This docum ent does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill sponsor or House of Representatives.
STORAGE NAME: h1671a.TMS
DATE: 1/31/2024
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STAFF ANALYSIS
BILL #: CS/HB 1671 Specialty License Plates
SPONSOR(S): Transportation & Modals Subcommittee, Michael, and others
TIED BILLS: IDEN./SIM. BILLS: CS/SB 934
REFERENCE ACTION ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR or
BUDGET/POLICY CHIEF
1) Transportation & Modals Subcommittee 14 Y, 0 N, As CS Walker Hinshelwood
2) Infrastructure Strategies Committee
SUMMARY ANALYSIS
As of November 2023, there are 114 specialty license plates available for sale and an additional 31 in presale.
Specialty license plates are available to the owner or lessee of any motor vehicle who is willing to pay an
annual use fee, in addition to the required license tax and fees. 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 Cure Diabetes license plate, with an annual use fee of $25. The plate must bear DHSMV-
approved colors and designs, with “Florida” appearing at the top of the plate and “Cure Diabetes” appearing at
the bottom of the plate. The annual use fees from the sale of the plate must be distributed equally to the
Diabetes Research Institute Foundation, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and the University of
Florida Diabetes Institute.
The bill will have a negative, but insignificant, fiscal impact to state expenditures associated with DHSMV’s
programming costs for the specialty license plate.
The bill has an effective date of October 1, 2024. STORAGE NAME: h1671a.TMS PAGE: 2
DATE: 1/31/2024
FULL ANALYSIS
I. SUBSTANTIVE ANALYSIS
A. EFFECT OF PROPOSED CHANGES:
Current Situation
Specialty License Plates
As of November 2023, there are 114 specialty license plates available for sale and an additional 31 in
presale.
1
Specialty license plates are available to the owner or lessee of any motor vehicle who is
willing to pay an annual use fee, in addition to the required license tax and fees.
2
The annual use fees
range from $15-$25,
3
and are distributed directly to the sponsoring organization or other entity as
designated in statute.
4
In order to establish a specialty license plate, an organization must first receive approval by law. Once
this approval has been granted, the organization has 60 days to submit the proposed art design for the
specialty license plate to DHSMV.
5
Within 120 days of the specialty license plate becoming law,
DHSMV must establish a method to issue presale vouchers for the specialty license plate. The
applicant for a specialty license plate pays a $5 processing fee
6
, a $2.50 service charge, a $.50 branch
fee
7
, and the annual use fee.
8
All other applicable fees are paid at the time of issuance of the specialty
license plate.
9
After the presale vouchers are established, the organization has 24 months to obtain a minimum of
3,000 voucher sales before manufacturing of the plate can begin.
10
If the minimum sales requirement
has not been met by the end of the 24-month presale period, the specialty license plate is deauthorized
and DHSMV must discontinue the development of the plate and 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.
11
New specialty license plates that have been approved by law but are awaiting issuance will be issued
in the order they appear in s. 320.08058, F.S., provided that they have met all statutory requirements,
including the presale requirement. If the next listed specialty license plate has not met the presale
requirement, DHSMV will proceed in the order provided in s. 320.08058, F.S., to identify the next
qualified specialty license plate that has met the presale requirement. DHSMV must cycle through the
list in statutory order.
12
The number of specialty license plates issued cannot exceed 135. If the Legislature approves more
than 135 specialty license plates, DHSMV cannot issue any new specialty license plates until a
sufficient number of plates are discontinued in order to not exceed the limit.
13
1
Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Agency Analysis of 2024 House Bill 403, p. 2 (Nov. 13, 2023).
2
S. 320.08056(2)(a), F.S.
3
S. 320.08056(3)(d), F.S., states that the annual use fee for any specialty license plate is $25, except if otherwise
specified in s. 320.08056(4), F.S.
4
S. 320.08058, F.S.
5
S. 320.08053(1), F.S.
6
The processing fee is prescribed in s. 320.08056, F.S.
7
The service charge and branch fee are prescribed in s. 320.04, F.S.
8
The annual use fee us prescribed in s. 320.08056, F.S.
9
S. 320.08053(2)(a), F.S.
10
Chapter 2022-189, Laws of Fla., extended the presale requirement by an additional 24 months for an approved
specialty license plate organization that, as of June 15, 2022, is in the presale period but had not recorded at least 3,000
voucher sales.
11
S. 320.08053(2)(b), F.S.
12
S. 320.08053(3)(a), F.S.
13
S. 320.08053(3)(b), F.S. STORAGE NAME: h1671a.TMS PAGE: 3
DATE: 1/31/2024
Except for collegiate license plates authorized by s. 320.08058(3), F.S., DHSMV must discontinue the
issuance of an approved specialty license plate if the number of valid specialty license plate registrants
falls below 3,000 plates for 12 consecutive months. A warning letter is mailed to the sponsoring
organization following the first month in which the total number of valid specialty plate registrations falls
below 3,000. For out-of-state college or university plates, this number is 4,000.
