Authorizes creation of temporary Declaration of Independence 250th Anniversary commemorative license plate.

A4512

ASSEMBLY, No. 4512

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MARCH 9, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman� ALEX SAUICKIE

District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)

SYNOPSIS

���� Authorizes creation of temporary Declaration of
Independence 250th Anniversary commemorative license plate.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act

authorizing the creation and issuance of a
Declaration of Independence 250th Anniversary commemorative license plate and
supplementing Title 39 of the Revised Statutes.

����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.� a.� The New Jersey
Historical Commission, in consultation with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle
Commission, shall establish a license plate design contest in which any
participants may submit one or more designs for a Declaration of Independence
250th Anniversary commemorative license plate that represents the State of New
Jersey and commemorates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration
of Independence and the founding of the United States.� In establishing the
contest, the New Jersey Historical Commission shall, at a minimum:

���� (1) develop an application
process for participants to submit one or more designs to the New Jersey
Historical Commission for the commemorative license plate;

���� (2) review the applications
received and select a license plate design, which design shall be issued and
advertised by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission pursuant to sections 2
and 3 of P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� and C.������� ) (pending before the Legislature
as this bill); and

���� (3) advertise the opportunity
to participate in the license plate design contest.

���� b.� The New Jersey Historical
Commission, in consultation with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, may
require such information or content as it deems appropriate to be included
within the license plate designs submitted pursuant to subsection a. of this
section.

���� 2.� a.� (1)� After a license
plate design is selected by the New Jersey Historical Commission pursuant to
section 1 of
P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending
before the Legislature as this bill), and upon proper application, the Chief
Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall issue a
temporary commemorative license plate to represent the State of New Jersey and
commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence for any
motor vehicle owned or leased and registered in this State.� The commemorative
license plate shall utilize the plate design selected by the New Jersey
Historical Commission pursuant to section 1 of P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� )
(pending before the Legislature as this bill) and any words or symbols as may
be determined by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, except that the
commemorative license plate shall not include the registration number and other
markings or identification otherwise prescribed by law.

���� (2)� The New Jersey Motor
Vehicle Commission shall issue one Declaration of Independence 250th
Anniversary license plate to each eligible applicant, as provided in this
section, which commemorative license plate shall be subject to the provisions
of chapter 3 of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes and displayed on the front of
the vehicle in accordance with R.S.39:3-33, except that the commemorative
license plate shall not be displayed on any vehicle after January 1, 2028.

���� b.��� Application for issuance
of the Declaration of Independence 250th Anniversary license plate shall be
made to the chief administrator in a form and manner prescribed by the chief
administrator.� In order to be deemed complete, an application shall be
accompanied by a fee of $50, payable to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle
Commission, which shall be in addition to the fees otherwise prescribed by law
for the registration of a motor vehicle.� The chief administrator shall
collect, after the year of issuance of the Declaration of Independence 250th
Anniversary license plate, but no later than January 1, 2028, a $10 fee for the
commemorative license plate in addition to the fees otherwise prescribed by law
for the registration of a motor vehicle.� The additional fees required by this
subsection shall be deposited in the �Declaration of Independence 250th
Anniversary License Plate Fund� created pursuant to subsection c. of this
section.

���� c.
��
There is created in the
Department of the Treasury a special non-lapsing fund to be known as the �Declaration
of Independence 250th Anniversary License Plate Fund.�� There shall be
deposited in the fund the amount collected from all commemorative license plate
fees collected pursuant to subsection b. of this section, less the amounts
necessary to reimburse the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission for
administrative costs pursuant to subsection d. of this section.� Monies
deposited in the fund shall be annually appropriated to the New Jersey
Historical Commission and shall be used to support and preserve Revolutionary
War sites throughout New Jersey.� Monies deposited in the fund shall be held in
interest-bearing accounts in public depositories, as defined pursuant to
section 1 of P.L.1970, c.236 (C.17:9-41), and may be invested or reinvested in
securities approved by the State Treasurer.� Interest or other income earned on
monies deposited in the fund, and any monies which may be appropriated or
otherwise become available for the purposes of the fund, shall be credited to
and deposited in the fund for use as set forth in this section.

