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Committee advances omnibus bill creating several new specialty license plates, including a 988 suicide‑awareness plate
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Summary
An omnibus bill creating multiple specialty license plates — including a 988 suicide‑awareness plate and a sorority/fraternity plate program — was advanced by the House Transportation Committee on Feb. 17.
The House Transportation Committee advanced an omnibus bill that creates multiple new specialty license plates and funds, including a 988 suicide‑awareness plate.
What the bill does: the committee adopted an amendment that added a set of plates and funds (examples in the amendment include youth charities, made‑in‑Arizona, education fundraising, sorority and fraternity plates, and the suicide‑awareness 988 plate). The amendment also clarified fee distribution: of the $25 annual special‑plate fee, $8 is an administration fee deposited to the State Highway Fund and $17 is an annual donation deposited to the designated special fund. For initial issuance, the bill specifies that an organization must raise a $32,000 threshold payment to ADOT by Dec. 31, 2025, to qualify for a new plate under the committee amendment.
Supporters and testimony: proponents described the plates as fundraising mechanisms for private nonprofit programs. Justin Chase, CEO of Solari Crisis & Human Services (operator of the 988 hotline in Arizona), urged passage of the 988 suicide‑awareness plate to raise funds for crisis lines and mental‑health programs and stressed that “visibility saves lives.” Clayton Wolf of the Saguaro Children’s Charities described the proposed youth charities plate as a way to create a dedicated, multi‑grantee funding stream for many small children’s nonprofits.
Representative Cruz explained how the sorority/fraternity plate would work: ADOT would produce a base sorority/fraternity plate and qualifying organizations that meet university recognition criteria and raise the required fee would be allowed to display their logo on the plate; Cruz and witnesses said organizations would be limited to fraternities/sororities recognized by university systems and vetted via the department’s process.
Administrability and timing: ADOT staff and committee members discussed logistical details including the size and placement of HOV stickers for other bills, initial fundraising thresholds, and rules for recognized organizations. Several members asked that sponsors work with ADOT on final design and implementation details; sponsors said they had been working with ADOT and other stakeholders.
Committee action: the committee adopted the amendment and returned HB 2111 with a due‑pass recommendation. The recorded tally at the time was six ayes, zero nays and one present.
Ending: The committee advance places the plates on a path to the House floor; sponsors said they will continue to work with ADOT and interested organizations to finalize plate designs and to confirm eligible organizations meet vetting criteria.
