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THE BILL ITSELF

CS/SB 246

Specialty License Plates

VERSION S 246 er · BACK TO THE SUMMARY · OFFICIAL RECORD

underlined language is being added; struck language is being deleted. Line numbers are the Legislature's own — the same ones amendments cite.

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2026 Legislature CS for SB 246, 2nd Engrossed 2026246er
2 An act relating to specialty license plates; amending
3 s. 320.08053, F.S.; requiring certain organizations
4 that have an approved specialty license plate to
5 submit within a specified timeframe certain financial
6 information to the Department of Highway Safety and
7 Motor Vehicles; providing for the deauthorization of
8 certain specialty license plates if the organization
9 receiving the annual use fees does not submit the
10 required financial information to the department
11 within the specified timeframe; requiring the
12 department to submit an annual report to the Governor
13 and Legislature by a specified date; amending s.
14 320.08056, F.S.; prohibiting specialty license plate
15 annual use fees or interest earned from such fees from
16 being distributed to certain entities; amending s.
17 320.08058, F.S.; requiring the department to develop
18 an Endless Summer motorcycle specialty license plate;
19 specifying a design requirement for the plate;
20 requiring that the number of valid Endless Summer
21 motor vehicle and motorcycle specialty license plates
22 be added together for purposes of a certain
23 determination; revising provisions relating to the
24 issuance and fee distribution for Fraternal Order of
25 Police license plates; directing the department to
26 develop specified specialty license plates; providing
27 for distribution and use of fees collected from the
28 sale of the plates; amending s. 320.08062, F.S.;
29 conforming provisions to changes made by the act;
30 providing an effective date.
32 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
34 Section 1. Subsections (2), (3), and (4) of section
35 320.08053, Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (4),
36 (5), and (6), respectively, subsection (1) is amended, and new
37 subsections (2) and (3) are added to that section, to read:
38 320.08053 Establishment of specialty license plates.—
39 (1) If a specialty license plate requested by an
40 organization is approved by law, the organization must submit
41 the proposed art design for the specialty license plate to the
42 department, as soon as practicable but no later than 60 days
43 after the act approving the specialty license plate becomes a
44 law:
45 (a) The proposed art design for the specialty license
46 plate.
47 (b) A 5-year financial projection that:
48 1. Outlines anticipated revenues and planned expenditures
49 of the revenues to be derived from the sale of the requested
50 specialty license plate.
51 2. Provides a list of administrative expenses that the
52 approved specialty license plate organization anticipates, if
53 such expenses are authorized by s. 320.08058.
54 3. Provides a list of third parties to which the approved
55 specialty license plate organization plans to transfer, convey,
56 or otherwise distribute the specialty license plate annual use
57 fees in a medium prescribed by the department, as soon as
58 practicable, but no later than 60 days after the act approving
59 the specialty license plate becomes a law .
60 (2) If the financial projection required in paragraph
61 (1)(b) is not received by the department from the approved
62 specialty license plate organization within the timeframe
63 specified in subsection (1), then the specialty license plate is
64 deauthorized.
65 (3) By December 31 of each year, the department must submit
66 a report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the
67 Speaker of the House of Representatives summarizing the
68 financial projections submitted to the department pursuant to
69 paragraph (1)(b). The report must also include the department’s
70 notification regarding the status of organizations whose
71 revenues have been withheld as provided in s. 320.08062(2)(d).
