SB 327 New Mexico Senate · 2025 Regular Session

LOWRIDER CAPITAL LICENSE PLATE

SB 327 creates a "Lowrider Capital of the World" special license plate for vehicles, trailers, and motorcycles in New Mexico, directly affecting vehicle owners who choose to apply for it. Owners pay an initial fee ($50 for cars/trucks/tow trailers, $40 for motorcycles) plus a $20 annual renewal, with fees funding both plate production and cultural programs through the Cultural Affairs Department. The bill includes a sunset provision: starting in 2029, plate issuance for any category will stop if annual demand falls below 50% of 2026-2027 averages. This bill was passed by the House but vetoed on April 11, 2025, and did not become law.

Bill status vetoed 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Mar 2025

Vetoed

Apr 2025

Introduced Feb 10, 2025 Vetoed Apr 11, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

introduced version → Final Version · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill creates a special 'Lowrider Capital of the World' registration plate for motor vehicles, tow trailers, and motorcycles in New Mexico. The final version clarifies the fee structure, revenue distribution to the cultural affairs department, and establishes a sunset mechanism that stops issuing plates if demand falls below a certain threshold after 2028.

Scope change

The bill now explicitly includes motorcycles as eligible vehicles for the special plate, whereas the introduced version had ambiguous language about motorcycles.

ELIGIBILITY

Added explicit eligibility for motorcycles to receive the special lowrider registration plate alongside motor vehicles and tow trailers.

FISCAL

Changed revenue distribution amounts: motor vehicle/tow trailer fees now send $12 to the division and $38 to cultural affairs; motorcycle fees now send $7 to the division and $33 to cultural affairs.

REQUIREMENT

Added a sunset provision requiring the division to stop issuing plates in 2029 if annual issuance drops below 50% of the 2026-2027 average.

TIMELINE

Changed the sunset review date from July 1, 2028 to fiscal year 2029, and clarified the comparison period for determining plate demand.

TECHNICAL

Removed bracketed markup instructions and page numbers that were part of the introduced version's formatting but not part of the final bill text.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 13, 2025 · House Mar 21, 2025

How they voted

38–0

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 40

Mar 13, 2025

D Democratic24

23 Yea 1

95% Yea

R Republican16

15 Yea 1

93% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 11, 2025

Vetoed

executive

Mar 21, 2025

Lower · Passed

passed House

lower

Mar 21, 2025

Lower · Passed

DO PASS committee report adopted

lower

Mar 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

DO PASS committee report adopted

lower

Mar 14, 2025

Introduced

Sent to House Transportation, Public Works & Capital Improvements Committee & House Appropriations & Finance Committee

lower

Mar 13, 2025

Upper · Passed

passed Senate

upper

Mar 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

DO PASS committee report adopted

upper

Mar 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

DO PASS committee report adopted

upper

Feb 10, 2025

Introduced

Sent to Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee & Senate Finance Committee

upper

2 primary · 0 co-sponsors