Mass. bill would limit vanity-plate surcharge to a one-time charge

Representatives James Arciero, Leonard Kay and Steven J. Ouellette filed a bill on Jan. 17, 2025, that would restrict Massachusetts’ Registry of Motor Vehicles to charging a single special fee for a vanity license plate and require subsequent renewals to be billed at the same rate as standard, non‑vanity plates. The bill is House No. 3605 and is listed under Transportation in the House docket.

The measure states that “notwithstanding any special or general law, rule or regulation to the contrary,” the Registry of Motor Vehicles shall charge only one special fee for vanity plate registration; any renewal fees thereafter “shall be at the same amount as for standard non‑vanity plates in the commonwealth.” Section 2 sets the effective date as Jan. 1 of the year following final passage into law.

The filing lists James Arciero (2nd Middlesex) as the lead sponsor and names Leonard Kay and Steven J. Ouellette (8th Bristol) as additional petitioners. The docket shows Arciero and Kay added on Jan. 17, 2025; Ouellette was added Jan. 27, 2025. The bill text does not include projected revenue impacts, enforcement language, or committee referrals beyond the Transportation classification.

As submitted, the measure is a legislative proposal rather than an enacted change; it must pass both chambers and receive the governor’s signature to take effect. The filing does not record any committee action, public testimony or votes.

If enacted as written, the change would alter how the Registry of Motor Vehicles accounts for vanity‑plate revenue by eliminating a recurring surcharge and aligning renewal fees with standard plate renewals. The docket filing does not specify how the Registry should adjust existing accounts or state whether previously issued vanity plates would be eligible for the single‑fee treatment. The bill provides no implementation timeline beyond the Jan. 1 effective date after enactment.