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SENATE BILL 327
57TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSION, 2025
INTRODUCED BY
Leo Jaramillo
AN ACT
RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES; ENACTING A NEW SECTION OF THE MOTOR
VEHICLE CODE TO CREATE A LOWRIDER CAPITAL OF THE WORLD SPECIAL
REGISTRATION PLATE FOR CARS, TRUCKS, MOTORCYCLES AND TOW
TRAILERS; ESTABLISHING CRITERIA FOR A CESSATION OF ISSUANCE;
MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
SECTION 1. A new section of the Motor Vehicle Code is
enacted to read:
"[NEW MATERIAL] SPECIAL LOWRIDER CAPITAL OF THE WORLD
REGISTRATION PLATE.--
A. The division shall issue:
(1) a standardized lowrider capital of the
world special registration plate for motor vehicles or tow
trailers recognizing the importance of New Mexico to the
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lowrider history and culture of the United States. The plate
shall have a logo designed pursuant to Section 66-3-424 NMSA
1978 that is developed by the division in collaboration with
the Espanola lowrider association; and
(2) a standardized lowrider capital of the
world special registration plate for motorcycles with the same
design as the motor vehicle plates issued in accordance with
Paragraph (1) of this subsection.
B. For an initial fee of:
(1) fifty dollars ($50.00), which shall be in
addition to the regular motor vehicle or tow trailer
registration fees, the owner of a vehicle or tow trailer may
apply for issuance of a lowrider capital of the world special
registration plate. The vehicle or tow trailer owner shall pay
a renewal fee of twenty dollars ($20.00) each year to retain
and renew the lowrider capital of the world special
registration plate; and
(2) forty dollars ($40.00), which shall be in
addition to the regular motorcycle registration fee, the owner
of a motorcycle may apply for issuance of a lowrider capital of
the world special registration plate. The motorcycle owner
shall pay a renewal fee of twenty dollars ($20.00) each year to
retain and renew the lowrider capital of the world special
registration plate.
C. The revenue from the additional fee for a
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lowrider capital of the world special registration plate for
motor vehicles and tow trailers shall be distributed as
follows:
(1) twelve dollars ($12.00) of the initial fee
collected shall be retained by and is appropriated to the
division to defray the cost of making and issuing the lowrider
capital of the world special registration plate; and
(2) thirty-eight dollars ($38.00) of the
initial registration fee and the entire twenty dollars ($20.00)
of subsequent renewal fees shall be distributed and are
appropriated to the cultural affairs department to create and
distribute materials or for the development of museum exhibits
explaining the importance of lowrider history and culture to
the world and New Mexico.
D. The revenue from the additional fee for a
lowrider capital of the world special registration plate for
motorcycles shall be distributed as follows:
(1) seven dollars ($7.00) of the initial fee
collected shall be retained by and is appropriated to the
division to defray the cost of making and issuing the lowrider
capital of the world special registration plate; and
(2) thirty-three dollars ($33.00) of the
initial registration fee and the entire twenty dollars ($20.00)
of subsequent renewal fees shall be distributed and are
appropriated to the cultural affairs department to create and
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distribute materials or for the development of museum exhibits
explaining the importance of lowrider history and culture to
the world and New Mexico.
E. Beginning on July 1, 2028, and on July 1 of each
subsequent year, the division shall separately compare the
number of lowrider capital of the world special registration
plates and registration renewals that were issued for those
plates in the previous fiscal year for each category of motor
vehicle plates, tow trailer plates and motorcycle plates with
the average of the number of those plates issued in fiscal
years 2026 and 2027.
F. Beginning in fiscal year 2029, by September 1 of
a fiscal year in which the division determines that the number
of lowrider capital of the world special registration plates
and registration renewals issued for those plates for each
category of motor vehicle plates, tow trailer plates or
motorcycle plates in the previous fiscal year is less than
fifty percent of the average number of those plates issued in
fiscal years 2026 and 2027, the division shall stop issuing
that category of lowrider capital of the world special
registration plates."
SECTION 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the
provisions of this act is July 1, 2025.
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