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Senate adopts substitute to keep Centennial license plate and refer differences to conference
Summary
Senators debated whether to terminate Centennial license plates to spur sales or convert the Centennial plate into a state plate. After extended floor discussion on revenue impacts and public-safety reflectivity, the Senate adopted a substitute and passed it to the House for conference.
The Senate considered House Bill 48 on Feb. 9, 1996, a proposal concerning Centennial license plates. Senator Montgomery explained the House-passed approach to terminate issuance at year-end to stimulate sales and close an expected revenue shortfall for the Centennial Commission. Senator Black offered a substitute that would make the Centennial plate the state license plate (removing the $25 purchase and $10 renewal fees for new issuance) and argued this would preserve the plate, improve reflectivity and avoid repeated appropriations.
Floor debate focused on two competing objectives: (1) generating near‑term revenue for the Centennial Commission by terminating issuance as a limited‑time offering, and (2) preserving the Centennial plate as a long‑term state plate (with demonstrated reflectivity and public‑safety benefits). Senator Montgomery warned that terminating issuance could increase immediate purchases and thus revenues; Senator Black and others said replacement by attrition and a permanent state plate better served safety and long‑term policy.
The Senate voted to adopt a first substitute to HB48; the substitute passed the Senate on a recorded vote (the substitute recorded 25 aye votes, 0 nays, 4 absent) and the measure was sent back to the House for conference committee consideration.
Senator Black, Senator Montgomery, Senator Steele and Senator Reese were major floor participants in the substitute debate. The Senate recorded the substitute's passage and referred the bill to conference so negotiators can reconcile revenue and policy goals.
