SB 327
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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:
"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
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: SB 327
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(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
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 SB 327
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($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 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 SB 327
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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.