To Authorize The Issuance And Renewal Of A Special License Plate To Promote And Support The Arkansas Ems Foundation; And To Repeal The Grand Lodge Of Arkansas Special License Plate.
Summary
HB1944 amends Arkansas’s Special License Plate Act of 2005 to create a new special license plate for the Arkansas EMS Foundation. The Department of Finance and Administration would be required to design and issue the plate, and the plate could be renewed annually or replaced under existing special-plate procedures. Purchasers would pay the standard vehicle registration fee, a $25 design-use contribution, and a $10 handling and administrative fee. The $25 contribution would be remitted monthly to the Arkansas EMS Foundation for use in promoting and supporting the organization, while the $10 fee would go to the State Central Services Fund for the benefit of the Revenue Division.
The bill also repeals the existing Grand Lodge of Arkansas special license plate statute. That repeal would remove the statutory authority for that plate and its associated payment and renewal structure, while leaving the broader special license plate framework in place for other plates authorized under Arkansas law. In practical terms, the bill shifts one special-plate authorization from the Masonic organization to the EMS Foundation and updates the list of available specialty plates in state law.
The general sentiment reflected in the available record appears favorable. The bill passed third reading in the House by a wide margin, 82-6, suggesting broad support for the concept of using specialty plates to raise visibility and funds for the Arkansas EMS Foundation. No committee transcript is available, so there is no recorded debate to indicate organized opposition in committee.
The main point of contention is likely the repeal of the Grand Lodge of Arkansas plate, since the bill eliminates an existing specialty plate tied to the Masonic organization. Even so, the strong floor vote suggests that any objection was limited or not enough to prevent passage. The bill’s structure also reflects the usual policy tradeoff in specialty plate legislation: support for a designated nonprofit or public-service cause in exchange for a state-administered fee and a dedicated revenue stream.
Impact
HB1944 would amend Arkansas Code Title 27, Chapter 24, Subchapter 14 by adding a new special license plate authorization for the Arkansas EMS Foundation and by repealing Arkansas Code § 27-24-1428, which governs the Grand Lodge of Arkansas special license plate. It would require the Department of Finance and Administration to administer the new plate, collect the associated fees, and remit the design-use contribution to the Arkansas EMS Foundation. The repeal would remove the statutory basis for the Grand Lodge plate and end future issuance under that section.
Sentiment
The available voting history indicates strong support for the bill, with the House passing it 82-6 on third reading. No committee transcripts are available, so there is no recorded floor or committee debate to suggest substantial opposition. Overall, the bill appears to have been viewed as a routine but broadly acceptable specialty-plate measure supporting emergency medical services.
Contention
The most notable contention is the elimination of the Grand Lodge of Arkansas special license plate, which could affect the Masonic organization and current or prospective plate holders. A secondary issue is the allocation of specialty-plate proceeds, since the bill directs funds to the Arkansas EMS Foundation rather than to the repealed plate’s beneficiary. Despite these potential concerns, the recorded vote suggests they did not generate significant resistance.