SHB 1368
In CommitteeHouse
New special license plates
Creating several new special license plates.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill establishes 51 new special license plates for Washington vehicles, each supporting a specific cause, organization, or regional identity. Fees collected for these plates fund designated programs through dedicated state accounts, with administrative costs capped at $12 for initial and $2 for renewal plates.
- Creates 51 new special license plates, each with a unique design and associated fee (initial: $5–$45, renewal: $30 for most; some have no renewal fee).
- Requires applicants for certain plates (e.g., professional firefighters and paramedics, volunteer firefighters) to provide proof of eligibility, such as membership or service documentation.
- Directs fee revenue (after administrative costs) to dedicated state accounts supporting specific programs, such as Fred Hutch cancer research, Seattle Mariners youth mentoring, and wildlife conservation.
- Adds new definitions for specific plates (e.g., Keep Washington Evergreen, LeMay-America's Car Museum, Smokey Bear, Working forests, State sport) in state law.
- Requires signature petitions for the Seattle NHL hockey plate before issuance, per existing law (RCW 46.18.110).
Who is affected
- Vehicle owners seeking special license plates — Residents who want to display special plates supporting causes or organizations (e.g., 4-H, veterans, wildlife, sports teams) must pay an additional fee and, in some cases, provide proof of eligibility (e.g., firefighter membership or service).
- Designated nonprofit organizations — Nonprofit organizations named in the bill (e.g., Fred Hutch, Seattle Mariners, Washington State Wrestling Foundation) receive dedicated funding from plate fees to support their programs.
- State agencies — State agencies (e.g., Department of Fish and Wildlife, Department of Health, Department of Natural Resources) receive dedicated funding from specific plate fees to support program areas like endangered species, breast cancer screening, or wildfire prevention.
- Volunteer firefighters — Volunteer firefighters must meet service requirements and may be required to surrender plates if they leave service before 10 years; they may hold up to two sets of plates.
- Washington State Department of Licensing — The Washington State Department of Licensing administers the program, collects fees, and manages distribution of funds to designated accounts.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (5)
Fred Hutch plates ($28 net per renewal) fund cancer research at a world-class institution, with potential downstream benefits for Washington residents through earlier detection, access to clinical trials, and improved survival rates — especially for those with limited financial means who rely on publicly supported research.
HealthcarePeopleRef: Sec. 1, Plate #8 (Fred Hutch) and Sec. 3(2)The plate provides free speech pathology services to children from low-income families, directly benefiting vulnerable youth who otherwise might not qualify for insurance-covered or private therapy — a targeted public health intervention with strong evidence base.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 1, Plate #10 (Helping Kids Speak) and Sec. 3(2)Pickleball court construction and maintenance funds are distributed to cities without existing facilities, prioritizing underserved communities — enabling low-cost recreation access for youth and seniors in areas where public recreation funding is scarce.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 1, Plate #36 (State Sport) and Sec. 3(2)Wildlife collection plates fund game species management, which supports sustainable hunting/fishing and ecosystem health — benefiting rural communities that rely on outdoor recreation and wildlife-based tourism.
EnvironmentPeopleRef: Sec. 1, Plate #48 (Washington's Wildlife Collection) and Sec. 4, Sec. 4Seventy-five percent of Seahawks plate revenue funds InvestED, which helps economically disadvantaged students stay in school — a direct, evidence-based support for educational equity, though benefit is limited to students in districts served by the program.
EducationLean peopleRef: Sec. 1, Plate #27 (Seattle Seahawks) and Sec. 3(2)
Potential Concerns (5)
The bill dedicates $30 renewal fees (after $2 admin cost) to electric charging station infrastructure, but the fee is optional and only paid by those who choose the plate; the environmental benefit is diffuse and not directly tied to emissions reductions or climate mitigation outcomes.
EnvironmentRef: Sec. 1, Plate #13 (Keep Washington Evergreen) and Sec. 4, Sec. 6Wildfire prevention funding from Smokey Bear plates ($28 net per renewal) is modest and unlikely to meaningfully scale DNR’s wildfire response capacity without broader funding increases.
Public SafetyRef: Sec. 1, Plate #33 (Smokey Bear) and Sec. 4, Sec. 10Volunteer firefighters must surrender plates if service ends before 10 years, creating a financial disincentive for those who leave early — disproportionately affecting lower-income volunteers who may rely on plate pride or identity, but receive no compensatory benefit.
Business & EmploymentRef: Sec. 1, Plate #21 (Professional Firefighters and Paramedics) and Sec. 2(3)The $45 initial / $30 renewal fee for Keep Kids Safe plates funds child abuse prevention, but the bill does not require outcome metrics or accountability for how funds are used, limiting transparency and effectiveness.
Public SafetyRef: Sec. 1, Plate #12 (Keep Kids Safe) and Sec. 3(2)While Purple Heart plates fund veteran support, the bill does not specify whether funds go to direct services (e.g., housing, mental health) or administrative overhead, and no data is provided on current unmet needs among Washington veterans — making impact uncertain.
Public SafetyRef: Sec. 1, Plate #22 (Purple Heart) and Sec. 4, Sec. 4
Who Is Most Affected
Low- and middle-income families with children who need speech therapy may gain access to free services; however, only those who voluntarily purchase the $45/$30 plate contribute to this fund, limiting scalability.
Rural and small-town communities without existing pickleball courts may gain new recreational infrastructure; cities must apply sequentially, so smaller or less-organized jurisdictions may be deprioritized.
Volunteer firefighters who serve ≥10 years retain plates; those who leave earlier lose them — creating a financial disincentive to continue service, especially for those with limited alternative benefits.
Nonprofits like Fred Hutch, Seattle Mariners, and Smokey Bear partners receive dedicated funding, but the bill does not require performance metrics or reporting — reducing accountability for outcomes.
The state collects $14–$45 per plate (after $12/$2 admin cost), but since plates are optional, revenue is self-selecting — wealthier, more engaged residents are more likely to purchase them, limiting broad-based public benefit.