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Bill

HB 782

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

2025 Regular Session

Imposes a 300-application threshold before issuing a civic club plate and clarifies that a tax-exempt civic organization can own the vehicle.

Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
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Bill Summary · HB 782

HB 782 — Civic Club Registration Plate Clarification (North Carolina)

Status: Regular message sent to Senate (committee substitute reported favorable 4/30/2025)
Introduced: Early April 2025 (filed Apr 3, 2025)
Statutory reference amended: G.S. 20‑79.4(b)(44) (Special registration plates)

Purpose / Intent

To clarify who is eligible for “civic club” special registration plates and to set a minimum demand threshold before the Division of Motor Vehicles (the Division) may add a new civic club plate design to its offerings. The change aims to codify issuance rules and reduce administrative burden from low‑demand specialty plates.

Key provisions

  • Eligibility
    • Civic club plates are issuable to members of nationally recognized civic organizations whose in‑state clubs are exempt from State corporate income tax under G.S. 105‑130.11(a)(5).
    • For purposes of this provision, the term “member” explicitly includes the civic organization itself when the organization is the registered owner of the vehicle.
  • Plate design and content
    • Plates must bear a word or phrase identifying the civic club and the club’s emblem.
  • Vehicle types and fees
    • Civic club plates may be obtained for motor vehicles and motorcycles.
    • Registration fees and motorcycle issuance restrictions for a civic club plate are the same as for any motor vehicle specialty plate.
  • Issuance threshold
    • The Division may not issue a civic club plate for a particular civic organization unless it receives at least 300 applications for that specific civic club plate.
  • Effective date
    • The act becomes effective when it becomes law.

Who is affected

  • Members and organizations of nationally recognized civic clubs that qualify under the tax‑exempt criterion (examples noted in the statute: Jaycees, Kiwanis, Optimist, Lions Club, Rotary, Ruritan, Shrine).
  • Registered vehicle owners (individuals or organizations) seeking civic club specialty plates.
  • The Division (DMV) — administrative processes for approving and producing new specialty plates will use the clarified rules and the 300‑application threshold.

Expected impact

  • Administrative: Reduces issuance of low‑demand civic club plates by requiring demonstrated interest (300 applications) before a plate is produced.
  • Practical: Affirms that an organization itself can obtain a civic club plate when it is the vehicle’s registered owner.
  • Fiscal: No direct fee changes; potential minor DMV administrative savings by avoiding production of plates with limited demand.

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Filed at the start of April 2025 and referred to the Transportation Committee (per bill history).
  • A committee substitute was reported favorable on April 30, 2025.
  • The bill’s Section 2 states it is effective upon becoming law.

(Statutory language is from proposed amendments to G.S. 20‑79.4(b)(44).)

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

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