This docum ent does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill sponsor or House of Representatives.
STORAGE NAME: h0141.TIE
DATE: 11/24/2021
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STAFF ANALYSIS
BILL #: HB 141 Motorcycle Specialty License Plates
SPONSOR(S): Salzman
TIED BILLS: HB 143 IDEN./SIM. BILLS:
REFERENCE ACTION ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR or
BUDGET/POLICY CHIEF
1) Tourism, Infrastructure & Energy Subcommittee Johnson Keating
2) Commerce Committee
SUMMARY ANALYSIS
Currently, 123 specialty license plates are available to any owner or lessee of a motor vehicle and one
specialty license plate is available to any owner or lessee of a motorcycle, subject to payment of an additional
annual use fee for each plate. The collected fees are distributed by the Department of Highway Safety and
Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) to statutorily designated organizations in support of a particular cause or charity.
The bill creates the Blue Angels motorcycle specialty license plate, requires DHSMV to issue the license plate
upon request, and authorizes the transfer of an existing license plate if a replacement vehicle is acquired. The
bill also provides for the design of the plate with “Florida” appearing at the top of the plate and an image of the
Blue Angels appearing on the far left side of the plate. DHSMV may also issue personal prestige plates for the
license plate.
The annual use fees from the sale of the plate are distributed to the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation.
HB 143 (2022), to which this bill is linked, authorizes for the taxes and fees required to obtain a Blue Angels
motorcycle specialty license plate, including an annual use fee of $20 and a $2 processing fee.
The bill will have a negative, but insignificant, fiscal impact to state expenditures associated with DHSMV’s
programming costs for the specialty license plate. These costs can be absorbed within existing resources.
The bill has an effective date of October 1, 2022, contingent upon HB 143 (2022) or similar legislation taking
effect, if such legislation is adopted in the same legislative session or extension thereof and becomes a law.
STORAGE NAME: h0141.TIE PAGE: 2
DATE: 11/24/2021
FULL ANALYSIS
I. SUBSTANTIVE ANALYSIS
A. EFFECT OF PROPOSED CHANGES:
Current Situation
Establishment of Specialty License Plates
If a specialty license plate requested by an organization is approved by law, the organization submits
its proposed art design to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) as soon as
practicable, but no later than 60 days after the act approving the plate becomes a law.
1
Within 120 days after the act approving the specialty license plate becomes law, DHSMV must
establish a method to issue a voucher allowing for the presale of the plate. A $5 processing fee,
2
a
service charge and branch fee,
3
and an annual use fee for the specialty license plate are charged for
the voucher. All other applicable fees are charged at the time the license plate is issued.
4
Within 24 months after establishing a presale specialty license plate voucher, the approved specialty
license plate must record with DHSMV a minimum of 3,000 voucher sales
5
before the license plate may
be manufactured. If the minimum sales requirement is not met at the conclusion of the 24-month
presale period, the specialty license plate is deauthorized and DHSMV discontinues the plate’s
development and the issuance of the presale vouchers. Upon deauthorization of the license plate or if
the plate has met the presale requirement but has not been issued, a purchaser of the license plate
voucher may use the annual use fee paid as a credit towards any other specialty license plate or may
apply for a refund.
6
Each request for a specialty license plate must be made annually to DHSMV or its authorized agent
accompanied by the appropriate tax and fees.
7
Motorcycle Specialty License Plates
Current law authorizes a reduced dimensions specialty license plate for display on motorcycles, upon
paying the appropriate license tax,
8
the license plate fee,
9
a $2 processing fee, and a $20 license plate
annual use fee.
10
The annual use fees are distributed equally to the Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Program Trust Fund,
Preserve Vision Florida, the Blind Services Foundation of Florida, the Florida Association of Centers for
Independent Living to support the James Patrick Memorial Work Incentive Personal Attendant Services
and Employment Assistance Program, and the Florida Association of Centers for Independent Living.
11
If a motorcycle owner or lessee to whom DHSMV has issued a motorcycle specialty license plate
acquires a replacement vehicle, DHSMV must authorize a transfer of the specialty license plate to the
replacement motorcycle.
12
The annual use fee or processing fee may not be refunded.
13
1
S. 320.08053(1), F.S.
2
The processing fee is prescribed in s. 320.08056, F.S.
3
Service charges and branch fees are prescribed in s. 320.04, F.S.
4
S. 320.08053(2)(a), F.S.
5
In the case of out-of-state college or university license plate, the license plate must register 4,000 voucher sales.
6
S. 320.08053(2)(b), F.S.
7
S. 320.08056(3), F.S.
8
The license tax is required under s. 320.08, F.S.
9
The license plate fee is required under s. 320.06(1)(b), F.S.
10
S. 320.08068, F.S.
11
S. 320.08068(4), F.S.
12
S. 320.0609, F.S.
13
S. 320.08068(5), F.S. STORAGE NAME: h0141.TIE PAGE: 3
DATE: 11/24/2021
The motorcycle specialty license plate is 4 inches wide by 7 inches long and incorporates a red, white,
and blue color scheme. DHSMV determines the maximum number of characters, including numerals
and letters, that may be on the plate. Motorcycle specialty license plates must be made of the same
material as standard license plates issued for any registration period. In small letters, the word “Florida”
must appear at the top of the plate.