72 Section 2. Paragraph (a) of subsection (10) and subsection
73 (12) of section 320.08056, Florida Statutes, are amended to
74 read:
75 320.08056 Specialty license plates.—
76 (10)(a) A specialty license plate annual use fee collected
77 and distributed under this chapter, or any interest earned from
78 those fees, may be distributed to either a domestic corporation
79 as defined in s. 617.01401(4) that has filed its articles of
80 incorporation with the Department of State pursuant to chapter
81 617 or a foreign corporation as defined in s. 617.01401 that has
82 complied with s. 617.1503 and is authorized to conduct its
83 affairs in Florida. Such corporations authorized by law to
84 collect annual use fees from a specialty license plate may not :
85 1. Transfer, convey, or otherwise distribute the annual use
86 fees or any interest earned from those fees to any third party
87 unless the third party is a domestic corporation as defined in
88 s. 617.01401(4) which has filed its articles of incorporation
89 with the Department of State pursuant to chapter 617 or a
90 foreign corporation as defined in s. 617.01401 which has
91 complied with s. 617.1503 and is authorized to conduct its
92 affairs in Florida.
93 2. Use the annual use fees or any interest earned from
94 those fees Be used for commercial or for-profit activities nor
95 for general or administrative expenses, except as authorized by
96 s. 320.08058 or to pay the cost of the audit or report required
97 by s. 320.08062(1).
98 3. Expend the annual use fees or The fees and any interest
99 earned from the fees outside may be expended only for use in
100 this state unless the annual use fee is derived from the sale of
101 United States Armed Forces and veterans-related specialty
102 license plates pursuant to paragraph (3)(d) for the Support Our
103 Troops, American Legion, and Honor Flight license plates;
104 paragraphs (4)(b), (q), and (v) for the Florida Salutes
105 Veterans, United States Marine Corps, and Military Services
106 license plates, respectively; and s. 320.0891 for the U.S.
107 Paratrooper license plate.
108 (12) Notwithstanding s. 320.08058(3)(a), the department, in
109 cooperation with the independent colleges or universities as
110 described in s. 1009.89, shall create a standard template
111 specialty license plate with a unique logo or graphic
112 identifying each independent college or university. Each
113 independent college or university may elect to use this standard
114 template specialty license plate in lieu of its own specialty
115 license plate. Annual use fees from the sale of these license
116 plates shall be distributed to the independent college or
117 university for which the logo or graphic is displayed on the
118 license plate and shall be used as provided in s. 320.08058(3).
119 An independent college or university opting to use the standard
120 template specialty license plate shall have the standard
121 template specialty license plate sales added to the total number
122 of remaining current valid registrations under paragraph (8)(a)
123 for the formerly separate independent college and university
124 license plates which were issued before the independent college
125 or university elected to use the standard template specialty
126 license plate for purposes of the standard template specialty
127 license plate meeting the minimum license plate sales threshold
128 in paragraph (8)(a) and for determining the license plate limit
129 in s. 320.08053(5)(b) s. 320.08053(3)(b) . Specialty license
130 plates created pursuant to this subsection must be ordered
131 directly from the department. If the independent college or
132 university elects to use the standard template specialty license
133 plate, the department shall discontinue the existing specialty
134 license plate and, notwithstanding paragraph (8)(c), shall
135 continue to collect the applicable specialty license plate
136 annual use fee under paragraph (3)(d) or subsection (4) for the
137 remainder of the 10-year license plate replacement period for
138 the existing plate being discontinued or being replaced with the
139 standard template specialty license plate.
140 Section 3. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3), subsections
141 (66) and (67), paragraph (a) of subsection (71), paragraph (a)
142 of subsection (72), paragraph (a) of subsection (73), paragraph
143 (a) of subsection (74), paragraph (a) of subsection (75),
144 paragraph (a) of subsection (76), paragraph (a) of subsection
145 (77), paragraph (a) of subsection (78), and paragraph (d) of
146 subsection (101) of section 320.08058, Florida Statutes, are
147 amended, and subsections (136) through (143) are added to that
148 section, to read:
149 320.08058 Specialty license plates.—
150 (3) COLLEGIATE LICENSE PLATES.—
151 (a) The department shall develop a collegiate license plate
152 as provided in this section for state and independent
153 universities domiciled in this state. However, any collegiate
154 license plate created or established after October 1, 2002, must
155 comply with the requirements of s. 320.08053, other than the
156 presale voucher requirements in s. 320.08053(4)(b) s.
