ARIZONA STATE SENATE

ANNA NGUYEN

LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH ANALYST

GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE

Telephone: (602) 926-3171

RESEARCH STAFF

TO:                  MEMBERS OF THE SENATE

GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE

DATE:            February 2, 2026

SUBJECT:      Strike everything amendment to S.B. 1439, relating to Charlie Kirk memorial; special plate

Purpose

            Establishes a conservative grassroots network special plate and the Conservative Grassroots Network Special Plate 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. ADOT must issue or renew special plates in lieu of regular license plates under specified conditions and procedures. The fee for obtaining or renewing a special plate is $25. Of the $25 fee, $8 is an administration fee that ADOT deposits in the State Highway Fund (SHF) and $17 is a donation (A.R.S. §§ 28-2351;
28-2402; and 28-2403).

            There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.

Provisions

1. Requires ADOT to issue a conservative grassroots network 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 conservative grassroots network special plate.

3. Subjects the design and color of the conservative grassroots network special plate to the approval of ADOT.

4. Allows the Director of ADOT (Director) to combine a request for a conservative grassroots network 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 conservative grassroots network special plate and the personalized special plate.

6. Specifies that, of the $25 fee required to obtain or renew a conservative grassroots network special plate, $8 is an administration fee and $17 is an annual donation.

7. Establishes the Fund, administered by the Director.

8. Requires ADOT to deposit all special plate administration fees in the SHF and transmit the conservative grassroots network special plate donations to the Fund.

9. Requires the first $32,000 in the Fund to be reimbursed to the entity that paid the implementation fee.

10. Caps, at 10 percent, the annual amount of Fund monies that may be used to administer the Fund.

11. Specifies that the Fund monies are continuously appropriated.

12. Requires the Director to annually allocate Fund monies to an entity that is a 501(c)(3) organization that:

a) educates people through the development of knowledge, skills, values and motivation to engage in communities to restore traditional values, including patriotism and fiscal responsibility and the respect for life, liberty and family;

b) has a grassroots activist network on high school and college campuses in Arizona;

c) assists college students to register and vote to access absentee ballots; and

d) was founded in 2012.

13. Requires the State Treasurer, on notice from the Director, to invest and divest Fund monies and credit monies earned to the Fund.

14. Makes technical and conforming changes.

15. Becomes effective on the general effective date.