SENATE BILL 501

57th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2025

INTRODUCED BY

David M. Gallegos

 

 

 

 

 

AN ACT

RELATING TO LICENSE PLATES; CREATING A SPECIAL MAKE-A-WISH NEW MEXICO REGISTRATION PLATE; ALLOWING FOR THE CESSATION OF SPECIAL LICENSE PLATE ISSUANCE UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. A new section of Chapter 66, Article 3 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] SPECIAL MAKE-A-WISH NEW MEXICO REGISTRATION PLATE.--

          A. Beginning January 1, 2026, the division shall issue a standardized special registration plate with a logo designed as specified in Section 66-3-424 NMSA 1978 to express support for Make-A-Wish New Mexico.

          B. For a fee of thirty dollars ($30.00), which shall be in addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fees, a motor vehicle owner may apply for issuance of a special Make-A-Wish New Mexico registration plate. The owner shall pay a renewal fee of thirty dollars ($30.00) each year to retain and renew the special Make-A-Wish New Mexico registration plate.

          C. Revenue from the fees imposed by Subsection B of this section for a special Make-A-Wish New Mexico registration plate shall be distributed as follows:

                (1) twelve dollars ($12.00) of the initial fee collected for each registration plate shall be retained by the department and is appropriated to the department for the manufacture and issuance of the special registration plates; and

                (2) eighteen dollars ($18.00) of the initial fee and the entire renewal fee collected for each registration plate shall be appropriated to the department of health for screening, treatment, education, outreach or awareness-raising programs related to children with life-threatening illnesses.

          D. Beginning on July 1, 2031, and on July 1 of each subsequent year, the department may compare the number of special Make-A-Wish New Mexico registration plates issued and renewed in the previous fiscal year with the average number of such plates issued and renewed annually between fiscal years 2026 through 2031. If the department determines that the number of special Make-A-Wish New Mexico registration plates issued and renewed in the previous fiscal year is less than fifty percent of the average number of the plates issued and renewed annually between fiscal years 2026 through 2031, the department may stop issuing special Make-A-Wish New Mexico registration plates."

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