SHB 1931
In CommitteeHouse
Special license plate funds
Modifying the conditions for use of funds for 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 clarifies how money from Washington’s special license plates is collected, administered, and distributed. It sets clear limits on administrative costs, defines how remaining funds go to specific programs, and ensures most money reaches the intended beneficiaries directly.
- The Department of Licensing may deduct up to $12 for initial issuance and $2 for renewal of special license plates to cover administrative costs before sending the rest to the state treasurer.
- Once the state is reimbursed for implementation costs, remaining fees are credited to specific accounts supporting designated programs (e.g., 4-H, Fred Hutch cancer research, Seattle Seahawks youth programs).
- Each special license plate account has strict conditions on how funds may be used, including requirements that at least 90% of funds go directly to program services for youth or beneficiaries.
- Funds are disbursed through contracts between the Department of Licensing and qualified nonprofits (501(c)(3) organizations operating in Washington).
- The Seattle Seahawks and Seattle Mariners accounts have special rules: Seahawks funds support the Washington state leadership board for the Washington world fellows program, and Mariners funds support the sports mentoring program, both with minimum thresholds for direct service to youth.
Who is affected
- **Washington State Department of Licensing** — Collects special license plate fees and deducts up to $12 for initial issuance and $2 for renewal to cover administrative costs before forwarding remaining funds to the state treasurer.
- **State Treasurer's Office** — Manages and disburses funds from special license plate accounts to designated nonprofit organizations and state programs, following specific conditions and contracts.
- **Students, youth, and families** — Provides scholarships, mentoring, sports access, and other youth development services to students, athletes, and underserved youth across the state.
- **Volunteer firefighters and their families** — Supports volunteer firefighters, their families, and others in need through charitable funding and assistance programs.
- **Lighthouse volunteers and environmental education programs** — Receives funding to support environmental education, lighthouse preservation, and public access to historic lighthouses.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (5)
The bill mandates that at least 90% of funds in most accounts (e.g., 4-H, Gonzaga, Seattle University, Washington tennis, Ski & Ride Washington) go directly to program services — ensuring that the vast majority of revenue supports youth education, mentorship, and STEM access across the state.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 1(2) & (4)Funds are directed to high-need services such as free speech-language therapy for underserved children, cancer research at Fred Hutch, and support for families of fallen law enforcement — directly improving health equity and social safety nets.
HealthcarePeopleRef: Sec. 1(2) (Helping kids speak, San Juan Islands, Patches pal, etc.)Provides critical financial support to volunteer fire departments and their families, helping sustain rural emergency response capacity where public funding is often insufficient.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(2) (Volunteer firefighters, Washington state council of firefighters benevolent fund)Supports environmental education, lighthouse preservation, and pet population control through spay/neuter programs — contributing to public health, biodiversity, and community well-being.
EnvironmentPeopleRef: Sec. 1(2) (Share the road, Ski & ride Washington, We love our pets)Youth-focused accounts (e.g., sports mentoring, boundless Washington, boundless hockey access) prioritize underserved and disabled youth, expanding access to recreation, mentorship, and leadership development — though implementation quality will determine real-world impact.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 1(2) (Seattle Seahawks, Mariners, Storm, Sounders, NHL accounts)
Potential Concerns (5)
Capped administrative costs ($12 initial / $2 renewal) reduce overhead for the Department of Licensing, but may strain local licensing offices if actual costs exceed the cap — particularly in rural counties with higher per-unit operational costs and lower plate volume.
Local GovernmentRef: Sec. 1(1)(b)The bill does not include enforceable performance or outcome metrics for programs receiving funds (e.g., youth retention, academic improvement, cancer research outputs), limiting accountability and making it difficult to assess whether public investment yields measurable benefits.
Public SafetyRef: Sec. 1(5) & (6)By requiring contracts only with 501(c)(3) nonprofits, the bill excludes for-profit social enterprises, cooperatives, and community-based for-profit providers — even if they deliver equivalent or superior services at lower cost — potentially limiting innovation and competition in service delivery.
Business & EmploymentRef: Sec. 1(2)The bill designates specific sports franchises or their affiliated foundations as primary recipients, reinforcing institutional relationships with large professional sports organizations without requiring competitive bidding or performance review — potentially entrenching inequitable access to public funding across sectors.
Business & EmploymentRef: Sec. 1(2) (Seattle Seahawks, Mariners, Sounders, Storm, NHL accounts)Some accounts (e.g., Washington apples, Washington farmers and ranchers) fund industry-specific associations or foundations that serve narrow economic interests rather than broad public goods, blurring the line between public subsidy and private benefit.
Business & EmploymentRef: Sec. 1(2) (Volunteer firefighters, Washington FFA, Tree Fruit Industry, etc.)
Who Is Most Affected
Youth and families — especially low-income, rural, or disabled — benefit from expanded access to mentoring, sports, education, and health services through programs like 4-H, Fred Hutch, and sports mentoring. However, benefits depend on program quality and geographic access.
Volunteer firefighters and their families gain critical financial support for operations, equipment, and survivor benefits — vital for sustaining rural emergency services where state funding is limited.
Large professional sports organizations (Seahawks, Mariners, Sounders, Storm, NHL) and their designated foundations gain guaranteed access to public revenue streams, reinforcing institutional partnerships and potentially crowding out smaller, community-based sports programs.
Nonprofit service providers (501(c)(3)) benefit from expanded funding streams, but must navigate contracting requirements and may face competition from other nonprofits — while for-profits and co-ops are excluded despite potentially superior service delivery.
State agencies (DOL, Treasurer, DOT, etc.) gain clarity in fund administration but face new reporting and contracting responsibilities; no net cost to state, but increased operational burden on local licensing offices in low-volume counties.