New special license plates

AN ACT Relating to creating several new special license plates; 1
reenacting and amending RCW 46.17.220, 46.18.200, 46.68.420, and 2
46.68.425; adding new sections to chapter 46.04 RCW; adding a new 3
section to chapter 46.18 RCW; and providing an effective date.4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:5
Sec. 1. RCW 46.17.220 and 2022 c 239 s 1 and 2022 c 117 s 1 are 6
each reenacted and amended to read as follows: 7
In addition to all fees and taxes required to be paid upon 8
application for a vehicle registration in chapter 46.16A RCW, the 9
holder of a special license plate shall pay the appropriate special 10
license plate fee as listed in this section. 11
12
13
PLATE TYPE INITIAL
FEE
RENEWAL
FEE
DISTRIBUTED
UNDER
14 (1) 4-H $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
15 (2) Amateur radio license $ 5.00 N/A RCW 46.68.070
16 (3) Armed forces $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.425
17 (4) Breast cancer awareness $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.425
18 (5) Collector vehicle $ 35.00 N/A RCW 46.68.030
19 (6) Collegiate $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.430
S-0743.1
SENATE BILL 5444
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Senators Cortes, Chapman, Lovick, Nobles, Riccelli, and C. Wilson
Read first time 01/23/25. Referred to Committee on Transportation.
p. 1 SB 5444
1 (7) Endangered wildlife $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.425
2 (8) Fred Hutch $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
3
4
(9) Gonzaga University
alumni association
$ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
5 (10) Helping kids speak $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
6 (11) Horseless carriage $ 35.00 N/A RCW 46.68.030
7 (12) Keep kids safe $ 45.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.425
8
9
(13) Keep Washington
evergreen
$ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.425
10
11
(14) Law enforcement
memorial
$ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
12
13
14
(((14))) (15) LeMay-
America's Car
Museum
$ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
15
16
(16) Military affiliate radio
system
$ 5.00 N/A RCW 46.68.070
17
18
(((15))) (17) Mount St.
Helens
$40.00 $30.00 RCW 46.68.420
19 (18) Music matters $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
20
21
(((16))) (19) Nautical
Northwest
$40.00 $30.00 RCW 46.68.420
22
23
24
25
26
(20) Patches pal, or
alternative name as
designated by the
department under
RCW 46.04.383
$ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
27
28
29
(((17))) (21) Professional
firefighters and
paramedics
$ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
30 (((18))) (22) Purple Heart $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.425
31 (((19))) (23) Ride share $ 25.00 N/A RCW 46.68.030
32
33
(((20))) (24) San Juan
Islands
$ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
34
35
(((21))) (25) Seattle
Mariners
$ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
p. 2 SB 5444
1
2
(((22))) (26) Seattle NHL
hockey
$ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
3
4
(((23))) (27) Seattle
Seahawks
$ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
5
6
(((24))) (28) Seattle
Sounders FC
$ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
7 (((25))) (29) Seattle Storm $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
8
9
(((26))) (30) Seattle
University
$ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
10 (((27))) (31) Share the road $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
11
12
(((28))) (32) Ski & ride
Washington
$ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
13 (((29))) (33) Smokey Bear $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.425
14 (34) Square dancer $ 40.00 N/A RCW 46.68.070
15 (((30))) (35) State flower $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
16 (36) State sport $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
17
18
(((31))) (37) V olunteer
firefighters
$ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
19
20
(((32))) (38) Washington
apples
$ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
21
22
(((33))) (39) Washington
farmers and ranchers
$ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
23
24
(((34))) (40) Washington
lighthouses
$ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
25
26
(((35))) (41) Washington
state aviation
$ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
27
28
(((36))) (42) Washington
state parks
$ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.425
29
30
(((37))) (43) Washington
state wrestling
$ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
31
32
(((38))) (44) Washington
tennis
$ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
33
34
(((39))) (45) Washington
wine
$ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
p. 3 SB 5444
1
2
(((40))) (46) Washington's
fish collection
$ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.425
3
4
(((41))) (47) Washington's
national parks
$ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
5
6
(((42))) (48) Washington's
wildlife collection
$ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.425
7
8
(((43))) (49) We love our
pets
$ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
9
10
(((44))) (50) Wild on
Washington
$ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.425
11 (51) Working forests $ 40.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.420
Sec. 2. RCW 46.18.200 and 2022 c 239 s 2 and 2022 c 117 s 2 are 12
each reenacted and amended to read as follows: 13
(1) Special license plate series reviewed and approved by the 14
department: 15
(a) May be issued in lieu of standard issue or personalized 16
license plates for vehicles required to display one and two license 17
plates unless otherwise specified; 18
(b) Must be issued under terms and conditions established by the 19
department; 20
(c) Must not be issued for vehicles registered under chapter 21
46.87 RCW; and 22
(d) Must display a symbol or artwork approved by the department.23
(2) The department approves and shall issue the following special 24
license plates, subject to subsection (5) of this section:25
26
27
LICENSE PLATE DESCRIPTION, SYMBOL, OR
ARTWORK
28 4-H Displays the "4-H" logo.
