H-2967.1
HOUSE BILL 2489
State of Washington
68th Legislature
2024 Regular Session
ByRepresentatives Orcutt, Donaghy, and Schmidt
Read first time 01/31/24.Referred to Committee on Transportation.
AN ACT Relating to creating several new special license plates; reenacting and amending RCW 46.17.220, 46.18.200, 46.68.420, and 46.68.425; adding new sections to chapter 46.04 RCW; and providing an effective date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1. 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) Law enforcement memorial
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(14) LeMay-America's Car Museum
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(15) Military affiliate radio system
$ 5.00
N/A
(((15)))(16) Mount St. Helens
$40.00
$30.00
(17) Music matters
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((16)))(18) Patches pal, or alternative name as designated by the department under RCW 46.04.383
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((17)))(19) Professional firefighters and paramedics
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((18)))(20) Purple Heart
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((19)))(21) Ride share
$ 25.00
N/A
(((20)))(22) San Juan Islands
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((21)))(23) Seattle Mariners
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((22)))(24) Seattle NHL hockey
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((23)))(25) Seattle Seahawks
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((24)))(26) Seattle Sounders FC
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((25)))(27) Seattle Storm
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((26)))(28) Seattle University
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((27)))(29) Share the road
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((28)))(30) Ski & ride Washington
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((29)))(31) Smokey Bear
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(32) Square dancer
$ 40.00
N/A
(((30)))(33) State flower
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((31)))(34) Volunteer firefighters
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((32)))(35) Washington apples
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((33)))(36) Washington farmers and ranchers
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((34)))(37) Washington lighthouses
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((35)))(38) Washington state aviation
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((36)))(39) Washington state parks
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((37)))(40) Washington state wrestling
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((38)))(41) Washington tennis
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((39)))(42) Washington wine
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((40)))(43) Washington's fish collection
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((41)))(44) Washington's national parks
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((42)))(45) Washington's wildlife collection
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((43)))(46) We love our pets
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(((44)))(47) Wild on Washington
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
(48) Working forests
$ 40.00
$ 30.00
Sec. 2. 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.
Law enforcement memorial
Honors law enforcement officers in Washington killed in the line of duty.
LeMay-America's Car Museum
Displays a style homage to classic Washington automobile plates.
Mount St. Helens
Displays an image of Mount St. Helens.
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.
Smokey Bear
Displays the name, image, and likeness of Smokey Bear and messages for wildfire prevention.
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.
Working forests
Displays an image embodying working forests.
(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. 3. RCW 46.68.420 and 2022 c 239 s 3, 2022 c 117 s 3, and 2022 c 96 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 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 fee amounts for each special license plate to the following appropriate account as created in this section in the custody of the state treasurer:
ACCOUNT
CONDITIONS FOR USE OF FUNDS
4-H programs
Support Washington 4-H programs
Fred Hutch
Support cancer research at the Fred Hutchinson cancer research center
Gonzaga University alumni association
Scholarship funds to needy and qualified students attending or planning to attend Gonzaga University
Helping kids speak
Provide free diagnostic and therapeutic services to families of children who suffer from a delay in language or speech development
Law enforcement memorial
Provide support and assistance to survivors and families of law enforcement officers in Washington killed in the line of duty and to organize, finance, fund, construct, utilize, and maintain a memorial on the state capitol grounds to honor those fallen officers
LeMay-America's Car Museum
Provide funds to promote, encourage, and inspire students and the community to understand the role of automobiles in our culture and economy through education, interpretive programs, and job training; to open doors to learning through science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math (STEAM); and to inspire a new generation of skilled trade workers, engineers, designers, artists, and enthusiasts
Lighthouse environmental programs
Support selected Washington state lighthouses that are accessible to the public and staffed by volunteers; provide environmental education programs; provide grants for other Washington lighthouses to assist in funding infrastructure preservation and restoration; encourage and support interpretive programs by lighthouse docents
Mount St. Helens
Promote education, stewardship, and science at Mount St. Helens through the Mount St. Helens institute
Music matters awareness
Promote music education in schools throughout Washington
Patches pal, or alternative name as designated by the department under RCW 46.04.383
Provide funds to the Seattle children's hospital strong against cancer program
San Juan Islands programs
Provide funds to the Madrona institute
Seattle Mariners
Provide funds to the sports mentoring program and to support the Washington world fellows program in the following manner: (a) ((Seventy-five))75 percent to the Washington state leadership board solely to administer the sports mentoring program established under RCW 43.388.040, to encourage youth who have economic needs or face adversities to experience spectator sports or get involved in youth sports, and (b) up to ((twenty-five))25 percent to the Washington state leadership board solely to administer the Washington world fellows program, an equity focused program
Seattle NHL hockey
Provide funds to the NHL Seattle foundation and to support the boundless Washington program in the following manner: (a) ((Fifty))50 percent to the NHL Seattle foundation, or its successor organization, to help marginalized youth succeed in life through increased access to sports and other opportunities; (b) ((twenty-five))25 percent to the Washington state leadership board solely to administer the boundless Washington program to facilitate opportunities for young people with physical and sensory disabilities to enjoy and experience the outdoors; and (c) ((twenty-five))25 percent to the NHL Seattle foundation, or its successor organization, for providing financial support to allow youth to participate in hockey
Seattle Seahawks
Provide funds to InvestED and to support the Washington world fellows program in the following manner: (a) ((Seventy-five))75 percent, to InvestED, to encourage secondary students who have economic needs to stay in school, return to school, or get involved within their learning community; and (b) ((twenty-five))25 percent to the Washington state leadership board solely to administer the Washington world fellows program, including the provision of fellowships
