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Senate narrows personalized license-plate ban, passes SB97 after amendment
Summary
After debate and competing substitute motions, the Utah Senate amended and passed Senate Bill 97 to limit the state's refusal authority over personalized license plates to groups rather than individuals, then approved the bill 20–7 with 2 absent and sent it to the House.
The Utah State Senate on Day 23 approved Senate Bill 97, a measure changing how the Motor Vehicle Division and Tax Commission may refuse personalized license-plate applications, after adopting an amendment that narrowed the bill’s reach.
Senator Luz Escamilla, sponsor of the original measure, reintroduced the bill (SB97) and said the change responds to concerns the Tax Commission raised about derogatory or disparaging specialty plates. Escamilla said the intent is to give the commission clearer standards for when a plate may be denied.
Senator Harper moved a substitute that would have phased out issuance of new personalized plates after June 30 and grandfathered existing plates. Harper argued the Legislature should debate whether to continue personalized plates at all, saying, “If this is a big issue, we ought to debate it and see if we want to keep them or not.”
Opponents said constituents value personalized plates and urged more deliberation. Senator Escamilla told colleagues he opposed removing the option for residents, saying the issue could generate strong reactions from voters and that the Tax Commission needs guidance rather than an outright ban.
Senator Curtis Bramble offered a narrower amendment to the original bill, striking the phrase “person or” on line 37 so the discretion to refuse plates would apply to groups (protected classes) rather than any individual who might be offended. Bramble argued limiting the statute to groups better matches the intent and reduces the risk that any individual could claim offense.
Senator Henderson urged support for Bramble’s amendment as a balanced fix. The Senate voted to adopt the amendment by voice, then proceeded to a roll-call vote on final passage. President Adams announced that SB97 had received 20 yea votes, 7 nay votes and 2 absent and would be sent to the House for consideration.
The debate focused on whether the Legislature should take a broad approach to personalized plates or limit statutory discretion to group-based disparagement, and on providing the Tax Commission clearer criteria for administrative decisions. No judicial or external legal authority was cited on the floor during debate; sponsors referenced administrative practice and the Tax Commission’s role.
Next steps: SB97 will be transmitted to the Utah House of Representatives for further consideration.