157 320.08053(2)(b) , and be specifically authorized by an act of the
158 Legislature. Collegiate license plates must bear the colors and
159 design approved by the department as appropriate for each state
160 and independent university. The word “Florida” must be stamped
161 across the bottom of the plate in small letters.
162 (66) ENDLESS SUMMER LICENSE PLATES.—
163 (a) The department shall develop an Endless Summer license
164 plate for display on a motor vehicle and for display on a
165 motorcycle as provided in this section. Endless Summer license
166 plates must bear the colors and design approved by the
167 department. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the
168 plate, and the words “Endless Summer” must appear at the bottom
169 of the plate. Any department-approved image must be placed on
170 the far left side of a plate for display on a motorcycle.
171 (b) The license plate annual use fees shall be distributed
172 to Surfing’s Evolution & Preservation Corporation to fund its
173 activities, programs, and projects aimed at preserving the sport
174 of surfing. Surfing’s Evolution & Preservation Corporation may
175 retain all revenue from the annual use fees until all startup
176 costs for developing and establishing the plate have been
177 recovered. Thereafter, up to 10 percent of the annual use fee
178 revenue may be used for promotion and marketing of the specialty
179 license plate and administrative costs directly associated with
180 the corporation’s programs and the specialty license plate.
181 Surfing’s Evolution & Preservation Corporation shall use the
182 remaining funds as follows:
183 1. To fund the proposed Surfing’s Evolution & Preservation
184 Experience project.
185 2. To provide funds for the provision of lifeguards or the
186 building of artificial reefs.
187 3. To provide funds to organizations that house the history
188 and artifacts of surfing or promote the sport through exhibits,
189 lectures, and events.
190 4. To support programs and events of other organizations
191 that support beaches and oceans and promote education on beach
192 safety, coastal pollution, and beach ecology.
193 (c) The number of valid specialty license plates issued for
194 display on a motor vehicle and for display on a motorcycle must
195 be added together to determine whether the specialty license
196 plate must be discontinued pursuant to s. 320.08056(8)(a).
197 (67) FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE LICENSE PLATES.—
198 (a) 1. The department shall develop a Fraternal Order of
199 Police license plate as provided in this section. The plate must
200 bear the colors and design approved by the department. The word
201 “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words
202 “Fraternal Order of Police” must appear at the bottom of the
203 plate.
204 2. The department may issue the plate only to an applicant
205 who submits a notarized letter from the Florida State Lodge of
206 the Fraternal Order of Police stating that the applicant is a
207 member of the lodge in good standing or a member of a lodge
208 member’s family, together with other fees and documents required
209 for a specialty plate.
210 (b) The annual use fees shall be distributed to the Florida
211 State Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police, which shall retain
212 all proceeds until the startup costs to develop and establish
213 the plate have been recovered. Thereafter, the proceeds shall be
214 distributed to the Florida State Lodge Fraternal Order of Police
215 Memorial Foundation , Inc., a nonprofit corporation under s.
216 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, which shall distribute
217 funds according to its articles of incorporation of the
218 Fraternal Order of Police and used as follows:
219 1. A maximum of 10 percent of the proceeds may be used to
220 promote and market the plate, to administer the license plate
221 program, and to pay administrative costs directly associated
222 with the state Fraternal Order of Police Law Enforcement
223 Memorial.
224 2. The remaining proceeds shall be used by the foundation
225 to fund projects, programs, or events related to the memorial or
226 to fund improvements, maintenance, or other support for the
227 memorial .
228 (71) FREEMASONRY LICENSE PLATES.—
229 (a) Notwithstanding s. 45, chapter 2008-176, Laws of
230 Florida, as amended by s. 21, chapter 2010-223, Laws of Florida,
231 the department shall develop a Freemasonry license plate as
232 provided in this section and s. 320.08053(1) and (4) s.
