Create the "SHELTER" license plate

As Introduced

136th
General Assembly

Regular
Session
H. B. No. 658

2025-2026

Representatives Cockley, Salvo

Cosponsors: Representatives Gross,
Rader, Brennan, McNally, Synenberg, Brewer, Baker, Miller, J.,
Somani, Abdullahi, Bryant Bailey, Plummer, Daniels, Pizzulli, Deeter,
Thomas, D., Kishman

To
enact section 4503.728 of the Revised Code
to
create the "SHELTER" license plate.

BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Section
1.
That
section 4503.728 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec.
4503.728.
(A)
The owner or lessee of any passenger car, noncommercial motor
vehicle, recreational vehicle, or other vehicle of a class approved
by the registrar of motor vehicles may apply to the registrar for the
registration of the vehicle and issuance of specialty license plates
for supporting housing and emergency living transitions, empowerment,
and recovery, also known as "SHELTER" license plates. An
application made under this section may be combined with a request
for a special reserved license plate under section 4503.40 or 4503.42
of the Revised Code. Upon receipt of the completed application and
compliance by the applicant with divisions (B) and (C) of this
section, the registrar shall issue to the applicant the appropriate
vehicle registration and a set of "SHELTER" license plates
and a validation sticker, or a validation sticker alone when required
by section 4503.191 of the Revised Code.

In
addition to the letters and numbers ordinarily inscribed on the
license plates, "SHELTER" license plates shall be inscribed
with identifying words or markings that are designed by the director
of development and that are approved by the registrar. "SHELTER"
license plates shall display county identification stickers that
identify the county of registration as required under section 4503.19
of the Revised Code.

(B)
"SHELTER" license plates and a validation sticker, or
validation sticker alone, shall be issued upon receipt of a
contribution as provided in division (C)(1) of this section and upon
payment of the regular license tax as prescribed under section
4503.04 of the Revised Code, any applicable motor vehicle license tax
levied under Chapter 4504. of the Revised Code, any applicable
additional fee prescribed by section 4503.40 or 4503.42 of the
Revised Code, a bureau of motor vehicles administrative fee of ten
dollars, and compliance with all other applicable laws relating to
the registration of motor vehicles.

(C)(1)
For each application for registration and registration renewal notice
the registrar receives under this section, the registrar shall
collect a contribution of thirty dollars. The registrar shall
transmit this contribution into the state treasury to the credit of
the SHELTER license plate contribution fund created in division (D)
of this section.

(2)
The registrar shall deposit the bureau administrative fee of ten
dollars, the purpose of which is to compensate the bureau for
additional services required in the issuing of "SHELTER"
license plates, into the state treasury to the credit of the public
safety - highway purposes fund created in section 4501.06 of the
Revised Code.

(D)
There is hereby created in the state treasury the SHELTER license
plate contribution fund. The fund shall consist of money deposited
into it by the registrar under this section. The director of
development or the director's designee shall use money in the fund to
issue grants to shelters, emergency housing providers, or nonprofits
that help individuals experiencing homelessness. Such shelters,
providers, or nonprofits shall use the grants to provide services to
such individuals. The director shall approve the shelters, providers,
and nonprofits that receive such grants and the amounts paid to each
such entity.