Wisconsin 2025-2026 Regular Session

Wisconsin Senate Bill SB38 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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1	1	2025 - 2026 LEGISLATURE
2	2	LRB-1446/1
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4	4	2025 SENATE BILL 38
5	5	February 12, 2025 - Introduced by Senators HUTTON, CARPENTER, BRADLEY,
6	6	SPREITZER and RATCLIFF, cosponsored by Representatives WICHGERS, ALLEN,
7	7	BEHNKE, B. JACOBSON, KNODL, KREIBICH, MAXEY, MELOTIK, MURSAU,
8	8	SINICKI, SNYDER, TUSLER and UDELL. Referred to Committee on
9	9	Transportation and Local Government.
10	10	AN ACT to amend 341.145 (3) of the statutes; relating to: personalized
11	11	registration plate fees for gold star family special registration plates.
12	12	Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
13	13	This bill exempts special group plates for gold star families from personalized
14	14	registration plate fees.
15	15	Current law enumerates special groups whose members may obtain from the
16	16	Department of Transportation special motor vehicle registration plates. Among the
17	17	special groups is a group for persons who qualify under federal law for a gold star
18	18	lapel button (commonly known as gold star family), which signifies that the
19	19	recipient is the immediate family member of a member of the U.S. armed forces who
20	20	died while serving during a time of conflict. Special group plates may be
21	21	personalized by the person to whom the plates are issued.
22	22	Under current law, DOT collects a registration fee for initial and renewal
23	23	registrations of most motor vehicles. In addition to the regular registration fee,
24	24	DOT charges an annual fee of $15 for the issuance or reissuance of most special
25	25	registration plates and an additional annual fee of $15 for the issuance,
26	26	maintenance, or reissuance of most personalized plates.
27	27	Under current law, gold star special registration plate holders must pay the
28	28	general registration fee, but are not assessed the special registration fee. If the
29	29	plate holder personalizes the plate, he or she is assessed the $15 personalization
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31	31	2 2025 - 2026 Legislature
32	32	SENATE BILL 38
33	33	- 2 - LRB-1446/1
34	34	ZDW:cdc
35	35	fee. The bill exempts special group plates for gold star families from the
36	36	personalization fee.
37	37	For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
38	38	an appendix to this bill.
39	39	The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
40	40	enact as follows:
41	41	SECTION 1. 341.145 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
42	42	341.145 (3) In addition to the regular application fee provided under s. 341.25
43	43	(1) (a), (c) or (j) or (2) or 341.26 (3) (a) 2. or (am), the applicant for a personalized
44	44	registration plate issued on an annual basis shall pay a fee of $15 for the issuance of
45	45	the plate and $15 in each succeeding year to maintain the plate. In addition to the
46	46	regular application fee provided under s. 341.25 (1) (b) or 341.26 (3) (a) 1., the
47	47	applicant for a personalized registration plate issued on a biennial basis shall pay a
48	48	fee of $30 for issuance of the plate if the plate is issued during the first year of the
49	49	biennial registration period or $15 for issuance of the plate if the plate is issued
50	50	during the 2nd year of the biennial registration period. The fee to maintain a
51	51	personalized plate issued on a biennial basis is $30. The fee for reissuance of a
52	52	personalized plate shall be $15 for an annual registration and $30 for a biennial
53	53	registration. An No fee may be charged to an applicant for personalized plates
54	54	issued under sub. (1) (b) or (c) shall not be required to pay the fee (1g) (a) or (b) for
55	55	initial issuance of the plates. No fee may be charged to a member of a special group
56	56	specified under s. 341.14 (6r) (f) 19m. for maintenance or reissuance of plates issued
57	57	under sub. (1g) (b) displaying the applicable symbol of the special group specified
58	58	under s. 341.14 (6r) (f) 19m.
59	59	SECTION 2. Effective date.
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78	78	19 2025 - 2026 Legislature
79	79	SENATE BILL 38
80	80	- 3 - LRB-1446/1
81	81	ZDW:cdc
82	82	SECTION 2
83	83	(1) This act takes effect on the first day of the 7th month beginning after
84	84	publication.
85	85	(END)
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