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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
special plate; Arizona space commission
Purpose
Establishes an Arizona Space Commission (Commission) special plate and deposits special plate donations in the Space Exploration and Aeronautics Research Fund (Fund).
Background
The Arizona
Department of Transportation (ADOT) Motor Vehicle Division provides one license
plate to every motor vehicle owner for each vehicle registered (A.R.S. § 28-2351).
ADOT must issue or renew special plates in lieu of regular license plates under
specified conditions and procedures (A.R.S. § 28-2403). The fee
for obtaining or renewing a special plate is $25 (A.R.S.
§ 28-2402). Of the $25 fee, $8 is an administration fee that ADOT
deposits in the State Highway Fund (SHF) and $17 is a donation. All license
plates, including special plates, that are designed or redesigned on or after
September 24, 2022, must have: 1) the state name, Arizona, in capital letters
in sans serif font and three-fourths of an inch in height; and 2) a background
color that contrasts significantly with the color of the letters, numbers and
state name (A.R.S. §
28-2351).
Laws 2024, Chapter 140 establishes the Commission and Fund with the purpose of identifying research and funding opportunities that enhance Arizona's position in civil, commercial and military aeronautics research and development and space flight infrastructure. Governed by a 13-member Board, the Commission must develop and annually update a strategic plan for promoting and expanding space, aeronautics and aviation in Arizona, including a list of potential projects to further the purposes of the Commission (A.R.S. § 41-1551.01).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires ADOT to issue a Commission special plate, if by December 31, 2026, a person pays the $32,000 implementation fee.
2. Requires the person that pays the $32,000 implementation fee to design the Commission special plate.
3. Subjects the design and color of the Commission special plate to the approval of ADOT.
4. Allows the Director of ADOT (Director) to combine a request for a Commission special plate with a request for a personalized special plate.
5. Specifies that a combined request must be submitted in a form prescribed by the Director and is subject to the fees for both the personalized special plate and the Commission special plate.
6. Specifies that, of the $25 fee required to obtain or renew a Commission special plate, $8 is an administration fee and $17 is an annual donation.
7. Requires ADOT to deposit all special plate administration fees in the SHF and all Commission special plate donations in the Fund.
8. Makes conforming changes.
9. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
January 16, 2026
KJA/KM/hk