amounts) from plate fees; proceeds are deposited to the Motor Vehicle Account until startup costs are recovered, then distributed per statute to sponsoring organizations or designated accounts/programs.
  • DOL duties: Review/approve/reject special plate applications; review and present sponsoring organizations’ annual financial reports to the Joint Transportation Committee (JTC); report annually on applications considered; issue approval/rejection notices within seven days; annually review sales and may recommend discontinuation of low‑performing series.
  • Workgroup and reviews:
    • DOL must convene a special license workgroup (membership determined by DOL) to comprehensively review the program.
    • DOL to invite JTC members to at least one meeting each calendar year.
    • Status updates to JTC due Dec 1, 2025 and Dec 1, 2026.
    • Preliminary final report and presentation to JTC due Nov 15, 2027.
    • Final report with draft legislation to transportation committees due Jan 1, 2028.
    • The workgroup’s review topics include application/signature thresholds, startup cost structure, transparency/accountability of proceeds, discontinuation metrics for low performers, and stronger JTC oversight.
    • That statutory workgroup section expires Jan 15, 2028.
  • Joint Transportation Committee: Must hold a work session by Dec 20, 2028 and at least every two years thereafter on implementing improvements from this act.

Who is affected

  • Department of Licensing: new review, notification, reporting, and workgroup responsibilities.
  • Sponsoring organizations (nonprofits, government entities): new plates authorized; affected by fee structures, prepayment/startup cost recovery rules, and enhanced annual financial reporting and transparency requirements.
  • Motorists: may purchase newly authorized special plates; will pay the listed additional issuance/renewal fees.
  • Designated beneficiaries: organizations/accounts named in statute that will receive plate proceeds (e.g., Mount St. Helens Institute, EV Account, DNR wildfire programs, beekeepers association, and others identified in plate descriptions).
  • Joint Transportation Committee and Legislature: stronger oversight role and scheduled review responsibilities.

Timeline / procedural notes

  • Bill effective: July 27, 2025.
  • DOL to convene workgroup by Oct 1, 2025 (statutory text sets reporting milestones through Jan 1, 2028).
  • Moratorium on new special plate applications (except plates created by this act) in force until Jan 1, 2029.
  • Workgroup provisions expire Jan 15, 2028; JTC recurring work sessions begin Dec 20, 2028.

Financial/administrative mechanics (existing framework reaffirmed)

  • Sponsoring organizations must reimburse DOL start‑up costs or have those costs recouped from initial plate revenues.
  • DOL may deduct limited administrative amounts from plate fees; remaining proceeds go to the Motor Vehicle Account until startup costs are resolved, then distributed as statutorily directed.

If you want, I can:
- Produce a concise table of the new plates created by this act and their stated beneficiaries.
- Extract the fee schedule and flag which plates deviate from the standard $40/$30 structure.

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

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