LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO
Sixty-eighth Legislature First Regular Session -2025
IN THE SENATE
SENATE BILL NO. 1072
BY TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
AN ACT1
RELATING TO LICENSE PLATES; AMENDING SECTION 49 -402, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE2
ACODE REFERENCE; AMENDING SECTION 49 -402D, IDAHO CODE, TO ESTABLISH3
CERTAIN EXEMPTIONS FROM SPECIAL LICENSE PLATE PROCEDURES; AMEND -4
ING CHAPTER 4, TITLE 49, IDAHO CODE, BY THE ADDITION OF ANEW SECTION5
49 -420T, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE FOR TOO GREAT FOR HATE LICENSE PLATES6
AND TO ESTABLISH APROGRAM FUND; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY AND PROVID -7
ING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.8
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:9
SECTION 1. That Section 49 -402, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby10
amended to read as follows:11
49 -402. ANNUAL REGISTRATION. (1) The annual fee for operating each12
pickup truck, each neighborhood electric vehicle and each other motor ve -13
hicle having amaximum gross weight not in excess of eight thousand (8,000)14
pounds and that complies with the federal motor vehicle safety standards as15
defined in section 49 -107, Idaho Code, shall be:16
Vehicles one (1) and two (2) years old .........................$69.0017
Vehicles three (3) and four (4) years old ......................$57.0018
Vehicles five (5) and six (6) years old ........................$57.0019
Vehicles seven (7) and eight (8) years old .....................$45.0020
Vehicles over eight (8) years old .............................$45.0021
There shall be twelve (12) registration periods, starting in January22
for holders of validation registration stickers numbered 1, and proceed -23
ing consecutively through December for holders of validation registration24
stickers numbered 12, each of which shall start on the first day of acalendar25
month and end on the last day of the twelfth month from the first day of the26
beginning month. Registration periods shall expire midnight on the last day27
of the registration period in the year designated by the validation regis -28
tration sticker. The numeral digit on the validation registration stickers29
shall, as does the registration card, fix the registration period under the30
staggered registration system for the purpose of reregistration and notice31
of expiration.32
Avehicle that has once been registered for any of the above -designated33
periods shall, upon reregistration, be registered for the period bearing the34
same number, and the registration card shall show and be the exclusive proof35
of the expiration date of registration and licensing. Vehicles may be ini -36
tially registered for less than atwelve (12) month period, or for more than a37
twelve (12) month period, and the fee prorated on amonthly basis if the frac -38
tional registration tends to fulfill the purpose of the monthly series reg -39
istration system.40
(2) For all school buses operated either by anonprofit, nonpublic41
school or operated pursuant to aservice contract with aschool district for42 2
transporting children to or from school or in connection with school -ap -1
proved activities, the annual fee shall be twenty -four dollars ($24.00) and2
shall be subject to staggered registration for the purpose of reregistration3
and notice of expiration.4
(3) For all motorcycles and motor -driven cycles that comply with the5
federal motor vehicle safety standards, operated upon the public highways,6
the annual fee shall be nineteen dollars ($19.00) and shall be subject to7
staggered registration for the purpose of reregistration and notice of ex -8
piration. 9
(4) For operation of an all -terrain vehicle, utility type vehicle or10
motorbike, excluding amotorbike with an engine displacement of fifty (50)11
cubic centimeters or less, on city, county or highway district roads or12
highways open to such use, arestricted vehicle license plate fee pursuant13
to section 49 -450, Idaho Code, shall be paid. In addition, the certifi -14
cate of number fee specified in section 67 -7122, Idaho Code, shall be paid15
as provided in section 67 -7122, Idaho Code. The certificate of number and16
restricted vehicle license plate exemption provided in section 49 -426(2),17
Idaho Code, applies to all -terrain vehicles, utility type vehicles, motor -18
bikes and motorcycles used for the purposes described in section 49 -426(2),19
Idaho Code. Nonresidents shall be allowed to purchase arestricted vehicle20
license plate and validation sticker pursuant to section 67 -7124, Idaho21
Code, for an all -terrain vehicle, utility type vehicle, or motorbike.22
(5) For all motor homes, the fee shall be as specified in subsection (1)23
of this section and shall be in addition to the fees provided for in section24
49 -445, Idaho Code.25
(6) Registration fees shall not be subject to refund.26
(7) Afinancial institution or repossession service contracted to27
afinancial institution repossessing vehicles under the terms of asecu -28
rity agreement shall move the vehicle from the place of repossession to the29
financial institution's place of business on arepossession plate. The30
repossession plate shall also be used for demonstrating the vehicle to a31
prospective purchaser for aperiod not to exceed ninety -six (96) hours. The32
registration fees for repossession plates shall be as required in subsection33
(1) of this section for avehicle one (1) and two (2) years old. All other34
fees required under chapter 4, title 49, Idaho Code, shall be in addition to35
the registration fee. The repossession plate shall be subject to staggered36
registration for the purpose of reregistration and notice of expiration.37
(8) Awrecker or towing business engaged in the process of towing motor -38
ized vehicles that have been wrecked, abandoned, salvaged or may be disabled39
may apply for awrecker plate to be displayed on those vehicles being towed,40
provided the power unit is properly registered under this chapter. The reg -41
istration fees for wrecker plates shall be as required in subsection (1) of42
this section for avehicle one (1) and two (2) years old. All other fees re -43
quired under chapter 4, title 49, Idaho Code, shall be in addition to the reg -44
istration fee and shall be subject to staggered registration for the purpose45
of reregistration and notice of expiration.46
(9) In addition to the annual registration fee in this section, there47
shall be an initial program fee of twenty -five dollars ($25.00) and an an -48
nual program fee of fifteen dollars ($15.00) for all special license plate49
programs for those license plates issued pursuant to sections 49 -404A,50 3
49 -407, 49 -408, 49 -409, 49 -414, 49 -416, 49 -418 and 49 -418D, Idaho Code. For1
special plates issued pursuant to sections 49 -406 and 49 -406A, Idaho Code,2
there shall be an initial program fee of twenty -five dollars ($25.00) but3
there shall be no annual renewal fee. For special plates issued pursuant4
to sections 49 -415D, 49 -417, 49 -417A, 49 -417B, 49 -417C, 49 -417D, 49 -418A,5
49 -418B, 49 -418C, 49 -419, 49 -419A, 49 -419C, 49 -419E, 49 -420, 49 -420A,6
49 -420B, 49 -420C, 49 -420D, 49 -420E, 49 -420J, 49 -420K, 49 -420L, 49 -420M,7
49 -420N, 49 -420O, 49 -420P, 49 -420Q, 49 -420R, and 49 -420S, and 49 -420T,8
Idaho Code, and any new special plate program effective on and after January9
1, 2013, pursuant to section 49 -402D, Idaho Code, there shall be an initial10
program fee of thirty -five dollars ($35.00) and an annual program fee of11
twenty -five dollars ($25.00). The fees contained in this subsection shall12
be applicable to all new special plate programs and shall be subject to stag -13
gered registration for the purpose of reregistration and notice of expira -14
tion. The initial program fee and the annual program fee shall be deposited15
in the state highway account and shall be used to fund the cost of administra -16
tion of special license plate programs, unless otherwise specified by law.17
(10) Any vehicle that does not meet federal motor vehicle safety stan -18
dards shall not be registered and shall not be permitted to operate on public19
highways of the state, as defined in section 40 -117, Idaho Code, unless oth -20
erwise specifically authorized.21
(11) In addition to annual registration fees as provided in this sec -22
tion, registrants may pay afee to purchase an Idaho state parks passport23
authorizing resident motor vehicle entry into all Idaho state parks. Reg -24
istrants may pay the fee for aone (1) year or two (2) year period of time.25
The fee shall be ten dollars ($10.00) for one (1) year and twenty dollars26
($20.00) for two (2) years. All fees collected pursuant to this subsection27
shall be deposited into the park and recreation fund and shall be subject to28
appropriation. Fees collected pursuant to this subsection shall not be con -29
sidered amotor vehicle registration fee as provided in section 17, article30
VII, of the constitution of the state of Idaho.31
SECTION 2. That Section 49 -402D, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby32
amended to read as follows:33
49 -402D. SPECIAL LICENSE PLATE PREQUALIFICATION PROCESS.34
(1)(a) For any new special license plate program approved by the legis -35
lature, the program sponsor shall, before issuance of any such special36
license plate, meet the prequalification process outlined in this sec -37
tion. The program sponsor for any special plate program shall:38
(i) Submit afinancial plan for the use of the proceeds from the39
special license plate sales and certify that all such proceeds40
shall be deposited in the highway distribution account, except41
with respect to any new special plate that may be established for42
the benefit of the state of Idaho or any department, division,43
bureau, or agency thereof, including an Idaho college or univer -44
sity pursuant to section 49 -418A, Idaho Code, amilitary license45
plate, or alicense plate for the benefit of the Idaho state board46
of education or specific education programs, grant funds, or ini -47
tiatives administered by the Idaho state board of education ,and48
military license plates ;and49 4
(ii) Designate an individual who shall be deemed responsible by1
the agency for certifying compliance with the requirements of this2
section and working with the department.3
(b) The department is authorized and shall adopt and promulgate rules4
to carry out the provisions of this section.5
(2) If the request for aspecial license plate is approved by the de -6
partment, the following requirements, in addition to those set out in sub -7
section (1) of this section, shall be met by September 1prior to the next8
legislative session and prior to the issuance of any special license plates9
approved by the legislature.10
(a) The applicant shall deposit estimated programming and administra -11
tive costs with the department to be utilized for programming costs of12
the specialty plate. Administrative costs in the amount of one thousand13
dollars ($1,000) shall be nonrefundable.14
(b) In addition to the requirements provided for in section 49 -402C,15
Idaho Code, the applicant requesting aspecial license plate program16
shall provide to the department an acceptable plate design.17
(c) The applicant shall transmit to the department alist of two hundred18
fifty (250) applicants, whose vehicles are currently registered in the19
state of Idaho, who intend to purchase the specialty plate when avail -20
able, as evidenced by completing forms provided by the department.21
(3) The department shall submit the completed applications for special22
