Three bills in Washington would create new license plate designs

OLYMPIA – Washington drivers can choose from 47 specially designed license plates that support causes including breast cancer research, orca preservation, square dancing and lighthouse restoration.

And drivers may soon have even more choices.

The House Transportation Committee on Thursday passed three bills to create new special license plates for groups that support tree sanctuaries, farmers and ranchers and college wrestlers.

The city of Spokane would get 15 percent of proceeds from the Washington State Tree license plate to maintain the Finch Arboretum. The other 85 percent would go to maintenance and child education programs at the Washington Park Arboretum in Seattle. Washington’s state tree, the Western hemlock, grows in both locations.

The Farmers and Ranchers license plate would raise money for the Washington FFA Foundation for educational programs in the state.

“It’s opportunities for other students, and I think it will be money well spent,” said Rep. Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama.

Money from the Washington State Wrestling Foundation license plate would support college wrestling programs. Phillip Pine, a wrestling coach at The Evergreen State College, said the state’s college programs need more money and better facilities to remain competitive with out-of-state schools.

Special plates cost an extra $40 to purchase and $30 to renew after standard registration fees. The tree plate is expected to bring in about $47,000 per year; the wrestling plate, about $15,000; and the farmers plate, about $16,000. Revenue would go to the sponsoring groups after the Department of Licensing recoups initial costs.

“Taxpayers don’t pay for the bulk of the changes that are made,” said Rep. Judy Clibborn, chairwoman of the Transportation Committee.

A decade ago, lawmakers issued a moratorium on new special plates, citing concerns that they cost the state more money than they brought in. So, technically, the Legislature can’t approve new plates until July 1.

But new designs are proposed each year with a clause that exempts them from the moratorium. Sponsoring groups must cover the cost of new designs. Clibborn, D-Mercer Island, said the moratorium keeps the number of proposals down without blocking them completely. “The moratorium is more so that we have control of it.”

Nearly 123,000 special license plates are on the road in Washington. The most popular is the crimson-and-white Washington State University plate, with about 19,500 in circulation. Behind it is the Seahawks plate, with 13,600, and the Law Enforcement Memorial plate, with 10,000. Then comes the University of Washington plate – with less than 9,000.

The three bills could get a full vote in the House in the coming weeks.