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AB 1059

Vehicles: Blackout License Plate Program.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Robert Garcia

The bill would create a California Blackout license plate program, requiring 7,500 paid applications by 2030 to activate, with fees funding admin costs and remaining revenue to the

In committee: Held under submission.
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Bill Summary · AB 1059

AB 1059 — Vehicles: Blackout License Plate Program (Garcia)

Summary / Purpose

AB 1059 would direct the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to create a new "California Blackout Plates" specialty program offering license plates with a black background and white lettering. The bill aims to provide a lawful, DMV‑issued black plate option (responding to demand for different plate colors and to reduce illegal altered/covered plates), plus make several related changes to specialty plate programs and revenue allocations.

Key provisions

  • Establishes the Blackout License Plate Program (Vehicle Code §5004.4) and directs the DMV to issue California Blackout Plates with black background and white lettering; design to match regular plates as feasible.
  • Program activation is conditional: the DMV must receive and hold at least 7,500 paid applications for the plates on or before January 1, 2030. If that threshold is not met by that date, all collected fees/deposits are to be refunded.
  • Additional specialty-plate fees (in addition to regular registration fees):
    • $50 for original issuance
    • $40 for renewal with the plates
    • $15 for transfer to another vehicle
    • $35 for substitute replacement plate
    • $38 retention fee where renewal fees are not otherwise required (due at expiration of registration year); (certain exceptions apply)
  • DMV may not issue Blackout Plates for vehicles exempt from registration fees (per §§9101, 9103). Sections 5106 and 5108 do not apply to these plates; applicants may request a particular character combination subject to §5105.
  • After the DMV determines sufficient funds exist, moneys are available, upon legislative appropriation, to cover administrative costs of establishing the program; remaining revenues (after administrative costs) are deposited into the California Environmental License Plate Fund for appropriation under existing law.

Related / other provisions in the bill

  • Temporarily authorizes commemorative 2028 Olympic license plates until Dec 31, 2028; allows current holders to renew or transfer them and requires issuance of regular-series plates when holders seek substitutes/duplicates on or after Jan 1, 2029.
  • Directs certain revenues from 2028 Olympic plates into a newly established 2025 Los Angeles Fire Relief Fund in the State Treasury, continuously appropriated to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) for wildfire relief/recovery for areas subject to Governor’s Executive Order N‑17‑25 (Feb 4, 2025). Establishing the continuously appropriated fund constitutes an appropriation.
  • Requires the DMV, every two years, to outreach to all postsecondary institutions accredited (or accepted as candidates) by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges regarding the commemorative reflectorized collegiate plate program.
  • Requires the DMV to update/modernize standard license plates to include an option for a black plate with white lettering.
  • Legislative findings cite increased use of illegal altered plates and enforcement impacts (e.g., ~990 CHP citations in 2022).

Who is affected

  • Motor vehicle owners/lessees who may opt for a black specialty plate (subject to fee and application threshold).
  • DMV (administration, outreach, plate manufacturing/design updates).
  • Law enforcement (potential reduction in stops for altered/illegal plates).
  • Cal Fire and wildfire-affected communities (potential funding from Olympic plate revenues).
  • Postsecondary institutions (recipient of outreach about collegiate plate program).

Timeline & conditions

  • Introduced: February 20, 2025.
  • Activation condition for Blackout Plates: at least 7,500 paid applications received and held by the DMV by January 1, 2030; otherwise refunds issued.
  • Related Olympic plate authority effective until December 31, 2028; substitute/duplicate transition provision begins January 1, 2029.

Fiscal/administrative notes

  • The DMV must first determine there are sufficient funds; administrative costs may be appropriated by the Legislature. Remaining revenues (after administrative costs) are deposited into the California Environmental License Plate Fund.
  • Establishment of the 2025 Los Angeles Fire Relief Fund creates a continuous appropriation (i.e., a fiscal effect/appropriation).

Legislative status (selected actions)

  • Introduced Feb 20, 2025. Referred to Assembly Transportation and then Appropriations.
  • April 22, 2025: Do pass from TRANS and re-referred to Appropriations (Ayes 15–Noes 0).
  • May 23, 2025: In committee — Held under submission (last recorded action).

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

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