p. 4 SB 5444
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Armed forces collection Recognizes the contribution of
veterans, active duty military
personnel, reservists, and
members of the national guard,
and includes six separate designs,
each containing a symbol
representing a different branch of
the armed forces to include army,
navy, air force, marine corps,
coast guard, and national guard.
11
12
13
Breast cancer awareness Displays a pink ribbon
symbolizing breast cancer
awareness.
14
15
16
Endangered wildlife Displays a symbol or artwork
symbolizing endangered wildlife
in Washington state.
17 Fred Hutch Displays the Fred Hutch logo.
18
19
Gonzaga University alumni
association
Recognizes the Gonzaga
University alumni association.
20
21
22
23
Helping kids speak Recognizes an organization that
supports programs that provide
no-cost speech pathology
programs to children.
24
25
Keep kids safe Recognizes efforts to prevent
child abuse and neglect.
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
Keep Washington evergreen Recognizes Washington as the
evergreen state and funds electric
charging stations. Displays green
lettering on a white background in
a style similar to the license plates
issued by the department in the
1970s, but includes the words
evergreen state along the bottom
of the plate.
35
36
37
Law enforcement memorial Honors law enforcement officers
in Washington killed in the line of
duty.
p. 5 SB 5444
1
2
LeMay-America's Car Museum Displays a style homage to classic
Washington automobile plates.
3
4
Mount St. Helens Displays an image of Mount St.
Helens.
5
6
Music matters Displays the "Music Matters"
logo.
7
8
Nautical Northwest Displays a Northwest maritime
scene.
9
10
11
12
13
Patches pal, or alternative name
as designated by the department
under RCW 46.04.383
Displays the likenesses of the J.P.
Patches and Gertrude characters
from the J.P. Patches show, or
characters otherwise identified in
accordance with RCW 46.04.383.
14
15
16
17
Professional firefighters and
paramedics
Recognizes professional
firefighters and paramedics who
are members of the Washington
state council of firefighters.
18
19
San Juan Islands Displays a symbol or artwork
recognizing the San Juan Islands.
20
21
Seattle Mariners Displays the "Seattle Mariners"
logo.
22
23
Seattle NHL hockey Displays the logo of the Seattle
NHL hockey team.
24
25
Seattle Seahawks Displays the "Seattle Seahawks"
logo.
26
27
Seattle Sounders FC Displays the "Seattle Sounders
FC" logo.
28 Seattle Storm Displays the "Seattle Storm" logo.
29 Seattle University Recognizes Seattle University.
30
31
32
Share the road Recognizes an organization that
promotes bicycle safety and
awareness education.
33
34
Ski & ride Washington Recognizes the Washington
snowsports industry.
p. 6 SB 5444
1
2
3
Smokey Bear Displays the name, image, and
likeness of Smokey Bear and
messages for wildfire prevention.
4
5
State flower Recognizes the Washington state
flower.
6
7
State sport Recognizes the Washington state
sport of pickleball.
8 V olunteer firefighters Recognizes volunteer firefighters.
9
10
11
12
13
14
Washington apples Displays the Washington apple
logo that recognizes the state's
apple industry, the growers and
shippers who produce and pack
the world famous apples, and the
tree fruit community.
15
16
Washington farmers and ranchers Recognizes farmers and ranchers
in Washington state.
17
18
19
20
21
Washington lighthouses Recognizes an organization that
supports selected Washington
state lighthouses and provides
environmental education
programs.
22
23
24
Washington state aviation Displays a Stearman biplane in
the foreground with an image of
Mount Rainier in the background.
25
26
27
28
29
30
Washington state parks Recognizes Washington state
parks as premier destinations of
uncommon quality that preserve
significant natural, cultural,
historical, and recreational
resources.