Seattle Sounders FC
Provide funds to Washington state mentors and the Washington state leadership board in the following manner: (a) ((Seventy))70 percent and the remaining proceeds, if any, to Washington state mentors, to increase the number of mentors in the state by offering mentoring grants throughout Washington state that foster positive youth development and academic success, with up to ((twenty))20 percent of these proceeds authorized for program administration costs; and (b) up to ((thirty))30 percent, not to exceed ((forty-thousand dollars))$40,000 annually as adjusted for inflation by the office of financial management, to the Washington state leadership board, to develop Washington state educational, veterans, international relations, and civics projects and to recognize the outstanding public service of individuals or groups in the state of Washington
Seattle Storm
Provide funds to the Washington state legislative youth advisory council and the Washington state leadership board in the following manner: ((Twenty-five thousand dollars))$25,000 per year of the net proceeds to the legislative youth advisory council, or its successor organization; and the remaining net proceeds on an annual basis, to the Washington state leadership board for the purpose of providing grants to support and enhance athletic, recreational, and other opportunities for women and girls, and especially those with disabilities
Seattle University
Fund scholarships for students attending or planning to attend Seattle University
Share the road
Promote bicycle safety and awareness education in communities throughout Washington
Ski & ride Washington
Promote winter snowsports, such as skiing and snowboarding, and related programs, such as ski and ride safety programs, underprivileged youth ski and ride programs, and active, healthy lifestyle programs
State flower
Support Meerkerk Rhododendron Gardens and provide for grants to other qualified nonprofit organizations' efforts to preserve rhododendrons
Volunteer firefighters
Receive and disseminate funds for purposes on behalf of volunteer firefighters, their families, and others deemed in need
Washington apples
Provide scholarship funding to the tree fruit industry's official charity, the Washington apple education foundation, which provides financial support, professional employment preparedness training, and mentorship to students with ties to the apple industry pursuing a higher education
Washington farmers and ranchers
Provide funds to the Washington FFA Foundation for educational programs in Washington state
Washington state aviation
Provide funds to the department of transportation to support infrastructure improvements at public use airports in Washington state
Washington state council of firefighters benevolent fund
Receive and disseminate funds for charitable purposes on behalf of members of the Washington state council of firefighters, their families, and others deemed in need
Washington state wrestling
Provide funds to the Washington state wrestling foundation to fund new and existing college wrestling programs
Washington tennis
Provide funds to cities to assist in the construction and maintenance of a public tennis facility with at least four indoor tennis courts. A city is eligible for construction funds if the city does not already have a public or private facility with at least four indoor tennis courts. Funds for construction must first be made available to the most populous eligible city, according to the most recent census, for a time period not to exceed five years after January 1, 2017. After the five-year time period, the funds for construction must be made available to the next most populous eligible city. Funds for the maintenance of a public tennis facility with at least four indoor tennis courts must first be made available to the first eligible city that utilizes funds for construction provided by chapter 16, Laws of 2016
Washington wine
Provide funds to the state of Washington tourism to promote tourism throughout Washington state
Washington's national park fund
Build awareness of Washington's national parks and support 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
We love our pets
Support and enable the Washington federation of animal welfare and control agencies to promote and perform spay/neuter surgery of Washington state pets in order to reduce pet population
Working forests
Provide funds to the Washington tree farm program to support small forest landowners to sustainably manage over 400,000 acres of private forestland
(3) Except as otherwise provided in this section, only the director or the director's designee may authorize expenditures from the accounts described in subsection (2) of this section. The accounts are subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but an appropriation is not required for expenditures.
(4) Except as otherwise provided in this section, funds in the special license plate accounts described in subsection (2) of this section must be disbursed subject to the conditions described in subsection (2) of this section and under contract between the department and qualified nonprofit organizations that provide the services described in subsection (2) of this section.
(5) Funds from the Seattle Seahawks account may be provided to the Washington state leadership board solely for the purpose of administering the Washington world fellows program. Of the amounts received by the Washington state leadership board under this subsection, at least ((ninety))90 percent must be provided as fellowships under the program.
(6) Beginning January 1, 2019, funds from the Seattle Mariners account may be provided to the Washington state leadership board solely for the purpose of administering the sports mentoring program. Of the amounts received by the Washington state leadership board, at least ((ninety))90 percent must be applied towards services directly provided to youth participants.
(7) For the purposes of this section, a "qualified nonprofit organization" means a not-for-profit corporation operating in Washington that has received a determination of tax exempt status under 26 U.S.C. Sec. 501(c)(3). The qualified nonprofit organization must meet all the requirements under RCW 46.18.100(1).
Sec. 4. 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
Purple Heart
As specified in RCW 43.60A.140(4)
Smokey Bear wildfire prevention
Only for the department of natural resources to use for wildfire prevention programs
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. 5. A new section is added to chapter 46.04 RCW to read as follows:
"LeMay-America's Car Museum license plates" means special license plates issued under RCW 46.18.200 that display a style homage to classic Washington automobile plates.
NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6. A new section is added to chapter 46.04 RCW to read as follows:
"Mount St. Helens license plate" means special license plates issued under RCW 46.18.200 that display an image of Mount St. Helens.
NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7. A new section is added to chapter 46.04 RCW to read as follows:
"Smokey Bear license plates" means special license plates issued under RCW 46.18.200 that display the name, image, and likeness of Smokey Bear promoting wildfire prevention and the state department of natural resources' wildland wildfire program.
NEW SECTION.  Sec. 8. A new section is added to chapter 46.04 RCW to read as follows:
"Working forests license plates" means special license plates issued under RCW 46.18.200 that display images embodying working forests.
NEW SECTION.  Sec. 9. This act takes effect November 1, 2025.
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