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ENROLLED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 888
BY REPRESENTATIVES MELERINE, CREWS, ILLG, AND WALTERS
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 47:473(H), 519(A), 520(E), and (F) and to enact R.S. 47:519(P),
3 520(G) through (I), and 521(D), relative to certain requirements for the design,
4 authentication, and regulation of temporary registration plates; to provide for dealer
5 inventory plates requirements; to provide for effectiveness of application fees; to
6 provide for security features and design of temporary registration plates; to provide
7 for placement of temporary registration plates; to provide for rule promulgation of
8 temporary registration plates to prevent counterfeiting; and to provide for related
9 matters.
10 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
11 Section 1. R.S. 47:473(H), 519(A), 520(E), and (F) are hereby amended and
12 reenacted and R.S. 47:519(P), 520(G) through (I) and 521(D) are hereby enacted to read as
13 follows:
14 §473. Dealer inventory plates
15 * * *
16 H.(1) Dealers may allow authorized employees of educational institutions
17 or licensed sales representatives of the dealer, or both, to use, for any purpose, a
18 motor vehicle to which the dealer has attached a dealer inventory plate, provided the
19 arrangement does not constitute renting or leasing the vehicle to the employee or
20 sales representative. Renting or leasing does not include those transactions where
21 a dealer-provided automobile is treated as a taxable fringe benefit to the licensed
22 sales representative of the dealer under the provisions of 26 U.S.C. 61 et seq. and the
23 regulations issued thereunder.
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1 (2) A licensed motor vehicle dealer may permit a customer of the dealer to
2 operate a motor vehicle to which the dealer has attached a dealer inventory plate as
3 a temporary courtesy loaner vehicle when the customer's motor vehicle is undergoing
4 repair or warranty service by the dealer.
5 (3) The operation of a motor vehicle in compliance with this Subsection shall
6 constitute a lawful use of a dealer's plate for the purposes of R.S. 47:505(D).
7 * * *
8 §519. Temporary registration plates issued by dealers
9 A.(1) Issuance by commissioner to dealer. The commissioner may,
10 Notwithstanding R.S. 47:519.1 and 519.2 or any other provision of law to the
11 contrary, and subject to the limitations and conditions hereinafter set forth, the
12 commissioner may deliver temporary registration plates designed by the
13 commissioner, or paper or card stock approved by the commissioner for print on
14 demand temporary registration plates to a licensed automobile, trailer, truck,
15 motorcycle, or other motor driven cycle, or motorized camper dealer who applies for
16 same and who enclosed with such application a fee of twenty dollars per plate or
17 piece of approved paper or card stock for which application is made by a licensed
18 dealer. Such application shall be made upon a form prescribed and furnished or on
19 a website approved by the commissioner. Dealers subject to the limitations and
20 conditions set forth in this Section may issue such temporary registration plates to
21 owners of vehicles, except apportioned trucks, provided that such owners shall
22 comply with the pertinent provisions of this Section.
23 (2) The application fee provided for in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection shall
24 not be charged until the commissioner provides public notice of the date that the
25 electronic issuance system is established for print-on-demand temporary registration
26 plates and the secure paper or card stock is approved and implemented by the
27 commissioner.
28 * * *
29 P. To ensure the security and durability of temporary registration plates,
30 while preventing counterfeiting, the commissioner shall do the following:
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1 (1) Approve all paper or card stock for use in print-on-demand temporary
2 registration plates to incorporate security features designed to prevent counterfeiting,
3 forgery, alteration, or duplication, including but not limited to:
4 (a) A machine readable, serialized identifier.
5 (b) At least one anti-counterfeiting visual security feature, which may
6 include embedded security markings such as latent images or void pantograph
7 technologies, holographic or tamper-evident elements, or official state-approved
8 insignias or seals.
9 (c) Durable synthetic or coated substrates meeting the standards established
10 by the commissioner of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, office of
11 motor vehicles, for print permanence and weather resistance.
12 (2) Ensure temporary registration plates shall be generated only through the
13 electronic issuance system approved by the commissioner of the office of motor
14 vehicles, and no temporary registration plate number, image, or format may be
15 reproduced, duplicated, altered, or generated outside of this system.
16 (3) Ensure that temporary registration plates, including substrate, printing
17 methods, inks, and materials, remain fully legible and structurally intact for the full
18 period of the authorized temporary registration. For purposes of this Subsection,
19 ordinary weather conditions shall be presumed to include outdoor exposure for a
20 minimum of sixty days, including exposure to rain, sunlight, heat, humidity, wind,
21 and normal vehicle operation. Fading, discoloration, bleeding of ink, warping,
22 delamination, or loss of contrast that materially impairs legibility during the
23 authorized registration period shall constitute noncompliance with this Section.
24 (4) The commissioner shall promulgate rules establishing minimum security,
25 material, durability, and legibility standards for the approved paper or card stock and
26 may replace or redesignate the approved paper or card stock if it fails to meet such
27 standards.
28 (5) Use printing methods, inks, and materials that are of sufficient quality to
29 ensure that required information, including the registration number, expiration date,
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1 and any machine-readable elements, does not fade or become illegible due to
2 ordinary weather exposure.
3 (6) The commissioner shall promulgate rules establishing minimum security,
4 material, durability, and legibility standards for approved paper or card stock and
5 may suspend or revoke approval of any paper or card stock that fails to meet such
6 standards.
7 §520. Dealers temporary demonstration and transportation identification plate
8 * * *
9 E. Each identification plate shall be valid for five days from the date ten
10 consecutive calendar days, including the date on which the identification plate was
11 placed in service, and shall expire at 11:59 p.m. on the tenth day.
12 F. Each dealership which places an identification plate in service on a motor
13 vehicle may use that motor vehicle for any business purpose of the dealership,
14 including but not limited to the demonstration or transportation of that vehicle, or
15 temporary customer loaner use while a customer's motor vehicle is undergoing
16 service or repair.
17 G. The identification plate may be affixed to the rear window of the vehicle.
18 H. For purposes of this Section, "placed in service" shall mean the first date
19 on which the identification plate is displayed on a motor vehicle for use.
20 I. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the provisions
21 of this Section shall govern the use of identification plates.
22 §521. Display of temporary license plates
23 * * *
24 D. Identification plates issued pursuant to R.S. 47:520 shall not be required
25 to be fastened to the rear bumper of the motor vehicle. The identification plate may
26 be affixed to the rear window of the vehicle.
27 Section 2. The commissioner shall consult with representatives of licensed motor
28 vehicle dealers prior to implementing the print-on-demand system and prior to making any
29 material change to the system, including changes to approved paper or card stock, equipment
30 requirements, or issuance procedures.
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1 Section 3. The provisions of R.S. 47:519(P) shall become effective when the
2 commissioner provides public notice of the date that the electronic issuance system is
3 established for print-on-demand temporary registration plates and the secure paper or card
4 stock is approved and implemented by the commissioner.
5 Section 4. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
6 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
7 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
8 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
9 effective on the day following such approval.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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