31
32
33
Washington state wrestling Promotes and supports college
wrestling in the state of
Washington.
p. 7 SB 5444
1
2
3
4
5
Washington tennis Builds awareness and year-round
opportunities for tennis in
Washington state. Displays a
symbol or artwork recognizing
tennis in Washington state.
6
7
Washington wine Displays a landscape of
Washington's wine regions.
8 Washington's fish collection Recognizes Washington's fish.
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Washington's national park fund Builds awareness of Washington's
national parks and supports
priority park programs and
projects in Washington's national
parks, such as enhancing visitor
experience, promoting
volunteerism, engaging
communities, and providing
educational opportunities related
to Washington's national parks.
19
20
Washington's wildlife collection Recognizes Washington's
wildlife.
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
We love our pets Recognizes an organization that
assists local member agencies of
the federation of animal welfare
and control agencies to promote
and perform spay/neuter surgery
on Washington state pets to
reduce pet overpopulation.
28
29
Wild on Washington Symbolizes wildlife viewing in
Washington state.
30
31
Working forests Displays an image embodying
working forests.
(3) Applicants for initial and renewal professional firefighters 32
and paramedics special license plates must show proof of eligibility 33
by providing a certificate of current membership from the Washington 34
state council of firefighters. 35
(4) Applicants for initial volunteer firefighters special license 36
plates must (a) have been a volunteer firefighter for at least 37
p. 8 SB 5444
((ten)) 10 years or be a volunteer firefighter for one or more years 1
and (b) have documentation of service from the district of the 2
appropriate fire service. If the volunteer firefighter leaves 3
firefighting service before ((ten)) 10 years of service have been 4
completed, the volunteer firefighter shall surrender the license 5
plates to the department on the registration renewal date. If the 6
volunteer firefighter stays in service for at least ((ten)) 10 years 7
and then leaves, the license plate may be retained by the former 8
volunteer firefighter and as long as the license plate is retained 9
for use the person will continue to pay the future registration 10
renewals. A qualifying volunteer firefighter may have no more than 11
one set of license plates per vehicle, and a maximum of two sets per 12
applicant, for their personal vehicles. If the volunteer firefighter 13
is convicted of a violation of RCW 46.61.502 or a felony, the license 14
plates must be surrendered upon conviction. 15
(5) The department shall not issue the Seattle NHL hockey special 16
license plate until the department receives signature sheets 17
satisfying the requirements identified in RCW 46.18.110(2)(f).18
Sec. 3. RCW 46.68.420 and 2022 c 239 s 3, 2022 c 117 s 3, and 19
2022 c 96 s 4 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:20
(1) The department shall: 21
(a) Collect special license plate fees established under RCW 22
46.17.220; 23
(b) Deduct an amount not to exceed ((twelve dollars )) $12 for 24
initial issue and two dollars for renewal issue for administration 25
and collection expenses incurred by it; and 26
(c) Remit the remaining proceeds to the custody of the state 27
treasurer with a proper identifying detailed report.28
(2) The state treasurer shall credit the proceeds to the motor 29
vehicle fund until the department determines that the state has been 30
reimbursed for the cost of implementing the special license plate. 31
Upon determination by the department that the state has been 32
reimbursed, the state treasurer shall credit the remaining special 33
license plate fee amounts for each special license plate to the 34
following appropriate account as created in this section in the 35
custody of the state treasurer: 36
37
38
ACCOUNT CONDITIONS FOR USE OF
FUNDS
p. 9 SB 5444
1
2
4-H programs Support Washington 4-H
programs
3
4
5
Fred Hutch Support cancer research at the
Fred Hutchinson cancer research
center
6
7
8
9
Gonzaga University alumni
association
Scholarship funds to needy and
qualified students attending or
planning to attend Gonzaga
University
10
11
12
13
14
Helping kids speak Provide free diagnostic and
therapeutic services to families of
children who suffer from a delay
in language or speech
development
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
Law enforcement memorial Provide support and assistance to
survivors and families of law
enforcement officers in
Washington killed in the line of
duty and to organize, finance,
fund, construct, utilize, and
maintain a memorial on the state
capitol grounds to honor those
fallen officers
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
LeMay-America's Car Museum Provide funds to promote,
encourage, and inspire students
and the community to understand
the role of automobiles in our
culture and economy through
education, interpretive programs,
and job training; to open doors to
learning through science,
technology, engineering, the arts,
and math (STEAM); and to
inspire a new generation of skilled
trade workers, engineers,
designers, artists, and enthusiasts
p. 10 SB 5444
