Specialty plates continue rolling in the dough

BOISE – Idaho can continue to issue new specialty license plates to raise funds for various causes, senators decided Thursday – not long after they’d approved three new ones.

The Senate on Thursday rejected HB 609 on an 18-17 vote, which looked to limit specialty license plates by directing all proceeds from their sale to the state highway fund, rather than the organization. The bill also required organizations seeking plates to foot the initial $6,000 production cost.

Backed by Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Skip Brandt, R-Kooskia, and House Transportation Committee Chairwoman JoAn Wood, R-Rigby, the bill was similar to one last year that attempted to eliminate the special plates completely.

Sen. Joyce Broadsword, R-Sagle, opposed the bill.

“It is a viable, valuable program,” Broadsword said. “There are groups that are making wonderful use of those dollars.”

Idaho has more than 60 specialty plates, nearly 30 of which raise money for charities or other organizations.

Many lawmakers feel the state has become saturated with specialty plates, which they say not only threatens the state’s identity, but wastes state money that should be spent on state road maintenance. The state ends up subsidizing the plates that aren’t big sellers because the returned revenue is so low.

That violates the state Constitution, said Senate Majority Caucus Chair Brad Little, R-Emmett, which mandates that money from the Transportation Department be spent only on transportation issues like road maintenance and construction. But Sen. John Andreason, R-Boise, said the money that the plates raise for organizations is needed and well spent.

“It’s just a drop in the bucket for the Transportation Department, but it’s very much needed revenues for those who are receiving (them),” Andreason said.

Broadsword said that even though she doesn’t like all the different license plates, allowing the ones currently in existence to continue raising funds for organizations while preventing future plates from doing so isn’t fair.

“I’m not sure I believe in a cut-off date,” Broadsword said.

Lawmakers have approved new specialty plates this year to benefit breast cancer screening, historic preservation and a nonprofit rehab hospital. Another touts the National Rifle Association but raises no funds for the group.

Sen. David Langhorst, D-Boise, said the digital process the Transportation Department is considering switching to for the production of the plates could significantly reduce the cost of producing them. The process could be in place as early as next year, he said.