Legislative Analysis
Phone: (517) 373-8080
LEGACY REGISTRATION PLATES
http://www.house.mi.gov/hfa
Senate Bill 464 (S-4) as reported from House committee
Analysis available at
Sponsor: Sen. Mallory McMorrow http://www.legislature.mi.gov
House Committee: Transportation, Mobility and Infrastructure
Senate Committee: Transportation and Infrastructure
Complete to 11-4-23
(Enacted as Public Act 317 of 2023)
SUMMARY:
Senate Bill 464 would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to require the secretary of state to
develop and issue three legacy registration plates for which an applicant would have to pay
two fees in addition to the “regular registration fee” required under the code.
No later than one year after the bill takes effect, the secretary of state would have to develop
and issue the following legacy registration plates:
• A blue registration plate that replicates a registration plate issued from 1983 to 2007.
• A black registration plate that replicates a registration plate issued from 1979 to 1983.
• A red, white, and blue registration plate that replicates a registration plate issued in
1976 for the United States Bicentennial. This plate would only be available for issue
in the year 2026 to celebrate the United States Semiquincentennial (the 250th
anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence).
An individual would have to apply to the secretary of state under the current registration
requirements of section 217. 1 The bill would also require, in addition to the “regular
registration fee,” that an application for a new legacy registration plate be accompanied by an
additional $50 fee and an additional $5 service fee. The bill would designate the additional $50
fee for credit to the Michigan Transportation Fund (MTF) established in 1951 PA 51. The bill
directs the additional $5 service fee for credit to the Transportation Administration Collection
Fund (TACF).
The plates would expire as provided in section 226 of the code. 2 For a registration renewal of
an existing legacy registration plate, an additional fee of $10 would be required, which would
also be deposited in the MTF.
The secretary of state would have to determine the number of each legacy registration plate to
be manufactured and issued. The secretary of state could also cease to issue legacy registration
plates and duplicate replacements of the plates. If the secretary of state were to do so, the
secretary of state could continue to renew legacy registration plates already issued.
Proposed MCL 257.803s
FISCAL IMPACT:
As described above, Senate Bill 464 would require the secretary of state to develop and issue
three legacy registration plates. The bill would require certain additional fees (i.e., fees in
1
http://legislature.mi.gov/doc.aspx?mcl-257-217
2
http://legislature.mi.gov/doc.aspx?mcl-257-226
House Fiscal Agency Page 1 of 2
 addition to the “regular registration fee”). The additional $50 legacy plate registration fee for
new registrations, and the additional $10 fee for renewal legacy plate registrations, would be
credited to the MTF, which is the primary collection and distribution fund for state restricted
transportation revenue.
The bill would result in additional one-time costs to the Department of State to develop the
three new legacy license plates. The exact cost to develop each plate is not yet known, but past
costs to develop similar new specialty and fund-raising license plates and to make necessary
computer programming changes have been up to $90,000 per plate design. While the bill would
require the secretary of state to develop and issue legacy registration plates, the election of
legacy registration plates, as opposed to standard registration plates, would be optional for
persons registering motor vehicles.
The $5 service fee established for a new legacy registration plate would be directed for credit
to the Transportation Administration Collection Fund, a state restricted fund primarily used to
support secretary of state branch operations and vehicle registration programs. The bill requires
that an application for a legacy license plate be submitted pursuant to the procedures prescribed
in section 217 of the Michigan Vehicle Code and that the fee be “in addition to the regular
registration fee.” Since there is no registration plate service transaction fee referenced in this
section, the $5 fee authorized under the bill would take the place of the existing transaction fee
for all other standard plates and result in no additional revenue or costs.
The language of the bill is not unambiguous with respect to how the new legacy registration
plate fees would affect the registration taxes established under section 801(1)(p). 3 The bill
indicates that the legacy plate registration fees are “in addition to the regular registration fee.”
This language references “fee” in the singular and does not reference registration taxes. [It is
understood, although not directly stated in the bill, that the legacy registration plates would be
used for cars, vans, and light trucks subject to ad valorem registration taxes under section
801(1)(p) of the Michigan Vehicle Code.]
The bill’s impact on MTF revenue cannot be readily estimated at this time.
POSITIONS:
The American Council of Engineering Companies of Michigan indicated support for the bill.
(10-31-23)
The Department of State indicated a neutral position on the bill. (10-31-23)
Legislative Analyst: E. Best
Fiscal Analysts: Michael Cnossen
William E. Hamilton
■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their
deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.
3
http://legislature.mi.gov/doc.aspx?mcl-257-801
House Fiscal Agency SB 464 (S-4) as reported from House committee Page 2 of 2


Statutes affected:
Substitute (S-2): 257.803
Substitute (S-4): 257.803
Senate Introduced Bill: 257.803
As Passed by the Senate: 257.803
As Passed by the House: 257.803
Public Act: 257.803
Senate Enrolled Bill: 257.803