10 Year Analysis Complete for Substitute Senate Bill 5444 - TECHNICAL UPDATE

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SSB 5444, titled AN ACT Relating to special license plates and personalized license plates, has been passed by the House of Representatives. The Office of Financial Management has identified this bill as requiring a ten-year projection of increased cost to the taxpayers or affected fee payers.

Ten-year projection:

Fiscal Year		Historical Throwback Plate fee	Personalized Plate fee	Total
2026		$9,286,200	$575,700	$9,861,900
2027		$7,720,500	$868,100	$8,588,600
2028		$7,978,000	$871,700	$8,849,700
2029		$8,144,200	$875,400	$9,019,600
2030		$8,402,400	$879,300	$9,281,700
2031		$8,625,900	$883,300	$9,509,200
2032		$8,819,500	$885,300	$9,704,800
2033		$8,987,200	$887,300	$9,874,500
2034		$9,132,400	$889,200	$10,021,600
2035		$9,258,300	$891,000	$10,149,300
Total:		$86,354,600	$8,506,300	$94,860,900

Department of Licensing:

The Department of Licensing makes the following assumptions regarding this bill.

Standard special plate definition/criteria:

• Anyone can buy the specialty plate for use on a vehicle registered to that person.

• Specialty plates can be used on motor vehicles, trailers and motorcycles.

• All customers pay the same specialty plate fee.

• The special plate and vehicle expirations match.

• Specialty plates are renewed annually with the vehicle.

• Specialty plates are transferable.

This bill creates a special license plate and establishes fees of $40 for an original, $30 for a renewed plate and establishes the distribution of those fees.

If this bill becomes law, it will allow vehicle owners the option to choose a new type of specialty license plate for their vehicle in lieu of the standard issue plate. There is no information available, and it is not known how many of these new specialty plates might be purchased. The total revenue impact is partially indeterminate.

According to the Improving Young Driver Safety Implementation Plan (Department of Licensing, 2024, p. 122), black plates introduced in Colorado, Iowa, Mississippi, and Minnesota have seen an average issuance rate of 3.5%. Applying this rate, DOL projects 232,155 applications for the Historical Throwback specialty plate in its first year, with an estimated 43,015 applications annually thereafter.

Sec. 23 of this bill would amend RCW 46.17.210 to increase the renewal fee for personalized plates from $42 to $52 to be the same as the current fee for an original personalized plate maintaining the distribution of these fees.  The $10 increase to the personalized plate renewal fee is distributed to the Limited Fish and Wildlife Account (104).  Section 24 sets the effective date of sections 3 through 23 as November 1, 2025 with FY 2026 at a partial year or 8 months of revenue impact based on the March 2025 forecast. DOL does not anticipate any reduction in personalized plate renewals related to this fee increase since it essentially equalizes the fee for an original and renewal personalized plate. The revenue increase is estimated to be $575,700 in FY 2026

Ten-year projection prepared in consultation with the following agencies:


The following legislators voted yea:

Representative Sharon Tomiko Santos
Democrat
(360) 786-7944
sharontomiko.santos@leg.wa.gov

Representative Ed Orcutt
Republican
(360) 786-7990
ed.orcutt@leg.wa.gov

Representative Timm Ormsby
Democrat
(360) 786-7946
timm.ormsby@leg.wa.gov

Representative Larry Springer
Democrat
(360) 786-7822
larry.springer@leg.wa.gov

Representative Mike Steele
Republican
(360) 786-7832
mike.steele@leg.wa.gov

Representative Debra Entenman
Democrat
(360) 786-7918
debra.entenman@leg.wa.gov

Representative Roger Goodman
Democrat
(360) 786-7878
roger.goodman@leg.wa.gov

Representative Joe Fitzgibbon
Democrat
(360) 786-7952
joe.fitzgibbon@leg.wa.gov

Representative Joe Schmick
Republican
(360) 786-7844
joe.schmick@leg.wa.gov

Representative Brianna Thomas
Democrat
(360) 786-7978
THOMAS_BR@leg.wa.gov

Representative Cindy Ryu
Democrat
(360) 786-7880
cindy.ryu@leg.wa.gov

Representative Steve Tharinger
Democrat
(360) 786-7904
steve.tharinger@leg.wa.gov

Representative Laurie Jinkins
Democrat
(360) 786-7930
laurie.jinkins@leg.wa.gov

Representative Sharon Wylie
Democrat
(360) 786-7924
sharon.wylie@leg.wa.gov

Representative Gerry Pollet
Democrat
(360) 786-7886
gerry.pollet@leg.wa.gov

Representative Steve Bergquist
Democrat
(360) 786-7862
steve.bergquist@leg.wa.gov

