HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STAFF ANALYSIS
BILL #: CS/CS/HB 67 Specialty License Plates
SPONSOR(S): Commerce Committee, Tourism, Infrastructure & Energy Subcommittee, Rizo
TIED BILLS: IDEN./SIM. BILLS: SB 166
REFERENCE ACTION ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR or
BUDGET/POLICY CHIEF
1) Tourism, Infrastructure & Energy Subcommittee 16 Y, 0 N, As CS Johnson Keating
2) Commerce Committee 22 Y, 0 N, As CS Johnson Hamon
SUMMARY ANALYSIS
Currently, 105 specialty license plates and one motorcycle specialty license plate are available to any owner or
lessee of a motor vehicle who is willing to pay the additional annual use fee for such plate. The collected fees
are distributed by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) to statutorily designated
organizations in support of a particular cause or charity. If the Legislature has approved 150 or more specialty
license plates, DHSMV may not issue any new specialty license plates until a sufficient number of plates are
discontinued so that the number of plates being issued is no more than 150.
The bill lowers the cap on the number of specialty license plates that DSHMV may issue from 150 plates to
125 plates.
The bill creates the following new specialty license plates:
Inter Miami CF
Florida Swims
Down Syndrome Awareness
Gopher Tortoise
Take Stock in Children
The bill also creates a Blue Angels motorcycle specialty license plate.
The bill establishes the authorized uses of the annual use fees from the sale of these plates.
The bill also amends the authorized distribution of proceeds from the existing Live the Dream specialty license
plate.
According to the DHSMV, the bill may have a negative, but insignificant, fiscal impact associated with
programming costs. These costs can be absorbed within existing resources.
The bill has an effective date of October 1, 2022.
This docum ent does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill sponsor or House of Representatives .
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DATE: 2/24/2022
FULL ANALYSIS
I. SUBSTANTIVE ANALYSIS
A. EFFECT OF PROPOSED CHANGES:
Current Situation
The first Florida specialty license plates were created by law in 1986 and included the creation of the
Challenger plate and ten Florida collegiate plates. Today, there are 105 specialty license plates
available for sale and an additional 33 in presale.1 Specialty license plates are available to any owner
or lessee of a motor vehicle who is willing to pay the additional use fee for the privilege, typically $25
annually.2 Current law provides that if the Legislature3 has approved 150 or more specialty license
plates, the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHMSV) may not issue any new
specialty license plates until a sufficient number of plates are discontinued 4 so that the number of
plates being issued does not exceed 150.5
Establishment of Specialty License Plates
If a specialty license plate requested by an organization is approved by law, the organization submits
its proposed art design to DHSMV as soon as practicable, but no later than 60 days after the act
approving the plate becomes a law.6
Within 120 days after the act approving the specialty license plate becomes law, DHSMV must
establish a method to issue a voucher allowing for the presale of the plate. A $5 processing fee, 7 a
service charge and branch fee,8 and an annual use fee for the specialty license plate are charged for
the voucher. All other applicable fees are charged at the time the license plate is issued. 9
Within 24 months after establishing a presale specialty license plate voucher, a minimum of 3,000
voucher sales of the plate must be recorded with DHSMV10 before the license plate may be
manufactured. If the minimum sales requirement is not met at the conclusion of the 24-month presale
period, the specialty license plate is deauthorized and DHSMV discontinues the plate’s development
and the issuance of presale vouchers. Upon deauthorization of the license plate or if the plate has met
the presale requirement but has not been issued, a purchaser of the license plate voucher may use the
annual use fee paid as a credit towards any other specialty license plate or may apply for a refund. 11
New specialty license plates that have been approved by law, but are awaiting issuance, will be issued
in the order they appear in s. 320.08058, F.S.,12 if all statutory requirements, including the presale
requirement, have been met. If the next awaiting specialty license plate has not met its presale
requirement, DHSMV proceeds in the order provided in s. 320.08058, F.S., to identify the next qualified
specialty license plate that has met the presale requirement. DHSMV must cycle through the list in
statutory order.13
Current law requires DHSMV to discontinue the issuance of an approved specialty license plate if the
number of valid registrations for the plate falls below 1,000 for at least 12 consecutive months. DHSMV
1 Email from Kevin Jacobs, Legislative Affairs Director, Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, SLP Count (Feb. 24, 2 022).
2
Section 320.08056(3)(d), F.S., provides that, except if specifically provided in s. 320.08056(4), F.S., the annual use fee fo r a specialty
license plate is $25.