14
DSHMV may issue personalized prestige plates for motorcycle specialty license plates.
15
Blue Angels
Since 1946, and based in Pensacola, the Blue Angels represent the United States Navy and Marine
Corps by showing the power of naval aviation. The Blue Angels consists of 140 world-class, active-duty
sailors and Marines, each one bringing experience and expertise from their service in the fleet.
16
Naval Aviation Museum Foundation
The Naval Aviation Museum Foundation supports the National Naval Aviation Museum and National
Flight Academy, which advance science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education for our
nation’s youth. The foundation promotes the history and heritage of naval aviation for current and future
generations.
17
The Naval Aviation Museum Foundation, Inc. is registered with the Department of State as a Florida
not-for-profit corporation.
18
HB 143 (2022)
HB 143 (2022) to which this bill is linked, creates s. 320.08781, F.S., requiring the following taxes and
fees to be collected for the Blue Angels specialty license plate:
The existing license tax.
19
An existing license plate fee.
20
A processing fee of $2.
An annual use fee of $20.
Effect of the Bill
The bill creates the Blue Angels motorcycle specialty license plate.
21
DHSMV must develop a reduced-
dimensions version of the existing Blue Angels specialty license plate for display on motorcycles.
Under the bill, DHSMV must issue a Blue Angels specialty license plate to the owner or lessee of any
motorcycle upon request. Each request must be made annually to DHSMV, accompanied by the taxes
and fees established in HB 143 (2022), which includes a $20 annual use fee and a $2 processing fee.
The annual use fees from the sale of the plate are distributed to the Naval Aviation Museum
Foundation.
14
S. 320.08068(6), F.S.
15
S. 320.08068(7), F.S.
16
Blue Angels Website, Message from the Commanding Officer, https://www.blueangels.navy.mil/default.htm (last visited Oct. 28,
2021).
17
Naval Aviation Museum Foundation, Who We Are, https://navalaviationfoundation.org/who-we-are/ (last visited Oct. 14, 2021)
18
Department of State, The Naval Aviation Museum Foundation, Inc.,
https://search.sunbiz.org/Inquiry/CorporationSearch/SearchResultDetail?inquirytype=EntityName&directionType=Initial&searchNameOr
der=NAVALAVIATIONMUSEUMFOUNDATION%207119151&aggregateId=domnp -711915-5404ccba-a444-4087-baa7-
806a7f12e637&searchTerm=Naval%20Aviation&listNameOrder=NAVALAVIATIONLEGACYFOUNDATION%20N060000061800 (last
visited Oct. 18, 2021).
19
The license tax is required under s. 320.08, F.S.
20
The license plate fee is required by s. 320.06(1)(b), F.S.
21
Section 320.08058(90), F.S., creates the existing Blue Angels specialty license plate for motor vehicles. STORAGE NAME: h0141.TIE PAGE: 4
DATE: 11/24/2021
If the owner or lessee to whom DHSMV has issued a Blue Angels specialty license plate acquires a
replacement vehicle within the owner’s registration period, DHSMV must authorize the transfer of the
plate to the replacement vehicle. The $20 annual use fee and the $2 processing fee may not be
refunded.
The plate must be 4 inches wide by 7 inches long and incorporate an image of the Blue Angels
approved by DHSMV and may bear the imprint of numerals 1 to 999, inclusive, capital letters “A”
through “Z,” or a combination thereof. The maximum number of characters is four, including letters and
numerals, and the design must be printed on the far left side of the plate. The Blue Angels motorcycle
specialty license plate must be made of the same material as standard license plates issued for any
registration period. In small letters, the word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate.
DHSMV may issue personalized prestige plates for the Blue Angels specialty license plate, which must
be issued in accordance with Florida law governing such plates.
The bill has an effective date of October 1, 2022, contingent upon HB 143 (2022) or similar legislation
taking effect, if such legislation is adopted in the same legislative session or an extension thereof and
becomes a law.
B. SECTION DIRECTORY:
Section 1 Creates s. 320.0878, F.S., creating the Blue Angels motorcycle specialty license plate.
Section 2 Provides a contingent effective date.
II. FISCAL ANALYSIS & ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT
A. FISCAL IMPACT ON STATE GOVERNMENT:
1. Revenues:
None.
2. Expenditures:
The bill will have a negative, but insignificant, fiscal impact on DHSMV associated with
programming costs. These costs can be absorbed within existing resources.
B. FISCAL IMPACT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
1. Revenues:
None.
2. Expenditures:
None.
C. DIRECT ECONOMIC IMPACT ON PRIVATE SECTOR:
The Naval Aviation Museum Foundation may see an increase in revenues associated with the sale of
this license plate.
D. FISCAL COMMENTS:
None.
STORAGE NAME: h0141.TIE PAGE: 5
DATE: 11/24/2021
III. COMMENTS
A. CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES:
1. Applicability of Municipality/County Mandates Provision:
Not applicable. This bill does not appear to affect county or municipal governments.
2. Other:
None.
B. RULE-MAKING AUTHORITY:
This bill does not require or authorize rulemaking.
C. DRAFTING ISSUES OR OTHER COMMENTS:
None.
IV. AMENDMENTS/ COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE CHANGES
Not Applicable.