The Florida Senate
BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(This document is based on the provisions contained in the legislation as of the latest date listed below.)
Prepared By: The Professional Staff of the Committee on Transportation
BILL: CS/SB 620
INTRODUCER: Transportation Committee and Senator Rodriguez
SUBJECT: Specialty License Plates/Miami Dade College
DATE: March 4, 2025
ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR REFERENCE ACTION
1. Shutes Vickers TR Fav/CS
2. ATD
3. FP
I. Summary:
CS/SB 620 authorizes the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) to
create a new specialty license plate for Miami Dade College. The annual use fee for the plate is
$25.
Proceeds of the sale of the Miami Dade College specialty license plate will be distributed to the
Miami Dade College Foundation, Inc. to fund student scholarships.
The DHSMV estimates programming and implementation of the plate will cost $8,280. See
Section V., Fiscal Impact Statement.
The bill takes effect October 1, 2025.
II. Present Situation:
Miami Dade College Foundation, Inc.
Miami Dade College Foundation Inc. is a Florida not-for-profit corporation registered with the
Florida Department of State.
1
The organization’s website includes the following mission
statement: “We raise essential private funds to enable Miami Dade College to change lives,
families, communities, and the world through the opportunity of education.”
2
Miami Dade Colleges’ vision is to be a recognized leader in student learning, achievement, and
success while enriching their community.
3
The college has been in operation since 1960, and is
1
Florida Department of State: Division of Corporations, Miami Dade College Foundation, Inc. Sunbiz.org, Document
number 709786 (February 24, 2025).
2
Miami Dade College Foundation, Inc., About - Miami Dade College Alumni Association, (last visited February 28, 2025).
3
Miami Dade College, About MDC | Miami Dade College, (last visited February 28, 2025)..
REVISED: BILL: CS/SB 620 Page 2
named among the top institutions in 2025 U.S. News & World Report Rankings for public
regional colleges, for veterans, social mobility, best value schools, and regional colleges of the
south.
4
Specialty License Plates
As of February 2025, there are 133 specialty license plates authorized by the Legislature. Of
these plates, 113 are available for immediate purchase and 20 are in the presale process.
5
Specialty license plates are available to an owner or lessee of a motor vehicle who is willing to
pay an annual use fee, ranging from $15 to $25, paid in addition to required license taxes and
service fees.
6
The annual use fees are distributed to organizations in support of a particular cause
or charity signified on the plate’s design and designated in statute.
7
In order to establish a specialty license plate (after the plate is approved by law) s. 320.08053,
F.S., requires the following actions within certain timelines:
• Within 60 days, the organization must submit an art design for the plate, in a medium
prescribed by the DHSMV;
• Within 120 days, the DHSMV must establish a method to issue presale vouchers for the
specialty license plate; and
• Within 24 months after the presale vouchers are established, the organization must obtain a
minimum of 3,000 voucher sales before manufacturing of the plate may begin.
8
If the minimum sales requirement has not been met by the end of the 24-month presale period,
then the DHSMV will discontinue the plate and issuance of presale vouchers.
9
Upon
discontinuation, a purchaser of a presale voucher may use the annual use fee as a credit towards
any other specialty license plate or apply for a refund with the DHSMV.
10
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 presale requirements have
been met. If the next listed specialty license plate has not met the presale requirement, the
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.
11
4
Id.
5
DHSMV, 2025 Legislative Bill Analysis: SB 620 (February 26, 2025) at p. 2.
6
Section 320.08056(3)(d), F.S., provides that except if specifically provided in s. 320.08056(4), the annual use fee for a
specialty license plate is $25.
7
Section 320.08058, F.S.
8
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.
9
Section 320.08058(3), F.S., provides that any collegiate plate established after October 1, 2002, must comply with the
requirements of s. 320.08053, F.S., other than the presale voucher requirements in s. 320.08053(2)(b), F.S., and be
specifically authorized by the Legislature.
10
Section 320.08053(2)(b), F.S.
11
Section 320.08053(3)(a), F.S. BILL: CS/SB 620 Page 3
If the Legislature has approved 135 or more specialty license plates, the DHSMV may not make
any new specialty license plates available for design or issuance until a sufficient number of
plates are discontinued so that the number of plates being issued does not exceed 135.