3 Creation of a specialty license plate requires an act of the Legislature.
4 Specialty licens e plates may be discontinued pursuant to s. 320.08056(8), F.S.
5 S. 320.08053(3)(b), F.S.
6 S. 320.08053(1), F.S.
7 The processing fee is prescribed in s. 320.08056, F.S.
8 Service charges and branch fees are prescribed in s. 320.04, F.S.
9 S. 320.08053(2)(a), F.S.
10 In the case of an out-of-state college or university license plate, the license plate must register 4,000 voucher sales.
11 S. 320.08053(2)(b), F.S.
12 S. 320.08058, F.S., creates each specialty license plate.
13 S. 320.08053(3)(a), F.S.
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must mail a warning letter to a plate’s sponsoring organization following the first month in which the
total number of valid registrations falls below 1,000. This provision does not apply to collegiate license
plates.14
Effective July 1, 2023, the minimum registration threshold for each approved specialty license
increases to 3,000.15 DHSMV must still issue a warning letter if the number of plates falls below the
new minimum. This new minimum does not apply to in-state collegiate license plates, license plates of
institutions in and entities of the State University System, specialty license plates that have statutory
eligibility limitations for purchase, specialty license plates for which annual use fees are distributed by a
foundation for student and teacher leadership programs and teacher recruitment and retention, or
Florida Professional Sports Team license plates.16
If the Legislature has approved 150 or more specialty license plates, DHSMV may not issue any new
specialty license plates until a sufficient number of plates are discontinued so that the number of plates
being issued is no more than 150. The 150-plate limit applies to all specialty license plates, including
those above the minimum sales threshold and those exempt from the minimum sales threshold. 17
Specialty License Plate Issuance and Fees
DHSMV is responsible for developing authorized specialty license plates. 18 DHSMV must issue a
specialty license plate to the owner or lessee of any motor vehicle, except a vehicle registered under
the International Registration Plan, a commercial truck required to display two license plates, or a truck
tractor, upon request and payment of the appropriate license tax and fees.19 Specific specialty license
plates are authorized for dealer and fleet vehicles.20 A specialty license plate for motorcycles is created
separately in s. 320.08068, F.S.
Each request for a specialty license plate must be made annually to DHSMV or its authorized agent 21
accompanied by the following tax and fees: the vehicle’s required license tax, 22 a processing fee of
$5,23 a license plate fee,24 and a license plate annual use fee as required for the specialty license
plate.25
Reduction in Specialty License Plate Cap
Current Situation
Current law provides that if the Legislature has approved 150 or more specialty license plates, DHSMV
may not issue any new specialty license plates until a sufficient number of plates are discontinued such
that the number of plates being issued does not exceed 150. However, the 150-license-plate limit
includes license plates above the minimum sales threshold and those exempt from that threshold. 26
Effect of the Bill
The bill reduces the cap on the number of specialty license plates that DHSMV may issue to 125.
Under the bill, if the Legislature has approved 125 or more specialty license plates, it may not issue any
new plates until enough plates are discontinued such that the number of plates issued does not exceed
14
S. 320.08056(8)(a), F.S.
15 In the case of out-of-state college and university specialty license plates, the number is 4,000 plates.
16 S. 320.08056(8)(a), note 1, showing the statutory language as effective July 1, 2023.
17 S. 320.08053(3)(b), F.S.
18 S. 320.08056(1), F.S.
19 S. 320.08056(2), F.S.
20 See ss. 320.06(3)(a), 320.0657(2)(a), 320.08(12) and 320.08056(2)(b) and (c), F.S.
21 DHSMV’s authorized agents are the county tax collectors.
22 Motor vehicle license taxes are set forth in s. 320.08, F.S.
23 The $5 processing fee is deposited into the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund.
24 Section 320.06(1)(b), F.S., provides for a $2.80 annual license plate replacement fee.
25 S. 320.08056(3), F.S.
26 S. 320.08058(3)(b), F.S.
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125. This 125-license-plate limit includes plates above the minimum sales threshold and those exempt
from the minimum sales threshold.
According to DHSMV, there are currently 105 specialty license plates in production, with an additional
33 in the presale process.27 The bill places an additional five license plates in presale mode.
Live the Dream Specialty License Plate
Current Situation
Current law creates the Live the Dream license plate with an annual use fee of $25. 28 The word
“Florida” appears at the top of the plate, and the words “Live the Dream” appear at the bottom of the
plate. An image of an American flag and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., appears at the center of the plate. 29
The proceeds from the sale of the Live the Dream license plate are distributed to the Dream
Foundation, Inc., to be used in the following manner:
Up to five percent may be used to administer, promote, and market the license plate.
At least 60 percent is distributed equally among the sickle cell organizations that are Florida
members of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Inc., for programs that provide
research, care, and treatment for sickle cell disease.
At least 30 percent is distributed to Chapman Partnership, Inc., 30 for programs that provide relief
from poverty, hunger, and homelessness.
