Committee advances New Mexico United specialty plate; one member records opposition

The House Appropriations and Finance Committee voted to advance Senate Bill 377, which would create a specialty license plate for the New Mexico United professional soccer club and direct $38 of the $50 specialty-plate fee to the state tourism campaign, the sponsor said.

Senator Mayzes presented the bill and described expected plate colors and marketing reach. He said the specialty plate would add $50 to a purchaser’s fee, with "$38 will go to the tourism department for the New Mexico True campaign, and $12 will go to pay for the plates." The bill includes a statutory provision, explained by the sponsor, that removes specialty plates from active listing if sales do not meet thresholds after five years; the plate remains in statute but is removed from active listing at the Motor Vehicle Division.

Committee members spoke favorably about supporting the soccer team and the tourism promotion tied to the plate. Representative Brooks and Representative Brown expressed support, and Representative Dow publicly registered opposition during the voice vote. The committee chair recorded the motion to advance the bill as carried after Representative Dow was shown in opposition.

Representative Duncan moved the bill be given a "do pass" recommendation; Representative Brown seconded. The chair called for opposition, and the record shows Representative Dow in opposition. The committee advanced the bill to the next step in the legislative process.

The sponsor and committee members did not provide a sales projection or an estimate of the number of plates expected to be sold at the hearing.