12
Use of Specialty License Plate Fees
The annual use fees collected by an organization and any interest earned from the fees may be
expended only for use in this state unless the annual use fee is derived from the sale of specified
United States Armed Forces and veterans-related specialty plates.
13
Additionally, organizations
must adhere to certain accountability requirements, including an annual audit or attestation
document affirming that funds received have been spent in accordance with applicable statutes.
14
The annual use fees collected by an organization and the 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.
15
Additionally, 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, any 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.
16
Discontinuance of Specialty Plates
Prior to June 30, 2023, the DHSMV was required to discontinue the issuance of an approved
specialty license plate if the number of valid registrations fells below 1,000 plates for at least
12 consecutive months. A warning letter was mailed to the sponsoring organization following the
first month in which the total number of valid specialty license plate registrations fell below
1,000 plates. Collegiate plates for Florida universities were exempt from the minimum specialty
license plate requirement.
17
In addition, the DHSMV was authorized to discontinue any specialty
license plate if the organization ceased to exist, stopped providing services that are funded from
the annual use fee proceeds, or pursuant to an organizational recipient’s request.
18
However, effective July 1, 2023, the requirement increased so that the DHSMV must discontinue
the issuance of an approved specialty license plate if the number of valid registrations falls below
3,000, or in the case of an out-of-state college or university license plate, 4,000, for at least
12 consecutive months. The DHSMV must mail a warning letter to the sponsoring organization
following the first month in which the total number of valid specialty plate registrations is below
3,000, or in the case of an out-of-state college or university license plate, 4,000. This 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
12
Section 320.08053(3)(b), F.S.
13
Section 320.08056(10)(a), F.S.
14
Section 320.08062, F.S.; Such fees may be used to pay for the cost of this required audit or report. See s. 320.08056(10)(a),
F.S.
15
Section 320.08056(10)(a), F.S.
16
Section 320.08056(11), F.S.
17
Section 320.08056(8)(a), F.S.
18
Section 320.08056(8)(b), F.S. BILL: CS/SB 620 Page 4
and retention, or Florida professional sports team license plates established under
s. 320.08058(9), F.S.
19
III. Effect of Proposed Changes:
The bill amends s. 320.08058, F.S., to authorize DHSMV to create a new specialty license plate
for Miami Dade College. The annual use fee for the plate is $25. The plate must bear the colors
and design approved by the department, with the word “Florida” at the top of the plate and the
words “Miami Dade College” at the bottom of the plate.
Proceeds of the sale of the Miami Dade College specialty license plate will be distributed to the
Miami Dade College Foundation, Inc. The organization may use up to 10 percent of the proceeds
for marketing and promotion of the plate. Thereafter, the annual use fees from the sale of the
plate will be distributed to the Miami Dade College Foundation, Inc. to fund student
scholarships.
The bill takes effect October 1, 2025.
IV. Constitutional Issues:
A. Municipality/County Mandates Restrictions:
None.
B. Public Records/Open Meetings Issues:
None.
C. Trust Funds Restrictions:
None.
D. State Tax or Fee Increases:
None.
E. Other Constitutional Issues:
None.
V. Fiscal Impact Statement:
A. Tax/Fee Issues:
None.
19
Chapter 2020-181, s. 7, Laws of Fla. BILL: CS/SB 620 Page 5
B. Private Sector Impact:
If the specialty license plate is produced, the Miami Dade College Foundation will
receive annual use fees associated with sales of the plate.
C. Government Sector Impact:
The DHSMV estimates programming and implementation of the plate will cost $8,280.
20
VI. Technical Deficiencies:
None.
VII. Related Issues:
None.
VIII. Statutes Affected:
This bill amends section 320.08058 of the Florida Statutes.
IX. Additional Information:
A. Committee Substitute – Statement of Changes:
(Summarizing differences between the Committee Substitute and the prior version of the bill.)
CS by Transportation on March 4, 2025:
The committee substitute authorizes the Miami Dade College Foundation, Inc. to use up
to 10 percent of the funds from the sale of the plate for administrative and marketing
costs. The balance of the fees shall be used by the Miami Dade College Foundation, Inc.
to fund student scholarships.
B. Amendments:
None.
This Senate Bill Analysis does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill’s introducer or the Florida Senate.
20
DHSMV, 2025 Legislative Bill Analysis: SB 620 (February 26, 2025) at p. 5.