233 320.08053(1) and (2) . The word “Florida” must appear at the top
234 of the plate, and the words “In God We Trust” must appear at the
235 bottom of the plate.
236 (72) AMERICAN LEGION LICENSE PLATES.—
237 (a) Notwithstanding s. 45, chapter 2008-176, Laws of
238 Florida, as amended by s. 21, chapter 2010-223, Laws of Florida,
239 the department shall develop an American Legion license plate as
240 provided in s. 320.08053(1) and (4) s. 320.08053(1) and (2) and
241 this section. The plate must bear the colors and design approved
242 by the department. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of
243 the plate, and the words “American Legion” must appear at the
244 bottom of the plate.
245 (73) LAUREN’S KIDS LICENSE PLATES.—
246 (a) Notwithstanding s. 45, chapter 2008-176, Laws of
247 Florida, as amended by s. 21, chapter 2010-223, Laws of Florida,
248 the department shall develop a Lauren’s Kids, Prevent Child
249 Sexual Abuse license plate as provided in s. 320.08053(1) and
250 (4) s. 320.08053(1) and (2) and this section. The plate must
251 bear the colors and design approved by the department. The word
252 “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words
253 “Lauren’s Kids” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
254 (74) BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS LICENSE PLATES.—
255 (a) Notwithstanding s. 45, chapter 2008-176, Laws of
256 Florida, as amended by s. 21, chapter 2010-223, Laws of Florida,
257 the department shall develop a Big Brothers Big Sisters license
258 plate as provided in s. 320.08053(1) and (4) s. 320.08053(1) and
259 (2) and this section. The plate must bear the colors and design
260 approved by the department. The word “Florida” must appear at
261 the top of the plate, and the words “Big Brothers Big Sisters”
262 must appear at the bottom of the plate.
263 (75) FALLEN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS LICENSE PLATES.—
264 (a) Notwithstanding s. 45, chapter 2008-176, Laws of
265 Florida, as amended by s. 21, chapter 2010-223, Laws of Florida,
266 the department shall develop a Fallen Law Enforcement Officers
267 license plate as provided in s. 320.08053(1) and (4) s.
268 320.08053(1) and (2) and this section. The plate must bear the
269 colors and design approved by the department. The word “Florida”
270 must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “A Hero
271 Remembered Never Dies” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
272 (76) FLORIDA SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION LICENSE PLATES.—
273 (a) Notwithstanding s. 45, chapter 2008-176, Laws of
274 Florida, as amended by s. 21, chapter 2010-223, Laws of Florida,
275 the department shall develop a Florida Sheriffs Association
276 license plate as provided in s. 320.08053(1) and (4) s.
277 320.08053(1) and (2) and this section. The plate must bear the
278 colors and design approved by the department. A sheriff’s star
279 must appear on the left side of the plate, the word “Florida”
280 must appear at the top of the plate, and the words “Florida
281 Sheriffs Association” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
282 (77) KEISER UNIVERSITY LICENSE PLATES.—
283 (a) Notwithstanding s. 45, chapter 2008-176, Laws of
284 Florida, as amended by s. 21, chapter 2010-223, Laws of Florida,
285 the department shall develop a Keiser University license plate
286 as provided in s. 320.08053(1) and (4) s. 320.08053(1) and (2)
287 and this section. The plate must bear the colors and design
288 approved by the department. The word “Florida” must appear at
289 the top of the plate, and the words “Keiser University” must
290 appear at the bottom of the plate.
291 (78) MOFFITT CANCER CENTER LICENSE PLATES.—
292 (a) Notwithstanding s. 45, chapter 2008-176, Laws of
293 Florida, as amended by s. 21, chapter 2010-223, Laws of Florida,
294 the department shall develop a Moffitt Cancer Center license
295 plate as provided in s. 320.08053(1) and (4) s. 320.08053(1) and
296 (2) and this section. The word “Florida” must appear at the top
297 of the plate, and the words “Moffitt Cancer Center” must appear
298 at the bottom of the plate.
