Plain English Breakdown
The official text states money for administrative costs of the Blackout program requires legislative appropriation, while remaining funds go to the California Environmental License Plate Fund.
AB-1059: Blackout License Plates, Olympic Plate Extension, and School Outreach
This law creates a new black license plate program if enough people apply by January 2030, extends the sale of 2028 Olympic plates to fund wildfire relief in specific areas, requires schools to be notified about college plates every two years, and adds a black option for standard plates.
What This Bill Does
- Requires the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to create California Blackout Plates with a black background and white letters if at least 7,500 applications are received by January 1, 2030.
- Sets extra fees for buying, renewing, keeping, or transferring these new blackout plates.
- Allows the DMV to sell special license plates for the 2028 Olympics until December 31, 2028.
- Sends money from Olympic plate sales into a new fund called the 2025 Los Angeles Fire Relief Fund to help with wildfire recovery in areas named by Governor's Executive Order N-17-25.
- Requires the DMV to contact every accredited college or university in California once every two years about special commemorative plates for schools.
- Updates standard license plate designs to include an option for a black background with white lettering.
Who It Names or Affects
- Drivers who want to buy, renew, or transfer the new blackout or Olympic license plates.
- The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), which must manage these programs and send outreach letters.
- Public and private colleges and universities in California that are accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
- The Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, which receives funds for wildfire relief.
Terms To Know
- California Blackout Plates
- Special license plates with a black background and white lettering that will only be issued if enough people apply by January 1, 2030.
- Commemorative Collegiate License Plate Program
- A program where drivers can buy special plates to show support for their college or university.
- 2025 Los Angeles Fire Relief Fund
- A new state fund created by this bill that holds money from Olympic plate sales to pay for wildfire recovery efforts in areas named by Executive Order N-17-25.
Limits and Unknowns
- The blackout plates will not be issued unless the DMV receives at least 7,500 applications on or before January 1, 2030.
- Money from these programs can only be used for specific costs after the Legislature approves spending it through an appropriation process.
- Olympic license plate holders must switch to regular plates if they request a replacement on or after January 1, 2029.