SB 5444 Washington Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Creating several new special license plates.

This bill establishes a temporary moratorium on most new special license plates until January 1, 2029, though it allows for special plates specifically created within this act. It creates a Special License Work Group within the Department of Licensing to review the current special license plate program. This work group will develop recommendations by 2028 to improve the application process, cost management, transparency of funds

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

May 2025

Introduced Jan 23, 2025 Signed May 20, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Substitute Bill → Substitute Passed Legislature · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was finalized with minor formatting adjustments and a critical policy shift regarding youth sports funding. The most significant change is the repeal of the 'Sports mentoring program' (RCW 43.388.040), which previously required 75% of certain license plate fees to support youth with economic needs. The new version removes this specific program and its associated funding requirements while retaining the expiration of the general special license plate moratorium.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed by removing the legal authority and funding mandate for the specific 'Sports mentoring program' established under RCW 43.388.040.

FISCAL

The requirement to allocate 75% of specific license plate fees to the 'Sports mentoring program' was removed, and the underlying RCW section establishing that program was repealed.

The text describing funding for the 'Seattle NHL hockey' program was updated to remove strike-through formatting, clarifying the final allocation percentages.

TECHNICAL

Minor formatting corrections were made to the bill header, including adding a 'Certification of Enrollment' page and adjusting the text describing the creation of new sections.

Bill → Substitute Bill · 8 edits

MODERATE

This bill was amended to address concerns about the high cost and uncertainty of creating new special license plates. The changes introduce a moratorium on issuing new special plates until January 1, 2029, establish a work group to review the program's effectiveness, and update the list of available plates to include new options like 'Donate Life' and 'Seattle Reign FC' while removing others. Additionally, the act now includes an expiration date for the new review mechanisms.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include a temporary moratorium on new special license plates and a mandated review process to ensure the program remains cost-effective and effective.

REQUIREMENT

Added a moratorium preventing the department from issuing any new special license plates until January 1, 2029, except for those created under this specific act.

Created a special license work group to review the current special license plate process and make recommendations by January 1, 2028.

Modified the requirements for volunteer firefighter license plates, clarifying service duration and retention rules.

TIMELINE

Added an expiration date for the new review and oversight mechanisms, set to expire on January 15, 2028.

Adjusted the effective date for most new sections to November 1, 2025, and established a phased implementation schedule for new plates based on signature collection dates.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for special license plates such as 'Donate Life', 'Seattle Reign FC', 'Washington state honey bees and pollinators', and 'Historical throwback'.

Removed definitions for special license plates including 'Endangered wildlife', 'Fred Hutch', 'Horseless carriage', 'Keep kids safe', 'Keep Washington evergreen', 'Law enforcement memorial', 'LeMay-America's Car Museum', 'Mount St. Helens', 'Music matters', 'Nautical Northwest', 'Patches pal', 'Professional firefighters and paramedics', 'Purple Heart', 'Ride share', 'San Juan Islands', 'Seattle Mariners', 'Seattle NHL hockey', 'Seattle Seahawks', 'Seattle Sounders FC', 'Seattle Storm', 'Seattle University', 'Share the road', 'Ski & ride Washington', 'Smokey Bear', 'Square dancer', 'State flower', 'State sport', 'United States Naval Academy', 'Volunteer firefighters', 'Washington apples', 'Washington farmers and ranchers', 'Washington lighthouses', 'Washington state aviation', 'Washington state parks', 'Washington state wrestling', 'Washington tennis', 'Washington wine', 'Washington's fish collection', 'Washington's national parks', 'Washington's wildlife collection', 'We love our pets', 'Wild on Washington', and 'Working forests'.

FISCAL

Updated the distribution of funds for several existing special license plates, including changes to how proceeds from the Seattle Seahawks, Seattle Sounders FC, and Seattle Storm plates are allocated.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 25, 2025 · House Apr 24, 2025

How they voted

49–1

Passed

Total votes 50

Apr 25, 2025

D Democratic30

30 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican20

19 Yea 1 Nay

95% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 20, 2025

Signed into law

Governor signed.

executive

Apr 26, 2025

Lower · Passed

Speaker signed.

lower

Apr 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

President signed.

upper

Apr 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed final passage; yeas, 47; nays, 1; absent, 0; excused, 0.

upper

Apr 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

Senate concurred in House amendments.

upper

Apr 24, 2025

Lower · Passed

Floor amendment(s) adopted.

lower

Apr 24, 2025

Amended

Committee amendment not adopted.

lower

Apr 23, 2025

Committee

Referred to Rules 2 Review.

lower

Apr 23, 2025

Lower · Passed

TR - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).

lower

Apr 23, 2025

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Transportation at 9:00 AM.

lower

Apr 22, 2025

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Transportation at 9:00 AM.

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Upper · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

upper

Apr 8, 2025

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Transportation at 1:30 PM.

upper

Apr 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Transportation at 1:30 PM.

upper

Feb 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Transportation at 4:00 PM.

upper

1 primary · 5 co-sponsors