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AB-997 • 2026

Child health and safety: “Have a Heart, Be a Star, Help Our Kids” license plate program.

Child health and safety: “Have a Heart, Be a Star, Help Our Kids” license plate program.

Budget Children
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Stefani
Last action
2026-02-02
Official status
From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The exact amount of the fee increase is not specified in the official source material.

License Plate Program to Help Kids

This law increases fees for special license plates that help kids by funding childcare and safety programs.

What This Bill Does

  • Increases the cost of getting or renewing a 'Have a Heart, Be a Star, Help Our Kids' license plate starting July 1, 2027.
  • Allocates half of the fees collected before July 1, 2027 to state and local childcare provider licensure, oversight, recruitment, training, and development, with the remainder for childcare safety and health programs.
  • After July 1, 2027, allocates half of the new fees for child health and safety programs and the other half for preventing child abuse.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who buy or renew 'Have a Heart, Be a Star, Help Our Kids' license plates.
  • Childcare providers and organizations that work on child safety and health issues.

Terms To Know

license plate
A metal sign attached to the front or back of a car with information like the owner's name, address, and vehicle details.
Child Health and Safety Fund
Money collected from special license plates that goes towards programs helping children stay healthy and safe.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The exact amount of the fee increase is not specified in this summary.
  • It's unclear how much money will be raised by these changes or how it will affect people who buy the special license plates.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-02 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.

  2. 2026-01-31 California Legislative Information

    Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.

  3. 2025-05-23 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Held under submission.

  4. 2025-05-21 California Legislative Information

    Joint Rule 62(a), file notice suspended. (Page 1627.)

  5. 2025-05-21 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.

  6. 2025-05-14 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.

  7. 2025-04-29 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (April 28). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  8. 2025-04-09 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on TRANS. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (April 8). Re-referred to Com. on TRANS.

  9. 2025-03-10 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Coms. on HUM. S. and TRANS.

  10. 2025-02-21 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.

  11. 2025-02-20 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 997, as introduced, Stefani.
Child health and safety: “Have a Heart, Be a Star, Help Our Kids” license plate program.
Existing law requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue “Have a Heart, Be a Star, Help our Kids” special license plates and imposes additional fees, as specified, for their issuance, renewal, replacement, and transfer. Existing law requires that those additional fees be deposited in the Child Health and Safety Fund, less specified amounts. Existing law requires that 50% of the funds derived from “Have a Heart, Be a Star, Help Our Kids” license plates be available, upon appropriation, to the State Department of Social Services for administering various provisions related to childcare licensing, as specified. Existing law requires that, upon appropriation by the Legislature, the balance be available, as described, for programs that address other categories of potential childhood injury, as specified. Existing law requires counties to create local childcare resource and referral
programs to identify childcare resources and establish a referral process for parents, among other things. Existing law also creates the California Children and Families Commission, to promote, support, and improve early childhood development. Existing law provides for funding to county commissions that develop, adopt, promote, and implement local early childhood development programs consistent with specified goals and objectives.
This bill would, commencing July 1, 2027, increase the fees for the initial issuance and renewal of the “Have a Heart, Be a Star, Help Our Kids” license plates.
The bill would, commencing July 1, 2027, allocate, upon an appropriation by the Legislature, 50% of the fees collected before July 1, 2027, to state and local childcare provider licensure, oversight, recruitment, training, and development, and the remainder to childcare safety and health, as specified. Of the fees collected on or after
July 1, 2027, the bill would allocate 50% for programs that address specified child health and safety concerns and the remainder of the funding would be allocated for specified child abuse prevention purposes.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF