Fiscal impact reports (FIRs) are prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) for standing finance
committees of the Legislature. LFC does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of these reports if they
are used for other purposes.
F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR Duhigg
LAST UPDATED
ORIGINAL DATE 2/7/2025
SHORT TITLE Certain Characters on License Plates
BILL
NUMBER Senate Bill 128
ANALYST Hanika-Ortiz
ESTIMATED ADDITIONAL OPERATING BUDGET IMPACT*
(dollars in thousands)
Agency/Program
FY25 FY26 FY27
3 Year
Total Cost
Recurring or
Nonrecurring
Fund
Affected
TRD
No fiscal
impact
$16.0
No fiscal
impact
Nonrecurring
Other state
funds
Parentheses ( ) indicate expenditure decreases.
*Amounts reflect most recent analysis of this legislation.
Relates to House Bill 23 and Senate Bill 236
Sources of Information
LFC Files
Agency Analysis Received From
Taxation and Revenue Department (TRD)
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Senate Bill 128
Senate Bill 128 (SB128) amends Section 66-3-15 NMSA 1978 as it relates to the issuance of
questionable vehicle plates or plates that cannot be easily differentiated. The bill would prohibit
the Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) from issuing special plates with characters that the division
determines are derogatory, offensive, misleading, obscene, vulgar, sexually explicit or profane,
or that promote drugs, alcohol or other intoxicating substances or promote violence or gang
affiliation. SB128 also grants MVD authority to refuse to issue plates that cannot easily be
differentiated.
This bill does not contain an effective date and, as a result, would go into effect 90 days after the
Legislature adjourns if enacted, or June 20, 2025.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The Taxation and Revenue Department (TRD) says updating the denial letter with reasons for
the denial would require roughly $16 thousand in staff resources in FY26.
Senate Bill 128 – Page 2
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
The bill adds rules to help MVD with questionable plate requests. If a request is denied, MVD
says the customer will be provided with a denial letter and explanation, referencing this statute.
MVD explains that it currently has in place an internal procedure establishing criteria for denial
of certain prestige plate requests. However, this procedure does not carry the weight of statute.
MVD occasionally must deny plate requests for the reasons this bill would codify in law.
Additionally, the bill gives MVD the authority to deny requests for plates that are difficult to
distinguish from other existing plates such as LASS0 versus LASSO or B00K versus BOOK.
SB128 is unclear as to whether, if a plate is denied, the applicant is given an opportunity to
choose an alternative, or, if the applicant believes the rejection was unwarranted, whether there is
a more formalized appeal process,
CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP
This bill relates to Senate Bill 236 and House Bill 23, both of which establish new special
registration plates for motorcycles.
AHO/hj