299 (101) DIVINE NINE LICENSE PLATES.—
300 (d) A Divine Nine license plate:
301 1. May be personalized.
302 2. May not be transferred between vehicle owners.
304 License plates created pursuant to this subsection shall have
305 their plate sales combined for the purpose of meeting the
306 minimum license plate sales threshold in s. 320.08056(8)(a) and
307 for determining the license plate limit in s. 320.08053(5)(b) s.
308 320.08053(3)(b) . License plates created pursuant to this
309 subsection must be ordered directly from the department.
310 (136) MIAMI NORTHWESTERN ALUMNI ASSOCIATION LICENSE
311 PLATES.—
312 (a) The department shall develop a Miami Northwestern
313 Alumni Association license plate as provided in this section and
314 s. 320.08053. The plate must bear the colors and design approved
315 by the department. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of
316 the plate, and the words “Miami Northwestern Alumni Association”
317 must appear at the bottom of the plate.
318 (b) The annual use fees from the sale of the plate must be
319 distributed to the Miami Northwestern Alumni Association, Inc.,
320 which may use up to 10 percent of the fees for administrative
321 costs and marketing of the plate. The balance of the fees must
322 be used by the Miami Northwestern Alumni Association, Inc., to
323 fund academic programs, athletic programs, and need-based
324 scholarships for the benefit of Miami Northwestern Senior High
325 School students and the Miami Northwestern Senior High School
326 Performing and Visual Arts Center.
327 (137) CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS HIGH SCHOOL LICENSE PLATES.—
328 (a) The department shall develop a Christopher Columbus
329 High School license plate as provided in this section and s.
330 320.08053. The plate must bear the colors and design approved by
331 the department. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the
332 plate, and the words “Christopher Columbus High School” must
333 appear at the bottom of the plate.
334 (b) The annual use fees from the sale of the plate must be
335 distributed to Christopher Columbus High School, Inc., which may
336 use up to 10 percent of the fees for administrative costs and
337 marketing of the plate. The balance of the fees must be used by
338 Christopher Columbus High School, Inc., to fund academic
339 programs, athletic programs, and need-based scholarships for the
340 benefit of Christopher Columbus High School students.
341 (138) ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP (UFC) LICENSE PLATES.—
342 (a) The department shall develop an Ultimate Fighting
343 Championship (UFC) license plate as provided in this section and
344 s. 320.08053. The plate must bear the colors and design approved
345 by the department. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of
346 the plate, and the words “UFC Lives Here” must appear at the
347 bottom of the plate.
348 (b) The annual use fees from the sale of the plate must be
349 distributed to the UFC Foundation, a nonprofit corporation under
350 s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, which may use up to
351 10 percent of the proceeds to promote and market the plate. The
352 UFC Foundation shall use the remainder of the proceeds to
353 support charities and nonprofits in this state which align with
354 the foundation’s mission and goals, such as children’s
355 hospitals, support for first responders and the military, and
356 youth advocacy and mentorship, and to fund the development and
357 operation of youth mentorship programs in partnership with local
358 law enforcement agencies.
359 (139) UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY LICENSE PLATES.—
360 (a) The department shall develop a United States Naval
361 Academy license plate as provided in this section and s.
362 320.08053. The plate must bear the colors and design approved by
363 the department. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the
364 plate, and the words “Go Navy, Beat Army!” must appear at the
365 bottom of the plate.
366 (b) The annual use fees from the sale of the plate must be
367 distributed to the Jacksonville Chapter of the Naval Academy
368 Alumni Association, which may use up to 10 percent of the fees
369 for administrative costs related to promotion and marketing of
370 the plate. The chapter shall use the remaining fees to provide
371 grants to charitable organizations in this state which directly
372 support veterans and their families for purposes including, but
373 not limited to:
374 1. Providing food or shelter.
375 2. Providing service animals or support animals to wounded
376 veterans.
