H-3108.1
SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2489
State of Washington 68th Legislature 2024 Regular Session
By House Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives
Orcutt, Donaghy, and Schmidt)
READ FIRST TIME 02/05/24.
1 AN ACT Relating to creating several new special license plates;
2 reenacting and amending RCW 46.17.220, 46.18.200, 46.68.420, and
3 46.68.425; adding new sections to chapter 46.04 RCW; adding a new
4 section to chapter 46.18 RCW; and providing an effective date.
5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
6 Sec. 1. RCW 46.17.220 and 2022 c 239 s 1 and 2022 c 117 s 1 are
7 each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
8 In addition to all fees and taxes required to be paid upon
9 application for a vehicle registration in chapter 46.16A RCW, the
10 holder of a special license plate shall pay the appropriate special
11 license plate fee as listed in this section.
12 PLATE TYPE INITIAL RENEWAL DISTRIBUTED
13 FEE FEE UNDER
14 (1) 4-H $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
15 (2) Amateur radio license $ 5.00 N/A RCW 46.68.070
16 (3) Armed forces $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.425
17 (4) Breast cancer awareness $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.425
18 (5) Collector vehicle $ 35.00 N/A RCW 46.68.030
19 (6) Collegiate $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.430
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 1 (7) Endangered wildlife $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.425
2 (8) Fred Hutch $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
3 (9) Gonzaga University $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
4 alumni association
5 (10) Helping kids speak $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
6 (11) Horseless carriage $ 35.00 N/A RCW 46.68.030
7 (12) Keep kids safe $ 45.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.425
8 (13) Keep Washington $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.425
9 evergreen
10 (14) Law enforcement $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
11 memorial
12 (((14))) (15) LeMay- $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
13 America's Car
14 Museum
15 (16) Military affiliate radio $ 5.00 N/A RCW 46.68.070
16 system
17 (((15))) (17) Mount St. $40.00 $30.00 RCW 46.68.420
18 Helens
19 (18) Music matters $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
20 (((16))) (19) Nautical $40.00 $30.00 RCW 46.68.420
21 Northwest
22 (20) Patches pal, or $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
23 alternative name as
24 designated by the
25 department under
26 RCW 46.04.383
27 (((17))) (21) Professional $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
28 firefighters and
29 paramedics
30 (((18))) (22) Purple Heart $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.425
31 (((19))) (23) Ride share $ 25.00 N/A RCW 46.68.030
32 (((20))) (24) San Juan $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
33 Islands
34 (((21))) (25) Seattle $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
35 Mariners
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 1 (((22))) (26) Seattle NHL $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
2 hockey
3 (((23))) (27) Seattle $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
4 Seahawks
5 (((24))) (28) Seattle $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
6 Sounders FC
7 (((25))) (29) Seattle Storm $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
8 (((26))) (30) Seattle $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
9 University
10 (((27))) (31) Share the road $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
11 (((28))) (32) Ski & ride $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
12 Washington
13 (((29))) (33) Smokey Bear $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.425
14 (34) Square dancer $ 40.00 N/A RCW 46.68.070
15 (((30))) (35) State flower $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
16 (((31))) (36) Volunteer $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
17 firefighters
18 (((32))) (37) Washington $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
19 apples
20 (((33))) (38) Washington $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
21 farmers and ranchers
22 (((34))) (39) Washington $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
23 lighthouses
24 (((35))) (40) Washington $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
25 state aviation
26 (((36))) (41) Washington $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.425
27 state parks
28 (((37))) (42) Washington $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
29 state wrestling
30 (((38))) (43) Washington $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
31 tennis
32 (((39))) (44) Washington $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
33 wine
34 (((40))) (45) Washington's $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.425
35 fish collection
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 1 (((41))) (46) Washington's $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
2 national parks
3 (((42))) (47) Washington's $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.425
4 wildlife collection
5 (((43))) (48) We love our $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
6 pets
7 (((44))) (49) Wild on $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.425
8 Washington
9 (50) Working forests $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
10 Sec. 2. RCW 46.18.200 and 2022 c 239 s 2 and 2022 c 117 s 2 are
11 each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
12 (1) Special license plate series reviewed and approved by the
13 department:
14 (a) May be issued in lieu of standard issue or personalized
15 license plates for vehicles required to display one and two license
16 plates unless otherwise specified;
17 (b) Must be issued under terms and conditions established by the
18 department;
19 (c) Must not be issued for vehicles registered under chapter
20 46.87 RCW; and
21 (d) Must display a symbol or artwork approved by the department.
22 (2) The department approves and shall issue the following special
23 license plates, subject to subsection (5) of this section:
24 LICENSE PLATE DESCRIPTION, SYMBOL, OR
25 ARTWORK
26 4-H Displays the "4-H" logo.
27 Armed forces collection Recognizes the contribution of
28 veterans, active duty military
29 personnel, reservists, and
30 members of the national guard,
31 and includes six separate designs,
32 each containing a symbol
33 representing a different branch of
34 the armed forces to include army,
35 navy, air force, marine corps,
36 coast guard, and national guard.
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 1 Breast cancer awareness Displays a pink ribbon
2 symbolizing breast cancer
3 awareness.
4 Endangered wildlife Displays a symbol or artwork
5 symbolizing endangered wildlife
6 in Washington state.