���� d.��� (1)� Prior to the
deposit into the fund of the additional fees collected pursuant to subsection
b. of this section, amounts thereof as are necessary shall be used to reimburse
the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission for all costs reasonably and actually
incurred, as stipulated by the chief administrator, for:

���� (a)�� designing, producing,
issuing, renewing, and publicizing the availability of the Declaration of Independence
250th Anniversary license plate; and

���� (b)� any computer programming
changes that may be initially necessary to implement the Declaration of Independence
250th Anniversary license plate program in an amount not to exceed $150,000.

���� (2)� The chief administrator
shall annually certify to the State Treasurer the average cost per commemorative
license plate incurred in the immediately preceding year by the New Jersey
Motor Vehicle Commission in producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing the
availability of the Declaration of Independence 250th Anniversary license plate.�
The annual certification of the average cost per commemorative license plate
shall be approved by the Joint Budget Oversight Committee, or its successor.

���� e.��� The chief administrator
shall notify eligible motorists of the opportunity to obtain a temporary Declaration
of Independence 250th Anniversary license plate by publicizing the availability
of the commemorative license plate on the website of the New Jersey Motor
Vehicle Commission.

���� f.���� The chief administrator
and the New Jersey Historical Commission shall develop and enter into a
memorandum of agreement setting forth the procedures to be followed in carrying
out their respective responsibilities under P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� )
(pending before the Legislature as this bill).

���� g.��� The New Jersey
Historical Commission shall appoint a representative who shall act as a liaison
between the New Jersey Historical Commission and the New Jersey Motor Vehicle
Commission.� The liaison shall represent the New Jersey Historical Commission
in all communications with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission regarding the
Declaration of Independence 250th Anniversary license plate established by P.L.���
, c.��� (C.����� ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

����� 3.�� a.�
In addition to any non-public monies contributed by the individual or entity
designated by the New Jersey Historical Commission to the New Jersey Motor
Vehicle Commission pursuant to subsection b. of this section, State or other
public funds may be used by the
New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission
for the initial cost of:

����� (1) designing,
producing, issuing, and publicizing the availability of the
Declaration
of Independence 250th Anniversary license plate
; or

����� (2) any
computer programming changes which may be necessary to implement the
Declaration
of Independence 250th Anniversary
license
plate program established pursuant to P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� ) (pending
before the Legislature as this bill).

����� b.�� An
individual or entity
designated by the New Jersey Historical Commission
may contribute non-public monies in an amount to be
determined by the chief administrator, not to exceed a total of $25,000, to be
used to offset the initial costs incurred by the
New Jersey Motor
Vehicle Commission
for designing, producing,
issuing, and publicizing the availability of the
Declaration of Independence
250th Anniversary
license plate, and any
computer programming which may be necessary to implement the program.� To
further offset the initial costs incurred by the
New Jersey Motor
Vehicle Commission
for the
Declaration
of Independence 250th Anniversary
license
plate authorized by
P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before the
Legislature as this bill),
other concerned
organizations and individual donors may contribute monies to
the New
Jersey Historical Commission
, or the
individual or entity designated by the New Jersey Historical Commission, for
this purpose.� Any amount remaining after the payment of the initial costs
shall be deposited in the �
Declaration of Independence 250th Anniversary
License Plate Fund,
� established pursuant to
subsection c. of section 2 of P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before the
Legislature as this bill).

����� c.�� The

New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission

shall not begin designing, producing, issuing, or publicizing the availability
of the
Declaration of Independence 250th Anniversary
license plate, or making any necessary programming
changes, until the liaison appointed by the
New Jersey Historical
Commission
pursuant to subsection g. of
section 2 of P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before the Legislature as
this bill) has provided the
New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission
with not less than 500 completed applications for
the
Declaration of Independence 250th Anniversary
license plate.� These applications shall constitute
the initial order for
Declaration of Independence 250th Anniversary
license plates and shall be accompanied by a fee
representing the total cost of the initial order.� The fee shall be determined
by multiplying the number of
commemorative
license plates being ordered by the applicable initial fee for each
commemorative

license plate as set forth in subsection b. of
section 2 of
P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before the
Legislature as this bill).

����� 4.� The Chief Administrator
of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall authorize the displaying of
the Declaration of Independence 250th Anniversary license plate on the front of
a motor vehicle in place of an alternate license plate for a period of two
years beginning on January 1, 2026.