Representative Jake Fey
Democrat
(360) 786-7974
jake.fey@leg.wa.gov

Representative Monica Jurado Stonier
Democrat
(360) 786-7872
monica.stonier@leg.wa.gov

Representative Mia Gregerson
Democrat
(360) 786-7868
mia.gregerson@leg.wa.gov

Representative Lillian Ortiz-Self
Democrat
(360) 786-7972
lillian.ortiz-self@leg.wa.gov

Representative Dan Griffey
Republican
(360) 786-7966
dan.griffey@leg.wa.gov

Representative Strom Peterson
Democrat
(360) 786-7950
strom.peterson@leg.wa.gov

Representative Drew Stokesbary
Republican
(360) 786-7846
drew.stokesbary@leg.wa.gov

Representative Michelle Caldier
Republican
(360) 786-7802
michelle.caldier@leg.wa.gov

Representative Tom Dent
Republican
(360) 786-7932
tom.dent@leg.wa.gov

Representative Skyler Rude
Republican
(360) 786-7828
skyler.rude@leg.wa.gov

Representative Adison Richards
Democrat
(360) 786-7964
RICHARDS_AD@leg.wa.gov

Representative Mary Dye
Republican
(360) 786-7942
mary.dye@leg.wa.gov

Representative Andrew Barkis
Republican
(360) 786-7824
andrew.barkis@leg.wa.gov

Representative Shelley Kloba
Democrat
(360) 786-7900
shelley.kloba@leg.wa.gov

Representative Mike Volz
Republican
(360) 786-7922
mike.volz@leg.wa.gov

Representative Beth Doglio
Democrat
(360) 786-7940
beth.doglio@leg.wa.gov

Representative Nicole Macri
Democrat
(360) 786-7826
nicole.macri@leg.wa.gov

Representative Kristine Reeves
Democrat
(360) 786-7830
kristine.reeves@leg.wa.gov

Representative Sharlett Mena
Democrat
(360) 786-7996
sharlett.mena@leg.wa.gov

Representative Carolyn Eslick
Republican
(360) 786-7816
carolyn.eslick@leg.wa.gov

Representative Lisa Callan
Democrat
(360) 786-7876
lisa.callan@leg.wa.gov

Representative Jenny Graham
Republican
(360) 786-7962
jenny.graham@leg.wa.gov

Representative Dave Paul
Democrat
(360) 786-7914
dave.paul@leg.wa.gov

Representative Chris Corry
Republican
(360) 786-7810
chris.corry@leg.wa.gov

Representative Jeremie Dufault
Republican
(360) 786-7874
DUFAULT_JE@leg.wa.gov

Representative Mari Leavitt
Democrat
(360) 786-7890
mari.leavitt@leg.wa.gov

Representative Melanie Morgan
Democrat
(360) 786-7906
melanie.morgan@leg.wa.gov

Representative Lauren Davis
Democrat
(360) 786-7910
lauren.davis@leg.wa.gov

Representative Debra Lekanoff
Democrat
(360) 786-7800
debra.lekanoff@leg.wa.gov

Representative My-Linh Thai
Democrat
(360) 786-7926
my-linh.thai@leg.wa.gov

Representative Amy Walen
Democrat
(360) 786-7848
amy.walen@leg.wa.gov

Representative Alex Ybarra
Republican
(360) 786-7808
alex.ybarra@leg.wa.gov

Representative Davina Duerr
Democrat
(360) 786-7928
davina.duerr@leg.wa.gov

Representative Alex Ramel
Democrat
(360) 786-7970
alex.ramel@leg.wa.gov

Representative Rob Chase
Republican
(360) 786-7984
Rob.Chase@leg.wa.gov

Representative David Hackney
Democrat
(360) 786-7956
David.Hackney@leg.wa.gov

Representative Mark Klicker
Republican
(360) 786-7836
Mark.Klicker@leg.wa.gov

Representative Peter Abbarno
Republican
(360) 786-7896
Peter.Abbarno@leg.wa.gov

Representative Tarra Simmons
Democrat
(360) 786-7934
Tarra.Simmons@leg.wa.gov

Representative Cyndy Jacobsen
Republican
(360) 786-7968
Cyndy.Jacobsen@leg.wa.gov