377 3. Supporting children of servicemembers killed in the line
378 of duty.
379 (140) UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY LICENSE PLATES.—
380 (a) The department shall develop a United States Military
381 Academy license plate as provided in this section and s.
382 320.08053. The plate must bear the colors and design approved by
383 the department. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the
384 plate, and the words “Go Army, Beat Navy!” must appear at the
385 bottom of the plate.
386 (b) The annual use fees from the sale of the plate must be
387 distributed to Bay Area Legal Services, Inc., which may use up
388 to 10 percent of the fees for administrative costs related to
389 promotion and marketing of the plate. The balance of the fees
390 must be used by Bay Area Legal Services, Inc., to fund the
391 Florida Veterans Legal Helpline.
392 (141) MIAMI DADE COLLEGE LICENSE PLATES.—
393 (a) The department shall develop a Miami Dade College
394 license plate as provided in this section and s. 320.08053. The
395 plate must bear the colors and design approved by the
396 department. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the
397 plate, and the words “Miami Dade College” must appear at the
398 bottom of the plate.
399 (b) The annual use fees from the sale of the plate must be
400 distributed to the Miami Dade College Foundation, Inc., which
401 may use up to 10 percent of the fees for administrative costs
402 and marketing of the plate. The balance of the fees must be used
403 by the Miami Dade College Foundation, Inc., to fund student
404 scholarships.
405 (142) FLORIDA FILM LEGACY LICENSE PLATES.—
406 (a) The department shall develop a Florida Film Legacy
407 license plate as provided in this section and s. 320.08053. The
408 plate must bear the colors and design approved by the department
409 in consultation with Feature Florida Partnerships, Inc. The word
410 “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate, and the words
411 “Film Legacy” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
412 (b) The annual use fees from the sale of the plate must be
413 distributed to Feature Florida Partnerships, Inc., a nonprofit
414 corporation under s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. By
415 September 1, 2027, and annually thereafter, Feature Florida
416 Partnerships, Inc., must submit a financial report to the
417 department detailing the use of such fees during the preceding
418 fiscal year.
419 (143) ST. PETERSBURG COLLEGE LICENSE PLATES.—
420 (a) The department shall develop a St. Petersburg College
421 license plate as provided in this section and s. 320.08053. The
422 plate must bear the colors and design approved by the
423 department. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the
424 plate, and the words “St. Petersburg College” must appear at the
425 bottom of the plate.
426 (b) The annual use fees from the sale of the plate must be
427 distributed to the St. Petersburg College Foundation, Inc., and
428 allocated as follows:
429 1. Ten percent may be used for administrative costs related
430 to the promotion and marketing of the plate.
431 2. Forty percent must be dedicated to funding student
432 scholarships to ensure access to quality education for students
433 in need.
434 3. Fifty percent must be used to fund initiatives that
435 embolden student success, particularly in emerging technologies
436 and workforce development programs, to prepare students for
437 high-demand careers and the future economy.
438 Section 4. Paragraph (d) of subsection (2) of section
439 320.08062, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
440 320.08062 Audits and attestations required; annual use fees
441 of specialty license plates.—
442 (2)
443 (d) If an organization fails to comply with the
444 department’s recommendations and corrective actions as outlined
445 in paragraph (c), the revenue distributions shall be
446 discontinued until completion of the next regular session of the
447 Legislature. By December 31 of each year and as part of the
448 report required in s. 320.08053(3), the department shall notify
449 the Governor, the President of the Senate , and the Speaker of
450 the House of Representatives by the first day of the next
451 regular session of any organization whose revenues have been
452 withheld as a result of this paragraph. If the Legislature does
453 not provide direction to the organization and the department
454 regarding the status of the undistributed revenues, the
455 department shall deauthorize the plate and the undistributed
456 revenues shall be immediately deposited into the Highway Safety
457 Operating Trust Fund.
458 Section 5. This act shall take effect October 1, 2026.