MTR VEHICLE/LICEN PLATES: Creates the "Classic Black" specialty license plate
HB 801 creates a "Classic Black" specialty license plate for Louisiana motor vehicles, available to any Louisiana resident who applies for it. The plate features a black background with white numbers and "LOUISIANA" at the top, and requires a $25 annual fee (plus $3.50 handling) on top of standard license taxes. All fees collected will fund emergency vehicle operations training for local governments at the Donald J. Thibodeaux Training Center in Holden. The plate is restricted to passenger cars, pickup trucks, RVs, motorcycles, and vans, but requires at least 1,000 applicants before issuance.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Apr 2026
House Passage
May 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
Signed into Law
May 2026
Introduced Feb 27, 2026
Signed May 15, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons
What changed between versions
HB801 Original
→
HB801 Act
·
2 edits
MINOR
The bill was amended to change the name of the specialty license plate from 'Classic Black' to 'Classic Black We Will Never Forget: Caroline and Maggie' to honor specific individuals. Additionally, the destination for the revenue generated by the plate fees was updated from the training center in Holden to the training center in Zachary.
Scope change
The scope of the bill was modified to include a specific commemorative title for the license plate and to change the administrative location where the collected fees are deposited.
DEFINITION
The name of the specialty license plate was changed from 'Classic Black' to 'Classic Black We Will Never Forget: Caroline and Maggie'.
FISCAL
The location where the annual royalty fees are forwarded was changed from the Donald J. Thibodeaux Training Center in Holden to the Donald J. Thibodeaux Training Center in Zachary.
Floor votes · Senate Apr 29, 2026 · House Mar 18, 2026
How they voted
34–0
Passed · 6 other
Total votes 40
Apr 29, 2026
D
Democratic12
75% Yea
R
Republican28
89% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
22
Key actions
5
Committee
5
May 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read by title, roll called, yeas 93, nays 0. The Senate amendments, having received two-thirds vote of the elected members, were concurred in.
lower
Apr 29, 2026
Upper · Passed
Rules suspended. Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title, passed by a vote of 32 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
upper
Apr 20, 2026
Committee
Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
upper
Apr 15, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably.
upper
Mar 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 93, nays 1. The bill, having received two-thirds vote of the elected members, was finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
lower
Mar 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported with amendments (12-0).
lower
Mar 9, 2026
Committee
Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works.
lower
Feb 27, 2026
Committee
Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works.
lower
1 primary · 59 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Chasity Martinez
DDemocratic
Co
Adam Bass
RRepublican
Co
Adrian Fisher
DDemocratic
Co
Alan Seabaugh
RRepublican
Co
Annie Spell
RRepublican
Co
Barbara Carpenter
DDemocratic
Co
Barbara Freiberg
RRepublican
Co
Beau Beaullieu
RRepublican
Co
Beth Billings
RRepublican
Co
Beth Mizell
RRepublican
Co
Bill Wheat
RRepublican
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