Committee hears public support for expanded special license plates, staff outlines fees and rollout

A public hearing on Substitute Senate Bill 5444, which would change how Washington issues special and personalized license plates, opened before the Washington State House Transportation Committee. Chair Fye convened the session and Vice Chair Reid closed public testimony after a series of in-person and remote witnesses.

Sandy Myers, staff to the committee, summarized the bill’s core provisions. “Substitute Senate Bill 5444 concerns special license plates and personalized license plates,” Myers said, describing the Department of Licensing’s current application method, the 3,500-signature requirement for sponsor-driven plates, and startup and administrative fees. She said the bill would prohibit the department from issuing or accepting applications for new legislatively created special plates until Jan. 1, 2029, require the department to prominently display a special license plate moratorium on its website, and create a Special License Plate Work Group to…