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Lighthouse environmental
programs
Support selected Washington state
lighthouses that are accessible to
the public and staffed by
volunteers; provide environmental
education programs; provide
grants for other Washington
lighthouses to assist in funding
infrastructure preservation and
restoration; encourage and support
interpretive programs by
lighthouse docents
12
13
14
15
Mount St. Helens Promote education, stewardship,
and science at Mount St. Helens
through the Mount St. Helens
institute
16
17
Music matters awareness Promote music education in
schools throughout Washington
18
19
20
Nautical Northwest Support historic resources of
Whidbey Island's maritime
communities
21
22
23
Patches pal, or alternative name
as designated by the department
under RCW 46.04.383
Provide funds to the Seattle
children's hospital strong against
cancer program
24
25
San Juan Islands programs Provide funds to the Madrona
institute
p. 11 SB 5444
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Seattle Mariners Provide funds to the sports
mentoring program and to support
the Washington world fellows
program in the following manner:
(a) ((Seventy-five)) 75 percent to
the Washington state leadership
board solely to administer the
sports mentoring program
established under RCW
43.388.040, to encourage youth
who have economic needs or face
adversities to experience spectator
sports or get involved in youth
sports, and (b) up to ((twenty-
five)) 25 percent to the
Washington state leadership board
solely to administer the
Washington world fellows
program, an equity focused
program
p. 12 SB 5444
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
Seattle NHL hockey Provide funds to the NHL Seattle
foundation and to support the
boundless Washington program in
the following manner: (a) ((Fifty))
50 percent to the NHL Seattle
foundation, or its successor
organization, to help marginalized
youth succeed in life through
increased access to sports and
other opportunities; (b) ((twenty-
five)) 25 percent to the
Washington state leadership board
solely to administer the boundless
Washington program to facilitate
opportunities for young people
with physical and sensory
disabilities to enjoy and
experience the outdoors; and (c)
((twenty-five)) 25 percent to the
NHL Seattle foundation, or its
successor organization, for
providing financial support to
allow youth to participate in
hockey
p. 13 SB 5444
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Seattle Seahawks Provide funds to InvestED and to
support the Washington world
fellows program in the following
manner: (a) ((Seventy-five)) 75
percent, to InvestED, to
encourage secondary students
who have economic needs to stay
in school, return to school, or get
involved within their learning
community; and (b) ((twenty-
five)) 25 percent to the
Washington state leadership board
solely to administer the
Washington world fellows
program, including the provision
of fellowships
p. 14 SB 5444
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
Seattle Sounders FC Provide funds to Washington state
mentors and the Washington state
leadership board in the following
manner: (a) ((Seventy)) 70
percent and the remaining
proceeds, if any, to Washington
state mentors, to increase the
number of mentors in the state by
offering mentoring grants
throughout Washington state that
foster positive youth development
and academic success, with up to
((twenty)) 20 percent of these
proceeds authorized for program
administration costs; and (b) up to
((thirty)) 30 percent, not to exceed
((forty-thousand dollars)) $40,000
annually as adjusted for inflation
by the office of financial
management, to the Washington
state leadership board, to develop
Washington state educational,
veterans, international relations,
and civics projects and to
recognize the outstanding public
service of individuals or groups in
the state of Washington
p. 15 SB 5444
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Seattle Storm Provide funds to the Washington
state legislative youth advisory
council and the Washington state
leadership board in the following
manner: ((Twenty-five thousand
dollars)) $25,000 per year of the
net proceeds to the legislative
youth advisory council, or its
successor organization; and the
remaining net proceeds on an
annual basis, to the Washington
state leadership board for the
purpose of providing grants to
support and enhance athletic,
recreational, and other
opportunities for women and girls,
and especially those with
disabilities
19
20
21
Seattle University Fund scholarships for students
attending or planning to attend
Seattle University
22
23
24
25
Share the road Promote bicycle safety and
awareness education in
communities throughout
Washington
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
Ski & ride Washington Promote winter snowsports, such
as skiing and snowboarding, and
related programs, such as ski and
ride safety programs,
underprivileged youth ski and ride
programs, and active, healthy
lifestyle programs
33
34
35
36
37
State flower Support Meerkerk Rhododendron
Gardens and provide for grants to
other qualified nonprofit
organizations' efforts to preserve
rhododendrons
p. 16 SB 5444
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
State sport Provide funds to be placed in a
trust account managed by the