14
This requirement does
not apply to in-state collegiate license plates established under s. 320.08058(3), F.S., license plates of
institutions in and entities of the State University System, specialty license plates that have statutory
eligibility limitations for purchase, specialty license plates for which annual use fees are distributed by a
foundation for student and teacher leadership programs and teacher recruitment and retention, or
Florida professional sports team license plates established under s. 320.08058(9), F.S.
15
DHSMV may discontinue the issuance of a specialty license plate and distribution of associated annual
use fee proceeds if the organization no longer exists, stops providing services that are authorized to be
funded from the annual use fee proceeds, or pursuant to an organizational recipient’s request.
16
On January 1 of each year, DHSMV must discontinue the specialty license plate with the fewest
number of plates in circulation, including specialty license plates exempt from the sales requirement. A
warning letter is mailed to the organizations in the lowest ten percent of valid, active specialty license
plate registrations as of December 1 of each year.
17
Use of Specialty License Plate Fees
The annual use fees collected by an organization and any interest earned from those fees may not be
used for commercial or for-profit activities, or general or administrative expenses, unless authorized by
s. 320.08058, F.S.
18
Further, the annual use fees and interest earned from those fees may not be used
for the purpose of marketing to, or lobbying, entertaining, or rewarding an employee of a governmental
agency that is responsible for the sale and distribution of specialty license plates, or any elected
member or employee of the Legislature.
19
Annual use fees collected by an organization and any interest earned from those fees may be
expended only in Florida, unless the annual use fees are derived from the sale of United States Armed
Forces or veterans-related specialty license plates.
20
Additionally, organizations receiving annual use
fees must submit an annual audit or attestation document to DHSMV that proceeds were used in
compliance with the applicable specialty license plate statutes.
21
The Diabetes Research Institute Foundation, Inc.
The Diabetes Research Institute Foundation, Inc. is a Florida not-for-profit corporation registered with
the Florida Department of State (DOS)
22
with a mission to provide the funding necessary to cure
diabetes through research.
23
The Diabetes Research Institute is a designated Center of Excellence at
14
S. 320.08056(8)(a), F.S.
15
Id.
16
S. 320.08056(8)(b), F.S.
17
S. 320.08056(8)(f), F.S.
18
S. 320.08056(10)(a), F.S.
19
S. 320.08056(11), F.S.
20
S. 320.08056 (10)(a), F.S.
21
S. 320.08062, F.S. Annual use fees may be used to pay for the cost of this required audit or report. See s.
320.08056(10)(a), F.S.
22
The Diabetes Research Institute Foundation, Inc., Articles of Incorporation,
https://search.sunbiz.org/Inquiry/CorporationSearch/SearchResultDetail?inquirytype=EntityName&directionType=Initial&s
earchNameOrder=DIABETESRESEARCHINSTITUTEFOUND%207298461&aggregateId=domnp -729846-215a7797-
ce70-42a0-821f-
1c4bdfb16616&searchTerm=The%20Diabetes%20Research%20Institute%20Foundation&listNameOrder=DIABETESRE
SEARCHINSTITUTEFOUND%207298461 (last visited Jan. 29, 2024).
23
Diabetes Research Institute Foundation, About Us, https://diabetesresearch.org/about-dri-foundation/ (last visited Jan.
29, 2024). STORAGE NAME: h1671a.TMS PAGE: 4
DATE: 1/31/2024
the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, providing informative education and training
programs for many types of health care professionals and industry representatives.
24
JDRF International Incorporated
JDRF International Incorporated is an international, non-profit organization registered with the DOS.
25
The foundation has a Northern and Southern Florida Chapter. The local chapters serve as the hub of
foundation information and events held in the area.
26
JDRF International Incorporated is dedicated to
raising funds to support and promote Type 1 diabetes research.
27
The University of Florida (UF) Foundation, Inc.
The UF Foundation, Inc. is a Florida not for profit registered with the DOS.
28
The UF Foundation, Inc.
supports the UF Diabetes Institute that was founded in 2015 and serves as the umbrella organization
for diabetes research, treatment, and education coordinated at UF and UF Health. Researchers and
physicians affiliated with the Diabetes Institute are working to prevent, diagnose and treat diabetes in a
wide array of areas, including immunology, genetics, endocrinology, metabolism, pediatrics, and social
sciences.
29
Effect of the Bill
The bill creates the Cure Diabetes license plate, with an annual use fee of $25
30
. The plate must bear
DHSMV-approved colors and designs, with “Florida” appearing at the top of the plate and “Cure
Diabetes” appearing at the bottom of the plate.