license plate programs that meet the requirements of this section to the23
chairmen of the senate transportation committee and the house of representa -24
tives transportation and defense committee each year on behalf of the agency25
to be included for consideration in the next legislative session.26
(4) On an annual basis, by December 1of each calendar year, the sponsor27
of aspecial license plate program shall prepare an annual report, which28
shall be made available on request and shall be forwarded to the department.29
Such report shall include an accounting of revenues and expenditures associ -30
ated with the funds collected for the special license plate program. The de -31
partment shall compile and forward such reports to the chairmen of the senate32
transportation committee and the house of representatives transportation33
and defense committee by January 15 of each year. Failure of the agency to34
provide such report by the due date shall result in the discontinuation of35
the special license plate program sales on January 1. The provisions of this36
section shall exclude special plates established for the highway distri -37
bution account, the state of Idaho or any department, division, bureau, or38
agency thereof, an Idaho college or university pursuant to section 49 -418A,39
Idaho Code, and military license plate programs.40
(5) Any decision by the department that the special license plate pro -41
gram application does not meet the provisions of this section may be appealed42
to the director of the department. Such notice of appeal shall be made in43
writing within twenty (20) days of the notice of denial. For all denied ap -44
plications, the department shall, at the next legislative session, report45
to the senate and house of representatives transportation committees on such46
denied applications and the reason for the denials.47
SECTION 3. That Chapter 4, Title 49, Idaho Code, be, and the same is48
hereby amended by the addition thereto of aNEW SECTION ,to be known and des -49
ignated as Section 49 -420T, Idaho Code, and to read as follows:50 5
49 -420T. TOO GREAT FOR HATE LICENSE PLATES. (1) On and after January 1,1
2026, any person who is the owner of avehicle registered under the provi -2
sions of section 49 -402, Idaho Code, or registered under any other section of3
law for which the purchase of special plates is allowed, may apply for and,4
upon department approval, receive too great for hate license plates in lieu5
of regular license plates. The provisions of this section shall not apply to6
any vehicle with aregistered maximum gross weight over twenty -six thousand7
(26,000) pounds. Availability of too great for hate license plates for other8
vehicles shall be subject to the rules, policies, and procedures of the de -9
partment. 10
(2) In addition to the regular registration fee required in this chap -11
ter, the applicant shall be charged afee of thirty -five dollars ($35.00)12
for the initial issuance of plates, and twenty -five dollars ($25.00) upon13
each succeeding annual registration. Thirteen dollars ($13.00) of the ini -14
tial fee and thirteen dollars ($13.00) of the renewal fee shall be deposited15
in the state highway account and shall be used to fund the cost of adminis -16
tration of this special license plate program. Twenty -two dollars ($22.00)17
of each initial fee and twelve dollars ($12.00) of each renewal fee shall be18
transferred by the state treasurer and credited to the human rights commis -19
sion program fund established in subsection (3) of this section for the ben -20
efit of the Idaho commission on human rights established pursuant to chap -21
ter 59, title 67, Idaho Code. Funds so deposited shall be subsequently di -22
rected by the Idaho commission on human rights as set forth in this section.23
Such efforts may include signs or other advertising, educational program -24
ing, or other appropriate means designed to help secure for all individuals25
in Idaho freedom from discrimination and to build public understanding of26
Idaho's anti -discrimination and anti -retaliation laws.27
(3) There is hereby established in the state treasury the human rights28
commission program fund to which will be credited the revenues derived from29
fees under this section, any legislative appropriations, moneys already30
provided, and interest earned on idle moneys in the fund.31
(4) Whenever the title or interest in avehicle registered under the32
provisions of this section is transferred or assigned, the owner may trans -33
fer the special plates to another vehicle upon payment of the required trans -34
fer fees. The owner may display the plates on another vehicle only upon re -35
ceipt of the new registration from the department.36
(5) The too great for hate license plate shall be of acolor and design37
in accordance with the provisions of section 49 -402C, Idaho Code. The de -38
sign and any slogan on the plate shall be acceptable to the Idaho commission39
on human rights and shall be approved by the Idaho transportation department40
utilizing anumbering system as determined by the department. Initial costs41
of the plate program, including costs of plate design, shall be pursuant to42
funds appropriated by the legislature for such purpose.43
(6) Sample too great for hate license plates may be purchased for afee44
of thirty dollars ($30.00), thirteen dollars ($13.00) of which shall be de -45
posited in the state highway account and seventeen dollars ($17.00) of which46
shall be transferred to the to the human rights commission program fund for47
the benefit of the Idaho commission on human rights to be used for the pur -48
poses stated in subsection (2) of this section.49 6
SECTION 4. An emergency existing therefor, which emergency is hereby1
declared to exist, this act shall be in full force and effect on and after2
July 1, 2025.3