7 Fred Hutch Displays the Fred Hutch logo.
8 Gonzaga University alumni Recognizes the Gonzaga
9 association University alumni association.
10 Helping kids speak Recognizes an organization that
11 supports programs that provide
12 no-cost speech pathology
13 programs to children.
14 Keep kids safe Recognizes efforts to prevent
15 child abuse and neglect.
16 Keep Washington evergreen Recognizes Washington as the
17 evergreen state and funds electric
18 charging stations. Displays green
19 lettering on a white background in
20 a style similar to the license plates
21 issued by the department in the
22 1970s, but includes the words
23 evergreen state along the bottom
24 of the plate.
25 Law enforcement memorial Honors law enforcement officers
26 in Washington killed in the line of
27 duty.
28 LeMay-America's Car Museum Displays a style homage to classic
29 Washington automobile plates.
30 Mount St. Helens Displays an image of Mount St.
31 Helens.
32 Music matters Displays the "Music Matters"
33 logo.
34 Nautical Northwest Displays a Northwest maritime
35 scene.
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 1 Patches pal, or alternative name Displays the likenesses of the J.P.
2 as designated by the department Patches and Gertrude characters
3 under RCW 46.04.383 from the J.P. Patches show, or
4 characters otherwise identified in
5 accordance with RCW 46.04.383.
6 Professional firefighters and Recognizes professional
7 paramedics firefighters and paramedics who
8 are members of the Washington
9 state council of firefighters.
10 San Juan Islands Displays a symbol or artwork
11 recognizing the San Juan Islands.
12 Seattle Mariners Displays the "Seattle Mariners"
13 logo.
14 Seattle NHL hockey Displays the logo of the Seattle
15 NHL hockey team.
16 Seattle Seahawks Displays the "Seattle Seahawks"
17 logo.
18 Seattle Sounders FC Displays the "Seattle Sounders
19 FC" logo.
20 Seattle Storm Displays the "Seattle Storm" logo.
21 Seattle University Recognizes Seattle University.
22 Share the road Recognizes an organization that
23 promotes bicycle safety and
24 awareness education.
25 Ski & ride Washington Recognizes the Washington
26 snowsports industry.
27 Smokey Bear Displays the name, image, and
28 likeness of Smokey Bear and
29 messages for wildfire prevention.
30 State flower Recognizes the Washington state
31 flower.
32 Volunteer firefighters Recognizes volunteer firefighters.
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 1 Washington apples Displays the Washington apple
2 logo that recognizes the state's
3 apple industry, the growers and
4 shippers who produce and pack
5 the world famous apples, and the
6 tree fruit community.
7 Washington farmers and ranchers Recognizes farmers and ranchers
8 in Washington state.
9 Washington lighthouses Recognizes an organization that
10 supports selected Washington
11 state lighthouses and provides
12 environmental education
13 programs.
14 Washington state aviation Displays a Stearman biplane in
15 the foreground with an image of
16 Mount Rainier in the background.
17 Washington state parks Recognizes Washington state
18 parks as premier destinations of
19 uncommon quality that preserve
20 significant natural, cultural,
21 historical, and recreational
22 resources.
23 Washington state wrestling Promotes and supports college
24 wrestling in the state of
25 Washington.
26 Washington tennis Builds awareness and year-round
27 opportunities for tennis in
28 Washington state. Displays a
29 symbol or artwork recognizing
30 tennis in Washington state.
31 Washington wine Displays a landscape of
32 Washington's wine regions.
33 Washington's fish collection Recognizes Washington's fish.
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 1 Washington's national park fund Builds awareness of Washington's
2 national parks and supports
3 priority park programs and
4 projects in Washington's national
5 parks, such as enhancing visitor
6 experience, promoting
7 volunteerism, engaging
8 communities, and providing
9 educational opportunities related
10 to Washington's national parks.
11 Washington's wildlife collection Recognizes Washington's
12 wildlife.
13 We love our pets Recognizes an organization that
14 assists local member agencies of
15 the federation of animal welfare
16 and control agencies to promote
17 and perform spay/neuter surgery
18 on Washington state pets to
19 reduce pet overpopulation.
20 Wild on Washington Symbolizes wildlife viewing in
21 Washington state.
22 Working forests Displays an image embodying
23 working forests.
24 (3) Applicants for initial and renewal professional firefighters
25 and paramedics special license plates must show proof of eligibility
26 by providing a certificate of current membership from the Washington
27 state council of firefighters.
28 (4) Applicants for initial volunteer firefighters special license
29 plates must (a) have been a volunteer firefighter for at least
30 ((ten)) 10 years or be a volunteer firefighter for one or more years
31 and (b) have documentation of service from the district of the
32 appropriate fire service. If the volunteer firefighter leaves
33 firefighting service before ((ten)) 10 years of service have been
34 completed, the volunteer firefighter shall surrender the license
35 plates to the department on the registration renewal date. If the
36 volunteer firefighter stays in service for at least ((ten)) 10 years
37 and then leaves, the license plate may be retained by the former
38 volunteer firefighter and as long as the license plate is retained
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1 for use the person will continue to pay the future registration
2 renewals. A qualifying volunteer firefighter may have no more than
3 one set of license plates per vehicle, and a maximum of two sets per
4 applicant, for their personal vehicles. If the volunt