Representative Dan Bronoske
Democrat
(360) 786-7958
Dan.Bronoske@leg.wa.gov

Representative Jamila Taylor
Democrat
(360) 786-7898
Jamila.Taylor@leg.wa.gov

Representative Liz Berry
Democrat
(360) 786-7860
Liz.Berry@leg.wa.gov

Representative Alicia Rule
Democrat
(360) 786-7980
Alicia.Rule@leg.wa.gov

Representative April Berg
Democrat
(360) 786-7892
April.Berg@leg.wa.gov

Representative Mary Fosse
Democrat
(360) 786-7864
Mary.Fosse@leg.wa.gov

Representative Brandy Donaghy
Democrat
(360) 786-7804
Brandy.Donaghy@leg.wa.gov

Representative Chris Stearns
Democrat
(360) 786-7858
Chris.Stearns@leg.wa.gov

Representative Stephanie Barnard
Republican
(360) 786-7986
Stephanie.Barnard@leg.wa.gov

Representative April Connors
Republican
(360) 786-7882
April.Connors@leg.wa.gov

Representative Julio Cortes
Democrat
(360) 786-7840
Julio.Cortes@leg.wa.gov

Representative Travis Couture
Republican
(360) 786-7902
Travis.Couture@leg.wa.gov

Representative Darya Farivar
Democrat
(360) 786-7818
Darya.Farivar@leg.wa.gov

Representative Sam Low
Republican
(360) 786-7967
Sam.Low@leg.wa.gov

Representative Stephanie McClintock
Republican
(360) 786-7850
Stephanie.McClintock@leg.wa.gov

Representative Julia Reed
Democrat
(360) 786-7814
Julia.Reed@leg.wa.gov

Representative Suzanne Schmidt
Republican
(360) 786-7820
Suzanne.Schmidt@leg.wa.gov

Representative Chipalo Street
Democrat
(360) 786-7838
Chipalo.Street@leg.wa.gov

Representative Joe Timmons
Democrat
(360) 786-7854
Joe.Timmons@leg.wa.gov

Representative Kevin Waters
Republican
(360) 786-7994
Kevin.Waters@leg.wa.gov

Representative Clyde Shavers
Democrat
(360) 786-7884
Clyde.Shavers@leg.wa.gov

Representative Adam Bernbaum
Democrat
(360) 786-7916
BERNBAUM_AD@leg.wa.gov

Representative Greg Nance
Democrat
(360) 786-7842
Greg.Nance@leg.wa.gov

Representative Hunter Abell
Republican
(360) 786-7988
Hunter.Abell@leg.wa.gov

Representative Brian Burnett
Republican
(360) 786-7954
Brian.Burnett@leg.wa.gov

Representative Andrew Engell
Republican
(360) 786-7908
Andrew.Engell@leg.wa.gov

Representative Victoria Hunt
Democrat
(360) 786-7852
Victoria.Hunt@leg.wa.gov

Representative Michael Keaton
Republican
(360) 786-7948
Michael.Keaton@leg.wa.gov

Representative Deb Manjarrez
Republican
(360) 786-7856
Deb.Manjarrez@leg.wa.gov

Representative Matt Marshall
Republican
(360) 786-7912
Matt.Marshall@leg.wa.gov

Representative Gloria Mendoza
Republican
(360) 786-7960
Gloria.Mendoza@leg.wa.gov

Representative Lisa Parshley
Democrat
(360) 786-7992
Lisa.Parshley@leg.wa.gov

Representative Joshua Penner
Republican
(360) 786-7866
Joshua.Penner@leg.wa.gov

Representative John Ley
Republican
(360) 786-7812
John.Ley@leg.wa.gov

Representative Natasha Hill
Democrat
(360) 786-7888
Natasha.Hill@leg.wa.gov

Representative Shaun Scott
Democrat
(360) 786-7920
Shaun.Scott@leg.wa.gov

Representative David Stuebe
Republican
(360) 786-7976
David.Stuebe@leg.wa.gov

Representative Edwin Obras
Democrat
(360) 786-7834
Edwin.Obras@leg.wa.gov

Representative Osman Salahuddin
Democrat
(360) 786-7936
Osman.Salahuddin@leg.wa.gov

Representative Janice Zahn
Democrat
(360) 786-7894
Janice.Zahn@leg.wa.gov


The following legislators voted nay:

Representative Jim Walsh
Republican
(360) 786-7806
jim.walsh@leg.wa.gov

Representative Joel McEntire
Republican
(360) 786-7870
Joel.McEntire@leg.wa.gov



Legislative Bill Information Website: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/

Initiative 960 Website: http://www.ofm.wa.gov/tax/default.asp