Seattle metro pickleball
association to be used exclusively
for the construction and
maintenance of dedicated
pickleball courts
8
9
10
11
V olunteer firefighters Receive and disseminate funds for
purposes on behalf of volunteer
firefighters, their families, and
others deemed in need
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
Washington apples Provide scholarship funding to the
tree fruit industry's official
charity, the Washington apple
education foundation, which
provides financial support,
professional employment
preparedness training, and
mentorship to students with ties to
the apple industry pursuing a
higher education
22
23
24
Washington farmers and ranchers Provide funds to the Washington
FFA Foundation for educational
programs in Washington state
25
26
27
28
29
Washington state aviation Provide funds to the department
of transportation to support
infrastructure improvements at
public use airports in Washington
state
30
31
32
33
34
35
Washington state council of
firefighters benevolent fund
Receive and disseminate funds for
charitable purposes on behalf of
members of the Washington state
council of firefighters, their
families, and others deemed in
need
p. 17 SB 5444
1
2
3
4
Washington state wrestling Provide funds to the Washington
state wrestling foundation to fund
new and existing college
wrestling programs
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
Washington tennis Provide funds to cities to assist in
the construction and maintenance
of a public tennis facility with at
least four indoor tennis courts. A
city is eligible for construction
funds if the city does not already
have a public or private facility
with at least four indoor tennis
courts. Funds for construction
must first be made available to the
most populous eligible city,
according to the most recent
census, for a time period not to
exceed five years after January 1,
2017. After the five-year time
period, the funds for construction
must be made available to the
next most populous eligible city.
Funds for the maintenance of a
public tennis facility with at least
four indoor tennis courts must
first be made available to the first
eligible city that utilizes funds for
construction provided by chapter
16, Laws of 2016
30
31
32
33
Washington wine Provide funds to the state of
Washington tourism to promote
tourism throughout Washington
state
p. 18 SB 5444
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Washington's national park fund Build awareness of Washington's
national parks and support priority
park programs and projects in
Washington's national parks, such
as enhancing visitor experience,
promoting volunteerism, engaging
communities, and providing
educational opportunities related
to Washington's national parks
10
11
12
13
14
15
We love our pets Support and enable the
Washington federation of animal
welfare and control agencies to
promote and perform spay/neuter
surgery of Washington state pets
in order to reduce pet population
16
17
18
19
20
Working forests Provide funds to the Washington
tree farm program to support
small forest landowners to
sustainably manage over 400,000
acres of private forestland
(3) Except as otherwise provided in this section, only the 21
director or the director's designee may authorize expenditures from 22
the accounts described in subsection (2) of this section. The 23
accounts are subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, 24
but an appropriation is not required for expenditures.25
(4) Except as otherwise provided in this section, funds in the 26
special license plate accounts described in subsection (2) of this 27
section must be disbursed subject to the conditions described in 28
subsection (2) of this section and under contract between the 29
department and qualified nonprofit organizations that provide the 30
services described in subsection (2) of this section.31
(5) Funds from the Seattle Seahawks account may be provided to 32
the Washington state leadership board solely for the purpose of 33
administering the Washington world fellows program. Of the amounts 34
received by the Washington state leadership board under this 35
subsection, at least ((ninety)) 90 percent must be provided as 36
fellowships under the program. 37
(6) Beginning January 1, 2019, funds from the Seattle Mariners 38
account may be provided to the Washington state leadership board 39
p. 19 SB 5444
solely for the purpose of administering the sports mentoring program. 1
Of the amounts received by the Washington state leadership board, at 2
least ((ninety)) 90 percent must be applied towards services directly 3
provided to youth participants. 4
(7) For the purposes of this section, a "qualified nonprofit 5
organization" means a not-for-profit corporation operating in 6
Washington that has received a determination of tax exempt status 7
under 26 U.S.C. Sec. 501 (c)(3). The qualified nonprofit organization 8
must meet all the requirements under RCW 46.18.100(1).9
Sec. 4. RCW 46.68.425 and 2016 c 31 s 3 and 2016 c 30 s 4 are 10
each reenacted and amended to read as follows: 11
(1) The department shall: 12
(a) Collect special license plate fees established under RCW 13
46.17.220; 14
(b) Deduct an amount not to exceed ((twelve dollars )) $12 for 15
initial issue and ((two dollars )) $2 for renewal issue for 16
