H-0853.1
HOUSE BILL 1647
State of Washington
68th Legislature
2023 Regular Session
ByRepresentatives Chapman and Lekanoff
Read first time 01/27/23.Referred to Committee on Transportation.
AN ACT Relating to creating keep Washington evergreen special license plates; reenacting and amending RCW 46.17.220, 46.18.200, and 46.68.425; adding a new section to chapter 46.04 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 46.18 RCW; creating a new section; and providing an effective date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1. The legislature finds that Washington state is known as the evergreen state and to celebrate that the legislature intends to fund electrical charging stations while resurrecting the original white and green license plate color scheme.
NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 46.04 RCW to read as follows:
"Keep Washington evergreen license plate" means special license plates issued under RCW 46.18.200 that display green lettering on a white background in a style similar to the license plates issued by the department in the 1970s.
NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 46.18 RCW to read as follows:
(1) The department shall create, design, and issue a keep Washington evergreen license plate that may be used in lieu of standard issue or personalized license plates for motor vehicles required to display one or two license plates, excluding vehicles registered under chapter 46.87 RCW, upon terms and conditions established by the department.
(2) A registered owner may apply to the department, county auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by the director for a keep Washington evergreen license plate. The registered owner shall pay the special license plate fee required under RCW 46.17.220(13), in addition to any other fee or tax required by law.
Sec. 4. RCW 46.17.220 and 2022 c 239 s 1 and 2022 c 117 s 1 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
In addition to all fees and taxes required to be paid upon application for a vehicle registration in chapter 46.16A RCW, the holder of a special license plate shall pay the appropriate special license plate fee as listed in this section.
PLATE TYPE
INITIAL FEE
RENEWAL FEE
DISTRIBUTED UNDER
(1) 4-H
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(2) Amateur radio license
$ 5.00
N/A
(3) Armed forces
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(4) Breast cancer awareness
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(5) Collector vehicle
$ 35.00
N/A
(6) Collegiate
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(7) Endangered wildlife
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(8) Fred Hutch
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(9) Gonzaga University alumni association
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(10) Helping kids speak
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(11) Horseless carriage
$ 35.00
N/A
(12) Keep kids safe
$ 45.00
$ 30.00
(13) Keep Washington evergreen
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(14) Law enforcement memorial
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((14)))(15) Military affiliate radio system
$ 5.00
N/A
(((15)))(16) Music matters
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((16)))(17) Patches pal, or alternative name as designated by the department under RCW 46.04.383
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((17)))(18) Professional firefighters and paramedics
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((18)))(19) Purple Heart
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((19)))(20) Ride share
$ 25.00
N/A
(((20)))(21) San Juan Islands
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((21)))(22) Seattle Mariners
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((22)))(23) Seattle NHL hockey
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((23)))(24) Seattle Seahawks
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((24)))(25) Seattle Sounders FC
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((25)))(26) Seattle Storm
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((26)))(27) Seattle University
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((27)))(28) Share the road
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((28)))(29) Ski & ride Washington
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((29)))(30) Square dancer
$ 40.00
N/A
(((30)))(31) State flower
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((31)))(32) Volunteer firefighters
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((32)))(33) Washington apples
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((33)))(34) Washington farmers and ranchers
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((34)))(35) Washington lighthouses
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((35)))(36) Washington state aviation
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((36)))(37) Washington state parks
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((37)))(38) Washington state wrestling
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((38)))(39) Washington tennis
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((39)))(40) Washington wine
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((40)))(41) Washington's fish collection
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((41)))(42) Washington's national parks
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((42)))(43) Washington's wildlife collection
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((43)))(44) We love our pets
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((44)))(45) Wild on Washington
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
Sec. 5. RCW 46.18.200 and 2022 c 239 s 2 and 2022 c 117 s 2 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
(1) Special license plate series reviewed and approved by the department:
(a) May be issued in lieu of standard issue or personalized license plates for vehicles required to display one and two license plates unless otherwise specified;
(b) Must be issued under terms and conditions established by the department;
(c) Must not be issued for vehicles registered under chapter 46.87 RCW; and
(d) Must display a symbol or artwork approved by the department.
(2) The department approves and shall issue the following special license plates, subject to subsection (5) of this section:
LICENSE PLATE
DESCRIPTION, SYMBOL, OR ARTWORK
4-H
Displays the "4-H" logo.
Armed forces collection
Recognizes the contribution of veterans, active duty military personnel, reservists, and members of the national guard, and includes six separate designs, each containing a symbol representing a different branch of the armed forces to include army, navy, air force, marine corps, coast guard, and national guard.
Breast cancer awareness
Displays a pink ribbon symbolizing breast cancer awareness.
Endangered wildlife
Displays a symbol or artwork symbolizing endangered wildlife in Washington state.
Fred Hutch
Displays the Fred Hutch logo.
Gonzaga University alumni association
Recognizes the Gonzaga University alumni association.
Helping kids speak
Recognizes an organization that supports programs that provide no-cost speech pathology programs to children.
Keep kids safe
Recognizes efforts to prevent child abuse and neglect.
Keep Washington evergreen
Recognizes Washington as the evergreen state and funds electric charging stations. Displays green lettering on a white background in a style similar to the license plates issued by the department in the 1970s, but includes the state motto evergreen state along the bottom of the plate.
Law enforcement memorial
Honors law enforcement officers in Washington killed in the line of duty.
Music matters
Displays the "Music Matters" logo.