Up to five percent may be distributed by DHSMV on behalf of The Dream Foundation, Inc., to
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, Inc., as a royalty for the use of
the image of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.31
In 2020, 5,292 Live the Dream license plates were sold. 32
The distribution of proceeds from the sale of the Live the Dream license plate were last amended in
2020.33
Founded in 2001 around the creation of the Live the Dream license plate, the Dream Foundation, Inc.,
(foundation) is a statewide 501(c)(3) organization.34 The Dream Foundation, Inc., is listed as an active
corporation with the Department of State.35
Effect of the Bill
The bill revises the authorized uses of proceeds from the sale of the Live the Dream license plate. The
bill provides that the annual use fees distributed to the Dream Foundation, Inc. must be used in the
following manner:
27
For purposes of determining whether the license plate limit has been reached, most independent college and university specialty
license plates are counted as one combined plate. Similarly, the various Divine Nine specialty license plates are counted as one .
28 The $25 annual use fee is provided for in s. 320.08056(3)(d), F.S.
29 A photo of the Live the Dream license plate is available at https://www.flhsmv.gov/motor -vehicles-tags-titles/personalized-specialty-
license-plates/specialty-license-plates/ (last visited Oct. 20, 2021).
30
Based in Miami, Chapman Partnership’s mission is to provide comprehensive programs and services in collaboration with others that
empower our residents with dignity and respect to overcome homelessness, and achieve and maintain long -term self-sufficiency.
https://chapmanpartnership.org/about/ (last visited Nov. 22, 2021).
31 S. 320.08058(47)(b), F.S.
32 DHSMV, 2020 Specialty License Plate Ranking, https://www.flhsmv.gov/pdf/specialtyplates/license_plate_rankings.pdf (last visited
Nov. 22, 2021).
33 Ch. 2020-181, Laws of Fla.
34 The Dream Foundation, Ab out Us, https://www.livethedreamfoundation.org/about-us.html (last visited Oct. 20, 2021).
35 Department of State,
https://search.sunbiz.org/Inquiry/CorporationSearch/SearchResultDetail?inquirytype=EntityName&direc tionType=Initial&searchNameOr
der=DREAMFOUNDATION%20N010000038910&aggregateId=domnp -n01000003891-2461ac21-eb6a-411a-b759-
47d16568ca4b&searchTerm=Dream%20foundation&listNameOrder=DREAMFOUNDATION%20N010000038910 (last visited Oct. 22,
2021).
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Up to 10 percent may be used to promote and market the license plate and for costs directly
associated with the administration of the foundation.
At least 40 percent must be distributed equally among the sickle cell organizations that are
Florida members of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Inc., for programs that
provide research, care, and treatment for sickle cell disease.
At least 10 percent must be used for programs and services provided directly by the foundation,
which assists inmates released from the custody of a county jail in this state or a Department of
Corrections (DOC) facility in successfully reentering the community.
At least 15 percent must be distributed as grants for programs and services throughout Florida
which assist inmates released form a county jail in the state or a DOC facility in suc cessfully
reentering the community.
At least 20 percent must be distributed as scholarships to Florida high school seniors who have
at least parent or legal guardian incarcerated, for the purposes of attending a state university, a
Florida College System institution, a career center operated by a school district, or a charter
technical career center.
Up to five percent may continue to be distributed by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor
Vehicles on behalf of the Dream Foundation, Inc., to The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent
Social Change, Inc., as a royalty for the use of the image of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This is the same
as in current law.
The bill eliminates the distribution to the Chapman Partnership, Inc.
Blue Angels Motorcycle Specialty License Plate
Current Situation
Motorcycle Specialty License Plates
Current law authorizes a reduced dimensions specialty license plate for display on motorcycles, upon
paying the appropriate license tax,36 the license plate fee,37 a $2 processing fee, and a $20 license
plate annual use fee.38
The annual use fees are distributed equally to the Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Program Trust Fund,
Preserve Vision Florida, the Blind Services Foundation of Florida, the Florida Association of Centers for
Independent Living to support the James Patrick Memorial Work Incentive Personal Attendant Services
and Employment Assistance Program, and the Florida Association of Centers for Independent Living. 39
Blue Angels Specialty License Plate
Current law creates a Blue Angels license plate with an annual use fee of $25.The plate must bear
DHSMV-approved colors and design. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the
words “Home of the Blue Angels” must appear at the bottom of the plate.40
The annual use fees from the sale of the Blue Angels license plate is distributed to the Naval Aviation
Museum Foundation, a nonprofit Florida corporation under s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code,
to fund the maintenance, programs, marketing, and projects of the foundation, including the Nati