Nevada committee hears bill to create Las Vegas Aces specialty license plate with fees to benefit Aces Foundation

Assembly members heard testimony on Assembly Bill 117 on a proposal to create a Las Vegas Aces specialty motor vehicle license plate and direct a portion of the additional fees to the Las Vegas Aces Foundation.

The measure, presented by Assemblymember Tracy Brown-May, would authorize the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles to design and issue a special plate in cooperation with the Las Vegas Aces and the Aces Foundation. The bill sets the standard DMV issuance fee at $35 and renewal at $10, and establishes an additional voluntary contribution of $25 at initial issuance and $20 at renewal to benefit the Aces Foundation programs "supporting health and fitness, disadvantaged children and families, education, and women's sports," Brown-May said.

Brown-May told the committee the bill contains standard language used for other specialty plates but includes exemptions so the DMV may produce the plate immediately rather than waiting for a statutory minimum number of preorders. "There are two pathways. One is this pathway which requires those exemptions so that we can get the plate into production right away," she said.

Nut graf: Backers told the committee the plate would give fans an opportunity to support the Aces Foundation while wearing team colors, and the DMV indicated the bill carries no fiscal impact to the agency.

During the hearing, Trevor Parrish, manager of government affairs for the Las Vegas Chamber, voiced the Chamber's support, saying the plate would allow fans of the WNBA champions "to help contribute to the Aces Foundation, which works to support health and fitness for disadvantaged children and families, as well as supporting education in women's sports." Sean Sevehr, a Nevada DMV representative, said the DMV is neutral on AB117 and provided what he described as a "0 impact fiscal note." Brown-May confirmed the sponsors had shared draft mockups of the plate but said the designs remained in draft form and were not distributed to the committee.

Committee members asked questions about the fee amounts and the statutory exemptions. Assemblymember Wynne asked why a $35 fee was used; Brown-May replied that $35 is the standard fee already found in statute and the sponsors sought to remain consistent with existing specialty plate language. Assemblymember Vice Chair Carter asked whether the number of exemptions effectively recreated existing processes; Brown-May explained the exemptions are intended to allow immediate production rather than waiting for the DMV's normal minimum-application threshold, and that the extra fee is voluntary for vehicle owners who choose the specialty plate.

The bill text discussed by sponsors includes: (1) authority for the DMV to work with the Aces to design and issue the plate; (2) the standard issuance and renewal fees payable to DMV plus the voluntary additional contribution to the Aces Foundation; (3) an exemption removing the usual minimum-application requirement so the DMV may produce the plate immediately; and (4) an allowance for the DMV to accept gifts, grants or donations to offset production costs.

No formal committee vote was taken during the hearing. Brown-May closed the presentation by encouraging committee members to attend an Aces game and reiterated the sponsors' appreciation for the committee's consideration. The committee then closed the AB117 hearing and moved on to the next agenda item.

Ending: The committee received no in-person opposition and no callers opposed the bill. With supporters from the Las Vegas sports and business community present, the record shows proponents urging the committee to advance a specialty plate that would raise voluntary funds for the Aces Foundation while authorizing the DMV to produce the plate without waiting for the usual minimum number of preorders.