SENATE BILL 236

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

INTRODUCED BY

Heather Berghmans and Leo Jaramillo

 

 

 

 

 

AN ACT

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES; PROVIDING FOR THE ISSUANCE OF LOOK TWICE FOR MOTORCYCLES SPECIAL REGISTRATION PLATES FOR MOTORCYCLES; AMENDING SECTION 66-3-424.40 NMSA 1978 (BEING LAWS 2023, CHAPTER 73, SECTION 1); MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

 

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

     SECTION 1. Section 66-3-424.40 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2023, Chapter 73, Section 1) is amended to read:

     "66-3-424.40. SPECIAL LOOK TWICE FOR MOTORCYCLES REGISTRATION PLATE.--

          A. The division shall issue:

                (1) a standardized look twice for motorcycles special registration plate for motor vehicles with a logo designed pursuant to Section 66-3-424 NMSA 1978 indicating that the recipient supports driver safety awareness for those who share the road and remind drivers to look twice for motorcycles; and

                (2) a standardized look twice for motorcycles motorcycle special registration plate for motorcycles.

          B. For an initial fee of:

                (1) forty-five dollars ($45.00) that shall be in addition to the regular motor vehicle registration fees, the owner of a motor vehicle may apply for issuance of a look twice for motorcycles [safety awareness] special registration plate. The vehicle owner shall pay a renewal fee of fifteen dollars ($15.00) each year to retain and renew the look twice for motorcycles special registration plate; and

                (2) forty dollars ($40.00) that shall be in addition to the regular motorcycle registration fees, the owner of a motorcycle may apply for issuance of a look twice for motorcycles special registration plate for motorcycles. The motorcycle owner shall pay a renewal fee of ten dollars ($10.00) each year to retain and renew the look twice for motorcycles special registration plate for motorcycles.

          C. The revenue from the additional fee for a look twice for motorcycles [safety awareness] special registration plate for motor vehicles shall be distributed as follows:

                (1) twelve dollars ($12.00) of the initial fee collected shall be retained by and is appropriated to the [department] division to defray the cost of making and issuing the special registration plate with the look twice for motorcycles logo; and

                (2) thirty-three dollars ($33.00) of the initial registration fee and the entire fifteen dollars ($15.00) of subsequent renewal fees shall be distributed and are appropriated to the motorcycle training fund for the department of transportation to provide driver awareness education and motorcycle training statewide.

          D. The revenue from the additional fee for a look twice for motorcycles special registration plate for motorcycles shall be distributed as follows:

                (1) seven dollars ($7.00) of the initial fee collected shall be retained by and is appropriated to the division to defray the cost of making and issuing the special registration plate with the look twice for motorcycles logo; and

                (2) thirty-three dollars ($33.00) of the initial registration fee and the entire ten dollars ($10.00) of subsequent renewal fees shall be distributed and are appropriated to the motorcycle training fund for the department of transportation to provide driver awareness education and motorcycle training statewide.

          [D.] E. Beginning on July 1, 2026, and on July 1 of each subsequent year, the [department] division shall compare the number of new look twice for motorcycles [safety awareness] special registration plates [issued or registration renewals for those plates] and registration renewals for those plates that were issued in the previous fiscal year with the average of the number of those plates issued in fiscal years 2024 and 2025 separately for motor vehicles and for motorcycles.

          [E.] F. By September 1 of a fiscal year in which the [department] division determines that the number of new look twice for motorcycles [safety awareness] special registration plates [issued or registration renewals for those plates] and registration renewals for those plates that were issued in the previous fiscal year is less than fifty percent of the average number of those plates issued in fiscal years 2024 and 2025:

                (1) for motor vehicles, the [department] division shall stop issuing look twice for motorcycles motor vehicle special registration plates; or

                (2) for motorcycles, the division shall stop issuing look twice for motorcycles special registration plates for motorcycles."

     SECTION 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2025.

- 4 -