License plate production

AN ACT Relating to addressing license plate production issues; 1
amending RCW 46.16A.305; and adding a new section to chapter 72.60 2
RCW. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
Sec. 1. RCW 46.16A.305 and 2022 c 132 s 5 are each amended to 5
read as follows: 6
(1) The department, county auditor or other agent, or subagent 7
appointed by the director may grant a temporary license plate to 8
operate a vehicle for which an application for registration has been 9
made. The application for a temporary license plate must be made by 10
the owner or the owner's representative to the department, county 11
auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by the director on a 12
form furnished by the department and must contain:13
(a) A full description of the vehicle, including its make, model, 14
vehicle identification number, and type of body; 15
(b) The name and address of the applicant; 16
(c) The date of application; and 17
(d) Other information that the department may require.18
(2) Temporary license plates must: 19
(a) Be consecutively numbered; 20
S-0444.1
SENATE BILL 5432
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Senators Liias, J. Wilson, Conway, Chapman, C. Wilson, Shewmake,
Goehner, MacEwen, Nobles, and Riccelli
Read first time 01/22/25. Referred to Committee on Transportation.
p. 1 SB 5432
(b) Be displayed as described for permanent license plates in RCW 1
46.16A.200(5)(a); 2
(c) Be composed of material that must be durable and remain 3
unaltered in field conditions for a minimum of four months; and4
(d) Remain on the vehicle only until the receipt of permanent 5
license plates. 6
(3) The application must be accompanied by the fee required under 7
RCW 46.17.400(1)(b). 8
(4) Pursuant to subsection (2) of this section, the department 9
may adopt rules for the design and display of temporary license 10
plates. 11
(5) By December 1, 2025, the department must adopt rules 12
implementing contingency extensions of the expiration date for 13
department temporary license plates in cases of shortages of 14
permanent license plates. The rules must prioritize reducing customer 15
return trips for department temporary license plates, and include a 16
communication plan with state and local law enforcement agencies 17
regarding the implementation of the contingency extensions.18
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 72.60 19
RCW to read as follows: 20
When the department of corrections, in conjunction with the 21
department of licensing, anticipates a projected license plate 22
shortage statewide or in particular locations, the department of 23
licensing must promptly communicate such shortage to the county 24
auditors or other agents, and subagents appointed by the director of 25
the department of licensing. The department of corrections, in 26
conjunction with the department of licensing, must also develop and 27
implement a mitigation plan to address the shortage that may include 28
the contracting with a third-party vendor for production of license 29
plates until such time as the shortage is eliminated and a sufficient 30
license plate inventory is available for the subsequent 90-day 31
period. Use of a third-party vendor may be initiated by the 32
department of corrections, the department of licensing, or jointly by 33
the two agencies. 34
--- END ---
p. 2 SB 5432