SENATE BILL 327

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

INTRODUCED BY

Leo Jaramillo and Cynthia Borrego

 

 

 

 

 

AN ACT

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES; ENACTING A NEW SECTION OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE CODE TO CREATE A LOWRIDER CAPITAL OF THE WORLD SPECIAL REGISTRATION PLATE FOR CARS, TRUCKS, MOTORCYCLES AND TOW TRAILERS; ESTABLISHING CRITERIA FOR A CESSATION OF ISSUANCE; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

 

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

     SECTION 1. A new section of the Motor Vehicle Code is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] SPECIAL LOWRIDER CAPITAL OF THE WORLD REGISTRATION PLATE.--

          A. The division shall issue:

                (1) a standardized lowrider capital of the world special registration plate for motor vehicles or tow trailers recognizing the importance of New Mexico to the lowrider history and culture of the United States. The plate shall have a logo designed pursuant to Section 66-3-424 NMSA 1978 that is developed by the division in collaboration with the Espanola lowrider association; and

                (2) a standardized lowrider capital of the world special registration plate for motorcycles with the same design as the motor vehicle plates issued in accordance with Paragraph (1) of this subsection.

          B. For an initial fee of:

                (1) fifty dollars ($50.00), which shall be in addition to the regular motor vehicle or tow trailer registration fees, the owner of a vehicle or tow trailer may apply for issuance of a lowrider capital of the world special registration plate. The vehicle or tow trailer owner shall pay a renewal fee of twenty dollars ($20.00) each year to retain and renew the lowrider capital of the world special registration plate; and

                (2) forty dollars ($40.00), which shall be in addition to the regular motorcycle registration fee, the owner of a motorcycle may apply for issuance of a lowrider capital of the world special registration plate. The motorcycle owner shall pay a renewal fee of twenty dollars ($20.00) each year to retain and renew the lowrider capital of the world special registration plate.

          C. The revenue from the additional fee for a lowrider capital of the world special registration plate for motor vehicles and tow trailers shall be distributed as follows:

                (1) twelve dollars ($12.00) of the initial fee collected shall be retained by and is appropriated to the division to defray the cost of making and issuing the lowrider capital of the world special registration plate; and

                (2) thirty-eight dollars ($38.00) of the initial registration fee and the entire twenty dollars ($20.00) of subsequent renewal fees shall be distributed and are appropriated to the cultural affairs department to create and distribute materials or for the development of museum exhibits explaining the importance of lowrider history and culture to the world and New Mexico.

          D. The revenue from the additional fee for a lowrider capital of the world 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 lowrider capital of the world special registration plate; and

                (2) thirty-three dollars ($33.00) of the initial registration fee and the entire twenty dollars ($20.00) of subsequent renewal fees shall be distributed and are appropriated to the cultural affairs department to create and distribute materials or for the development of museum exhibits explaining the importance of lowrider history and culture to the world and New Mexico.

          E. Beginning on July 1, 2028, and on July 1 of each subsequent year, the division shall separately compare the number of lowrider capital of the world special registration plates and registration renewals that were issued for those plates in the previous fiscal year for each category of motor vehicle plates, tow trailer plates and motorcycle plates with the average of the number of those plates issued in fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

          F. Beginning in fiscal year 2029, by September 1 of a fiscal year in which the division determines that the number of lowrider capital of the world special registration plates and registration renewals issued for those plates for each category of motor vehicle plates, tow trailer plates or motorcycle plates in the previous fiscal year is less than fifty percent of the average number of those plates issued in fiscal years 2026 and 2027, the division shall stop issuing that category of lowrider capital of the world special registration plates."

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

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