administration and collection expenses incurred by it; and17
(c) Remit the remaining proceeds to the custody of the state 18
treasurer with a proper identifying detailed report.19
(2) The state treasurer shall credit the proceeds to the motor 20
vehicle fund until the department determines that the state has been 21
reimbursed for the cost of implementing the special license plate. 22
Upon determination by the department that the state has been 23
reimbursed, the state treasurer shall credit the remaining special 24
license plate fees to the following accounts by special license plate 25
type: 26
27
28
SPECIAL LICENSE
PLATE TYPE
ACCOUNT CONDITIONS FOR
USE OF FUNDS
29
30
Armed forces RCW 43.60A.140 As specified in RCW
43.60A.140(4)
31
32
33
34
35
36
Breast cancer
awareness
RCW 43.70.327 Must be used only by
the department of
health for efforts
consistent with the
breast, cervical, and
colon health program
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1
2
3
4
5
Endangered wildlife RCW 77.12.170 Must be used only
for the department of
fish and wildlife's
endangered wildlife
program activities
6
7
Keep kids safe RCW 43.121.100 As specified in RCW
43.121.100
8
9
10
11
Keep Washington
evergreen
RCW 82.44.200 Support of electric
charging stations
throughout
Washington
12
13
Purple Heart RCW 43.60A.140 As specified in RCW
43.60A.140(4)
14
15
16
17
18
Smokey Bear
wildfire prevention
RCW 76.04.511 Only for the
department of natural
resources to use for
wildfire prevention
programs
19
20
21
22
23
24
Washington state
parks
RCW 79A.05.059 Provide public
educational
opportunities and
enhancement of
Washington state
parks
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
Washington's fish
collection
RCW 77.12.170 Only for the
department of fish
and wildlife's use to
support steelhead
species management
activities including,
but not limited to,
activities supporting
conservation,
recovery, and
research to promote
healthy, fishable
steelhead
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2
3
4
5
Washington's
wildlife collection
RCW 77.12.170 Only for the
department of fish
and wildlife's game
species management
activities
6
7
8
9
10
11
Wild on Washington RCW 77.12.170 Dedicated to the
department of fish
and wildlife's
watchable wildlife
activities, as defined
in RCW 77.32.560
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 46.04 12
RCW to read as follows: 13
"Keep Washington evergreen license plate" means special license 14
plates issued under RCW 46.18.200 that display green lettering on a 15
white background in a style similar to the license plates issued by 16
the department in the 1970s. 17
NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. A new section is added to chapter 46.18 18
RCW to read as follows: 19
(1) The department shall create, design, and issue a keep 20
Washington evergreen license plate that may be used in lieu of 21
standard issue or personalized license plates for motor vehicles 22
required to display one or two license plates, excluding vehicles 23
registered under chapter 46.87 RCW, upon terms and conditions 24
established by the department. 25
(2) A registered owner may apply to the department, county 26
auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by the director for a 27
keep Washington evergreen license plate. The registered owner shall 28
pay the special license plate fee required under RCW 46.17.220(13), 29
in addition to any other fee or tax required by law.30
NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. A new section is added to chapter 46.04 31
RCW to read as follows: 32
"LeMay-America's Car Museum license plates" means special license 33
plates issued under RCW 46.18.200 that display a style homage to 34
classic Washington automobile plates. 35
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NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. A new section is added to chapter 46.04 1
RCW to read as follows: 2
"Mount St. Helens license plate" means special license plates 3
issued under RCW 46.18.200 that display an image of Mount St. Helens.4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. A new section is added to chapter 46.04 5
RCW to read as follows: 6
"Nautical Northwest license plates" means special license plates 7
issued under RCW 46.18.200 that display a Northwest maritime scene.8
NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. A new section is added to chapter 46.04 9
RCW to read as follows: 10
"Smokey Bear license plates" means special license plates issued 11
under RCW 46.18.200 that display the name, image, and likeness of 12
Smokey Bear promoting wildfire prevention and the state department of 13
natural resources' wildland wildfire program. 14
NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. A new section is added to chapter 46.04 15
RCW to read as follows: 16
"Working forests license plates" means special license plates 17
issued under RCW 46.18.200 that display images embodying working 18
forests. 19
NEW SECTION. Sec. 12. A new section is added to chapter 46.04 20
RCW to read as follows: 21
"State sport license plates" means special license plates issued 22
under RCW 46.18.200 that recognize the state sport of pickleball.23
NEW SECTION. Sec. 13. This act takes effect November 1, 2025.24
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