Assembly Bill 290 aims to establish a special group for individuals who support the protection of pollinators by allowing them to obtain special registration plates from the Department of Transportation (DOT). The plates will feature a design that covers the entire plate and includes the phrase "Protect Pollinators." In addition to the standard registration fee, members of this special group will be required to make a voluntary payment of $25 for the issuance of these plates. The bill stipulates that DOT will retain up to $23,700 from these payments to cover initial production costs, with any excess funds being deposited into the conservation fund for use by the Department of Natural Resources in their endangered resources program.

The bill also includes several amendments and new provisions in existing statutes, such as the creation of new sections that outline the financial handling of the voluntary payments and the specific requirements for the special plates. Notably, it amends sections related to the allocation of funds for wildlife damage control and specifies that the voluntary payment is deductible as a charitable contribution for tax purposes. The bill appropriates $23,700 from the general fund to cover the initial production costs of the special plates and outlines the effective date for the legislation.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 20.370(1)(fs), 20.370, 20.395(5)(cj), 20.395, 25.29(1)(f), 25.29, 341.14(6r)(c), 341.14, 341.14(6r)(e), 341.14(6r)(fm)7