Vehicles: license plates.

Assembly Member Garcia's proposal to expand California's specialized license plate offerings responds to rising demand for plate customization while creating dedicated funding streams for wildfire recovery and education. The legislation authorizes commemorative plates for the 2028 Olympics through December 2028, with revenues supporting the newly established Los Angeles Fire Relief Fund for areas impacted by the February 2025 wildfires.

The bill modifies the state's collegiate license plate program, requiring the Department of Motor Vehicles to conduct biennial outreach to accredited postsecondary institutions about participation opportunities. Institutions must collect 5,000 applications within one year to qualify for the program. Revenues from collegiate plates are divided between need-based scholarships at participating schools and the California Environmental License Plate Fund.

To address the documented increase in illegal plate alterations, which resulted in 990 citations in 2022, the legislation directs DMV to offer black license plates with white lettering as a standard option. The measure maintains existing fees for specialized plates: Olympic plates require $30 for annual renewal and $15 for transfers, while collegiate plates cost $50 initially plus $40 for renewals and $15 for transfers. Current Olympic plate holders may retain or transfer their plates after 2028 but must receive standard replacements for duplicates or substitutes.