Patches pal, or alternative name as designated by the department under RCW 46.04.383
Displays the likenesses of the J.P. Patches and Gertrude characters from the J.P. Patches show, or characters otherwise identified in accordance with RCW 46.04.383.
Professional firefighters and paramedics
Recognizes professional firefighters and paramedics who are members of the Washington state council of firefighters.
San Juan Islands
Displays a symbol or artwork recognizing the San Juan Islands.
Seattle Mariners
Displays the "Seattle Mariners" logo.
Seattle NHL hockey
Displays the logo of the Seattle NHL hockey team.
Seattle Seahawks
Displays the "Seattle Seahawks" logo.
Seattle Sounders FC
Displays the "Seattle Sounders FC" logo.
Seattle Storm
Displays the "Seattle Storm" logo.
Seattle University
Recognizes Seattle University.
Share the road
Recognizes an organization that promotes bicycle safety and awareness education.
Ski & ride Washington
Recognizes the Washington snowsports industry.
State flower
Recognizes the Washington state flower.
Volunteer firefighters
Recognizes volunteer firefighters.
Washington apples
Displays the Washington apple logo that recognizes the state's apple industry, the growers and shippers who produce and pack the world famous apples, and the tree fruit community.
Washington farmers and ranchers
Recognizes farmers and ranchers in Washington state.
Washington lighthouses
Recognizes an organization that supports selected Washington state lighthouses and provides environmental education programs.
Washington state aviation
Displays a Stearman biplane in the foreground with an image of Mount Rainier in the background.
Washington state parks
Recognizes Washington state parks as premier destinations of uncommon quality that preserve significant natural, cultural, historical, and recreational resources.
Washington state wrestling
Promotes and supports college wrestling in the state of Washington.
Washington tennis
Builds awareness and year-round opportunities for tennis in Washington state. Displays a symbol or artwork recognizing tennis in Washington state.
Washington wine
Displays a landscape of Washington's wine regions.
Washington's fish collection
Recognizes Washington's fish.
Washington's national park fund
Builds awareness of Washington's national parks and supports priority park programs and projects in Washington's national parks, such as enhancing visitor experience, promoting volunteerism, engaging communities, and providing educational opportunities related to Washington's national parks.
Washington's wildlife collection
Recognizes Washington's wildlife.
We love our pets
Recognizes an organization that assists local member agencies of the federation of animal welfare and control agencies to promote and perform spay/neuter surgery on Washington state pets to reduce pet overpopulation.
Wild on Washington
Symbolizes wildlife viewing in Washington state.
(3) Applicants for initial and renewal professional firefighters and paramedics special license plates must show proof of eligibility by providing a certificate of current membership from the Washington state council of firefighters.
(4) Applicants for initial volunteer firefighters special license plates must (a) have been a volunteer firefighter for at least ((ten))10 years or be a volunteer firefighter for one or more years and (b) have documentation of service from the district of the appropriate fire service. If the volunteer firefighter leaves firefighting service before ((ten))10 years of service have been completed, the volunteer firefighter shall surrender the license plates to the department on the registration renewal date. If the volunteer firefighter stays in service for at least ((ten))10 years and then leaves, the license plate may be retained by the former volunteer firefighter and as long as the license plate is retained for use the person will continue to pay the future registration renewals. A qualifying volunteer firefighter may have no more than one set of license plates per vehicle, and a maximum of two sets per applicant, for their personal vehicles. If the volunteer firefighter is convicted of a violation of RCW 46.61.502 or a felony, the license plates must be surrendered upon conviction.
(5) The department shall not issue the Seattle NHL hockey special license plate until the department receives signature sheets satisfying the requirements identified in RCW 46.18.110(2)(f).
Sec. 6. RCW 46.68.425 and 2016 c 31 s 3 and 2016 c 30 s 4 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
(1) The department shall:
(a) Collect special license plate fees established under RCW 46.17.220;
(b) Deduct an amount not to exceed ((twelve dollars))$12 for initial issue and ((two dollars))$2 for renewal issue for administration and collection expenses incurred by it; and
(c) Remit the remaining proceeds to the custody of the state treasurer with a proper identifying detailed report.
(2) The state treasurer shall credit the proceeds to the motor vehicle fund until the department determines that the state has been reimbursed for the cost of implementing the special license plate. Upon determination by the department that the state has been reimbursed, the state treasurer shall credit the remaining special license plate fees to the following accounts by special license plate type:
SPECIAL LICENSE PLATE TYPE
ACCOUNT
CONDITIONS FOR USE OF FUNDS
Armed forces
As specified in RCW 43.60A.140(4)
Breast cancer awareness
Must be used only by the department of health for efforts consistent with the breast, cervical, and colon health program
Endangered wildlife
Must be used only for the department of fish and wildlife's endangered wildlife program activities
Keep kids safe
As specified in RCW 43.121.100
Keep Washington evergreen
Support of electric charging stations throughout Washington
Purple Heart
As specified in RCW 43.60A.140(4)
Washington state parks
Provide public educational opportunities and enhancement of Washington state parks
Washington's fish collection
Only for the department of fish and wildlife's use to support steelhead species management activities including, but not limited to, activities supporting conservation, recovery, and research to promote healthy, fishable steelhead
Washington's wildlife collection
Only for the department of fish and wildlife's game species management activities
Wild on Washington
Dedicated to the department of fish and wildlife's watchable wildlife activities, as defined in RCW 77.32.560
NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7. This act takes effect November 1, 2023.
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