The bill amends Washington state law concerning special and personalized license plates, instituting a moratorium on the issuance of new special license plates until January 1, 2029. During this period, the Department of Licensing will review applications from sponsoring organizations and prominently display the moratorium on its website. A special license work group is established to conduct a comprehensive review of current provisions, aiming to enhance oversight, increase application requirements, and improve transparency regarding financial information. The bill also introduces several new special license plates, including "Donate Life," "Firefighter Memorial," and "Working Forests," while outlining associated fees and mandating the joint transportation committee to evaluate the implementation of improvements to the special license plate process.

Additionally, the bill specifies that applicants for certain special license plates must provide proof of current membership in the Washington state council of firefighters, and volunteer firefighters must have a minimum of 10 years of service to qualify. It allocates proceeds from special license plate fees to various accounts, including those supporting 4-H programs and cancer research, while introducing new funding provisions for the Washington tree farm program and the Washington state beekeepers association. The bill also defines a "qualified nonprofit organization" and establishes a veterans stewardship account to support programs for veterans and their families, funded by the sale of specific license plates. The effective date for the new provisions is set for November 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Substitute Bill: 46.18.060, 44.04.300, 77.32.560, 46.17.210
Bill as Passed Legislature: 46.18.060, 44.04.300, 77.32.560, 46.17.210, 43.388.040
Session Law: 46.18.060, 44.04.300, 77.32.560, 46.17.210, 43.388.040