SB 189 Ohio Senate · 136th Legislature (2025-2026)

Create the COSI specialty license plate

SB 189 creates a new specialty license plate design featuring the COSI (Columbus Science Center) logo for Ohio vehicle owners. The bill amends Ohio Revised Code sections to establish this plate as an option for drivers who choose to purchase it. Vehicle owners who select this plate would pay an additional fee, with proceeds supporting the COSI science center. This is a procedural bill focused solely on plate design, not broader policy changes.

Issues: ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Apr 2025

Committee Review

Oct 2025

Senate Passage

Oct 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Apr 30, 2025 Last action Oct 15, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

As Introduced → As Passed by the Senate · 8 edits · Oct 8, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was significantly expanded from its original version by adding numerous new specialty license plate programs and their associated funding allocations. The Senate version includes over 100 additional license plate programs supporting various causes including healthcare, education, veterans, schools, and nonprofits, while also adding new sections for COSI license plate fees and administrative procedures. This expansion substantially increases the potential revenue from specialty plates and diversifies the causes supported through this funding mechanism.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded dramatically from creating a single COSI license plate program to establishing over 100 different specialty license plate programs with specific funding allocations to various organizations, causes, and institutions across Ohio.

FISCAL

Added 100+ new specialty license plate programs with specific funding allocations to various organizations including hospitals, schools, nonprofits, and government entities

Created new sections 4503.742 establishing COSI license plate registration requirements, fees, and administrative procedures

Added $25 contribution fee for COSI license plates with $10 administrative fee to fund additional registrar services

Added provisions for investment earnings distribution to all license plate fund recipients proportionally based on their annual contributions

Added specific provisions for multiple school districts to use contributions for student mental health services, counseling, and educational programs

ELIGIBILITY

Added numerous new eligible recipients including schools, universities, hospitals, nonprofits, and government entities that can receive license plate contributions

TECHNICAL

Reorganized and expanded the license plate contribution fund structure with more detailed administrative provisions

REQUIREMENT

Added requirements for certain recipients to enter into agreements with the registrar and restrictions on using funds for political purposes

Floor votes · Senate Oct 8, 2025

How they voted

28–0

Passed

Total votes 28

Oct 8, 2025

D Democratic8

8 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican20

20 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Oct 15, 2025

Committee

Referred to committee

lower

Oct 14, 2025

Introduced

lower

Oct 8, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed

upper

May 7, 2025

Committee

Referred to committee

upper

Apr 30, 2025

Introduced

upper

1 primary · 4 co-sponsors