���� 5.��� This act shall take
effect immediately, except that sections 2 through four of P.L.��� , c.���
(C.������� ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall remain
inoperative until the first day of the 13th month following the date on which
the conditions set forth in subsection c. of section 3 of P.L.��� , c.���
(C.������� ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) have been
satisfied.� The chief administrator may take anticipatory actions in advance of
that date as may be necessary for the timely implementation of P.L. , c. (C. )
(pending before the Legislature as this bill).� P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� )
(pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall expire if the conditions
set forth in subsection c. of section 3 of P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� )
(pending before the Legislature as this bill) are not satisfied by the last day
of the 12th month following enactment.

STATEMENT

���� This bill authorizes the
creation of temporary Declaration of Independence 250th Anniversary
commemorative license plates and establishes a public contest to select the
design of these commemorative license plates.

���� Specifically, the bill
requires the New Jersey Historical Commission, in consultation with the New
Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, to establish a license plate design contest in
which participants can submit one or more designs for a Declaration of
Independence 250th Anniversary license plate that represents the State of New
Jersey and commemorates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration
of Independence and the founding of the United States.� In establishing the
contest, the New Jersey Historical Commission is required to, at a minimum:�
(1) develop an application process for participants to submit one or more
designs to the New Jersey Historical Commission for the commemorative license
plate; (2) review the applications received and select a license plate design;
and (3) advertise the opportunity to participate in the license plate design
contest.

���� The bill also authorizes the
Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to create and
issue a commemorative temporary Declaration of Independence 250th Anniversary
license plate using the license plate design selected by the New Jersey
Historical Commission.� Only one commemorative license plate will be issued per
motor vehicle, and the license plate will serve as a decorative license plate,
without the inclusion of a registration number.� The bill requires the chief
administrator to authorize the displaying of the Declaration of Independence
250th Anniversary license plate on the front of a motor vehicle in place of an
alternate license plate for a period of two years beginning on January 1, 2026.

���� In addition to the required
motor vehicle registration fees, there is an application fee of $50 and an annual
renewal fee of $10 for the Declaration of Independence 250th Anniversary
license plate.� After deducting the cost to implement the Declaration of
Independence 250th Anniversary license plate program, the additional fees
collected are required to be deposited into the �Declaration of Independence
250th Anniversary License Plate Fund,� and the funds are to be appropriated
annually to the New Jersey Historical Commission to be used to support and
preserve Revolutionary War sites throughout New Jersey.

���� The chief administrator is
required to annually certify the average cost per commemorative license plate
in producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing the Declaration of
Independence 250th Anniversary license plate.� The bill also requires that the New
Jersey Historical Commission appoint a liaison to represent the New Jersey
Historical Commission in all communications with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle
Commission regarding the Declaration of Independence 250th Anniversary license
plate.�

���� The bill provides that, in
addition to any non-public monies contributed by the individual or entity
designated by the New Jersey Historical Commission to the New Jersey Motor
Vehicle Commission, State or other public funds may be used by the New Jersey
Motor Vehicle Commission for the initial cost of designing, producing, issuing,
and publicizing the availability of the Declaration of Independence 250th
Anniversary license plate or any computer programming changes which may be
necessary to implement the Declaration of Independence 250th Anniversary
license plate program.

���� The bill also provides that an
individual or entity designated by the New Jersey Historical Commission may contribute
monies in an amount to be determined by the chief administrator, not to exceed
a total of $25,000, to be used to offset the initial costs incurred by the New
Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission for designing, producing, issuing, and
publicizing the availability of the Declaration of Independence 250th
Anniversary license plate, and any computer programming which may be necessary
to implement the program. �The bill authorizes the New Jersey Historical
Commission to receive funds from private sources to be used to offset the
initial costs.

���� The bill prohibits the New
Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission from designing, producing, issuing, or
publicizing the availability of the Declaration of Independence 250th
Anniversary license plate, or making any necessary programming changes, until
the New Jersey Historical Commission�s liaison has provided the New Jersey
Motor Vehicle Commission with a minimum of 500 completed applications for the Declaration
of Independence 250th Anniversary license plates, upon the availability for
purchase of those license plates.

���� The chief administrator is
responsible for publicizing the availability of the commemorative license
plates on the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission�s website.

���� Except for the establishment
of the license plate design contest, the provisions of the bill will remain
inoperative until the first day of the 13th month after the appropriate number
of applications are

provided to the New Jersey Motor
Vehicle Commission. �The bill expires on the last day of the 12th month after
the date of enactment if sufficient applications are not received by the New
Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission.