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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
Senate Bill 1022
Sponsored by Senator FREDERICK, Representative EVANS
SUMMARY
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject
to consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor’s brief statement of the essential features of the
measure as introduced.The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability
standards.
Digest: The Act lowers the number of vouchers and plates that small universities need for
ODOT to make and issue car plates that represent the small schools. (Flesch Readability Score:
75.8).
Modifies the special registration plate program. Lowers the threshold amount to start making
and continue issuing special registration plates for certain public universities.
Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to specialty vehicle registration plates; amending ORS 805.222 and 805.225; and prescribing
an effective date.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. ORS 805.222 is amended to read:
805.222. (1) The Department of Transportation shall establish a special registration program and
provide for issuance of special registration plates for nonprofit groups meeting the qualifications for
tax exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, for institutions of higher
education and for public bodies, as defined in ORS 174.109.
(2) Plates issued under this section may be issued to owners of motor vehicles registered under
the provisions of ORS 803.420 (6)(a). In addition, the department may adopt rules for issuance of
special registration plates issued pursuant to this section for vehicles not registered under ORS
803.420(6)(a).
(3) Plates issued under this section may not contain expressions of political opinion or religious
belief.
(4) Rules adopted under this section shall include, but need not be limited to, rules that:
(a) Describe general qualifications to be met by any nonprofit group, institution of higher edu-
cation or public body in order to be eligible for plates issued under this section.
(b) Specify circumstances under which the department may cease to issue plates under this
section.
(c) Require each nonprofit group, institution of higher education or public body for which plates
are issued to file an annual statement on a form designed by the department showing that the group
is a nonprofit group, institution of higher education or public body and that the nonprofit group,
institution of higher education or public body otherwise meets the qualifications imposed for eligi-
bility for plates issued under this section. The statement shall include names and addresses of cur-
rent directors or officers of the nonprofit group, institution of higher education or public body or
of other persons authorized to speak for the nonprofit group, institution of higher education or
public body on matters affecting plates issued under this section.
NOTE:Matter in boldfaced type in an amended section is new; matter [italic and bracketed] is existing law to be omitted.
New sections are in boldfaced type.
LC 2678 SB1022
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(d) Specify the manner in which a nonprofit group, institution of higher education or public body
may apply for a special registration plate.
(5) In addition to any other fee authorized by law, for each set of special registration plates is-
sued pursuant to this section, the department shall collect a surcharge of $40 payable when the
plates are issued and upon each subsequent renewal of registration of a vehicle bearing the plates.
The department shall distribute the moneys from the surcharge as provided in subsection (8) of this
section.
(6) The department, in consultation with the nonprofit group, institution of higher education or
public body requesting the special registration plate, shall develop a unique design for each plate
issued under this section. Any design must comply with requirements described under ORS 803.535.
(7) Except as provided in subsection (8) of this section, the department shall determine how
many sets of plates shall be manufactured for each plate approved under this section. If the de-
partment does not issue 2,000 sets of plates for a particular nonprofit group, institution of higher
education or public body in any one year, the department shall cease production of those plates.
(8) If the department does not issue 300 sets of plates for the following institutions of
higher education in any one year, the department shall cease production of those plates:
(a) Oregon Institute of Technology.
(b) Western Oregon University.
(c) Southern Oregon University.
(d) Eastern Oregon University.
[(8)] (9) Each nonprofit group, institution of higher education or public body that is found by the
department to be eligible for plates issued under this section may designate an account into which
the net proceeds of the surcharge collected by the department under subsection (5) of this section
are to be deposited. The department shall keep accurate records of the number of plates issued for
each nonprofit group, institution of higher education or public body that qualifies. After payment
of administrative expenses of the department, moneys collected under this section for a nonprofit
group, institution of higher education or public body shall be deposited by the department into an
account specified by that nonprofit group, institution of higher education or public body. If any
nonprofit group, institution of higher education or public body does not specify an account for the
moneys collected from the sale of plates issued under this section, the department shall deposit
moneys collected for those plates into the Passenger Rail Transportation Account established under
ORS 802.100 to be used as other moneys in the account are used. Deposits under this subsection
shall be made at least quarterly.
SECTION 2. ORS 805.225 is amended to read:
805.225. (1) A nonprofit group, institution of higher education or public body, as defined in ORS
174.109, that requests issuance of a special registration plate under ORS 805.222 shall:
(a) Submit an application, in the manner prescribed by the Department of Transportation by
rule.
(b) Pay to the department the anticipated costs of adding the plate to the special registration
plate program, as determined by the department. The department shall refund any amount of the
payment that is not needed to pay the costs of adding the plate to the program.
[(c) Collect and hold prepaid vouchers for new special registration plates, until it has received at
least 3,000 vouchers along with required fees.]
(c) Collect and hold prepaid vouchers for new special registration plates, until it has re-
ceived the required fees and at least:
[2] SB1022
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(A) For the following institutions of higher education, 500 vouchers:
(i) Oregon Institute of Technology.
(ii) Western Oregon University.
(iii) Southern Oregon University.
(iv) Eastern Oregon University.
(B) For all other applicants, 3,000 vouchers.
(2) Once a participating nonprofit group, institution of higher education or public body has re-
ceived [at least 3,000] the required number vouchers, it shall submit the vouchers, along with the
required fees, to the department.
[(2)] (3) The department shall begin designing, producing and issuing the plates after the
nonprofit group, institution of higher education or public body submits the following:
(a) The application;
(b) Payment for the anticipated costs of adding the plate as determined under subsection (1) of
this section; and
(c) Three thousand prepaid vouchers along with required fees.
[(3)] (4) For purposes of this section, costs of adding a new special registration plate include,
but are not limited to, computer programming costs and vendor set-up fees.
[(4)] (5) The department shall adopt rules for the administration and implementation of the spe-
cial registration plate program.
SECTION 3. This 2025 Act takes effect on the 91st day after the date on which the 2025
regular session of the Eighty-third Legislative Assembly adjourns sine die.
[3]