The annual use fees from the sale of the plate must be distributed equally to the following
organizations:
The Diabetes Research Foundation, which supports the Diabetes Research Institute at the
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine;
The JDRF International Incorporated, which supports the JDRF Northern Florida Chapter; and
The University of Florida Foundation, Inc., which supports the University of Florida Diabetes
Institute.
Each organization may use up to 10 percent of the proceeds received by the organization to promote
and market the plate. All remaining proceeds must be used for the purpose of funding research to cure
type 1 diabetes.
24
Diabetes Research Institute, About Us, https://diabetesresearch.org/about-dri/ (last visited Jan. 29, 2024).
25
JDRF International Incorporated, Articles of Incorporation,
https://search.sunbiz.org/Inquiry/CorporationSearch/SearchResultDetail?inquirytype=EntityName&directionType=Initial&s
earchNameOrder=JUVENILEDIABETESRESEARCHFOUNDA%208331742&aggregateId=fornp -833174-b7f1f564-4580-
4f2e-ab1a-
4d6392cbf27e&searchTerm=The%20Juvenile%20Diabetes%20Research%20Foundation&listNameOrder=JUVENILEDIA
BETESRESEARCHFOUNDA%207298460 (last visited Jan. 29, 2024).
26
JDRF, Northern Florida Chapter, https://www.jdrf.org/northernflorida/ (last visited Jan. 29, 2024). See also JDRF,
Southern Florida Chapter, https://www.jdrf.org/southernflorida/ (last visited Jan. 29, 2024).
27
JDRF, About JDRF,https://www.jdrf.org/about/?_ga=2.216079830.1597347397.1666008274-1688791745.1661161232
(last visited Jan. 29, 2024).
28
University of Florida Foundation, Inc., Articles of
Incorporation,https://search.sunbiz.org/Inquiry/CorporationSearch/SearchResultDetail?inquirytype=EntityName&directionT
ype=Initial&searchNameOrder=UNIVERSITYFLORIDAFOUNDATION%207066761&aggregateId=domnp -706676-
0326352e-c135-4f57-9430-
b6f7499776e3&searchTerm=The%20University%20of%20Florida%20Foundation%2C%20Inc&listNameOrder=UNIVERSI
TYFLORIDAFOUNDATION%207066760 (last visited Jan. 29, 2024).
29
University of Florida Diabetes Institute, About the UF Diabetes Institute, https://diabetes.ufl.edu/about-us/ (last visited
Jan. 29, 2024).
30
S. 320.08056(3)(d), F.S. STORAGE NAME: h1671a.TMS PAGE: 5
DATE: 1/31/2024
This license plate will be added to DHSMV’s presale voucher process, but the plate will only be placed
into production once it meets the 3,000 minimum sales threshold
31
and if the 135 plate cap is not
reached.
32
The bill has an effective date of October 1, 2024.
B. SECTION DIRECTORY:
Section 1 Amends s. 320.08058, F.S., relating to specialty license plates.
Section 2 Provides an effective date of October 1, 2024.
II. FISCAL ANALYSIS & ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT
A. FISCAL IMPACT ON STATE GOVERNMENT:
1. Revenues:
None.
2. Expenditures:
DSHMV will need to update its procedures, forms, and website to incorporate this additional license
plate. Additionally, programming will be required for DHSMV to accept presale vouchers for the
license plate. According to DHSMV, this specialty license plate with one distribution will require
approximately 216 hours of programming. This programming can be done using existing
resources.
33
B. FISCAL IMPACT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
1. Revenues:
None.
2. Expenditures:
None.
C. DIRECT ECONOMIC IMPACT ON PRIVATE SECTOR:
Once the license plate goes into production, the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation, The JDRF
International Incorporated, and the UF Foundation, Inc. may see an increase in revenues associated
with the sale of this license plate.
D. FISCAL COMMENTS:
None.
III. COMMENTS
A. CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES:
1. Applicability of Municipality/County Mandates Provision:
Not applicable. This bill does not appear to impact county or municipal governments.
31
S. 320.08053(2)(b), F.S.
32
S. 320.08053(3)(b), F.S.
33
DHSMV, supra note 1 at pp. 5-6. STORAGE NAME: h1671a.TMS PAGE: 6
DATE: 1/31/2024
2. Other:
None.
B. RULE-MAKING AUTHORITY:
The bill does not require or authorize rulemaking.
C. DRAFTING ISSUES OR OTHER COMMENTS:
None.
IV. AMENDMENTS/COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE CHANGES
On January 31, 2024, the Transportation & Modals Subcommittee considered one amendment, which was
adopted, and reported the bill favorably as a committee substitute. The amendment aligns the names of the
recipient entities with their legal names.
The analysis is drafted to the committee substitute as approved by the Transportation & Modals
Subcommittee.