Committee widens eligibility and oversight for specialty license plates and creates several new plates

Representative Brandon presented PCS for CS for HB 639, which modifies the law governing specialty license plates. The bill would allow any Floridian (not only Fraternal Order of Police members) to purchase the FOP license plate and directs revenue to memorial and family‑support activities for officers killed in the line of duty. It would require organizations that receive revenues from specialty plates to be registered as Florida nonprofit corporations and restrict the funneling of those funds to out‑of‑state or foreign entities that are not registered in Florida. The bill also requires five‑year financial projections for organizations seeking new plates and an annual DHS/DMV summary by December 31 listing projections and any withheld funds reported to the governor and legislature (Representative Brandon).

Representative Busabe offered and the committee adopted an amendment to create a Florida Film Legacy specialty plate as a voluntary, market‑driven way to invest in the state’s film industry and boost jobs and tourism (Representative Busabe). Lisa Henning, representing the Florida State Fraternal Order of Police, waived in support. The committee reported the PCS favorably (26–0). Representative Brandon said the plate expansion does not create a new plate for FOP but amends existing statutory restrictions to widen purchaser eligibility while strengthening accountability and financial reporting requirements (Representative Brandon).