SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES; MODIFY S.B. 1060 & 1061:
SUMMARY OF BILL
REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE
Senate Bills 1060 and 1061 (as reported without amendment)
Sponsor: Senator Stephanie Chang (S.B. 1060)
Senator Ed McBroom (S.B. 1061)
Committee: Transportation and Infrastructure
CONTENT
The bills would amend Chapter VII (Registration Fees) of the Michigan Vehicle Code to prohibit personalized license plates from bearing specified content, such as obscenities, explicit imagery, drug and alcohol use, illegality, and hatred or violence.
The bills are tie-barred.
257.803m (S.B. 1061)
BRIEF RATIONALE
In 2023, the Secretary of State (SOS) issued more than 48,000 personalized license plates to Michigan residents.[1] These plates allow vehicle owners to display their personalities and interests, but some requests may contain inappropriate material. As license plates are issued by the State and publicly visible, the SOS must decide which requests to disapprove. The SOS has developed guidelines to this end, which some have suggested should be codified into State law.
Legislative Analyst: Abby Schneider
FISCAL IMPACT
The bills would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
Date Completed: 11-25-24 Fiscal Analyst: Joe Carrasco, Jr.
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.
[1] Dixon, Jennifer, "Michigan has banned more than 26,000 vehicle license plates", Detroit Free Press, August 13, 2024.