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Bills

AB 1059: Vehicles: Blackout License Plate Program.

  • Session Year: 2025-2026
  • House: Assembly
  • Latest Version Date: 2025-04-08

Current Status:

Failed

(2026-02-02: From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.)

Introduced

First Committee Review

First Chamber

Second Committee Review

Second Chamber

Enacted

Version:

Existing law requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to establish the California Legacy License Plate Program, and to create and issue a series of specialized license plates, consisting of one or more of 3 specified designs that replicate license plates from the states past.

This bill would require the department to establish the Blackout License Plate Program and create and issue a series of specialized license plates, known as California Blackout Plates, that have a black background with white lettering, if at least 7,500 applications for plates are received and held by the department, on or before January 1, 2030. The bill would require specified additional fees be paid for the issuance, renewal, retention, or transfer of the California Blackout Plates. The bill would require that, upon determination by the department that there are sufficient funds for the program, moneys be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the department for the necessary administrative costs of establishing the program and, as to any remaining moneys, for deposit into the California Environmental License Plate Fund for appropriation by the Legislature pursuant to existing law.

Existing law authorizes the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue various specialized license plates, including license plates commemorating the Olympics and special commemorative collegiate license plates.This bill, until December 31, 2028, would similarly authorize the department to issue commemorative 2028 Olympic license plates. The bill would authorize existing holders of 2028 Olympic license plates to renew them or transfer them to another vehicle and provide for the department to issue regular series plates whenever holders of 2028 Olympic license plates request substitute or duplicate plates on or after January 1, 2029. The bill would direct certain revenues derived from the 2028 Olympic license plates to be deposited in the 2025 Los Angeles Fire Relief Fund, which the bill would establish in the State Treasury, to be continuously appropriated to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for purposes of wildfire relief and recovery efforts for areas subject to Executive Order No. N-17-25 issued by the Governor on February 4, 2025. By establishing a new continuously appropriated fund, this bill would make an appropriation.The bill would also require the department, every 2 years, to provide outreach to every public or private postsecondary educational institution in the state, that is accredited or has been accepted as a recognized candidate for accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, on the commemorative reflectorized collegiate plate program described above and the program requirements.The bill would also require the department to update and modernize the standard license plates issued by the department to include the option of a black license plate with white lettering. The bill would make certain findings and declarations.

News Coverage:

AB 1059: Vehicles: Blackout License Plate Program. | Digital Democracy