Concerning the creation of the wild horse special license plate, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.
HB26-1306 creates a new Colorado special license plate honoring wild horses. The bill directs the Department of Revenue to begin issuing the plate on the earlier of January 1, 2027, or when the department is ready, for motorcycles, passenger cars, trucks, and certain noncommercial or recreational vehicles. Applicants must pay the standard vehicle registration taxes and fees, plus a required donation to the Wild Horse Fund and, beginning July 1, 2028, an additional one-time special plate fee. Personalized versions of the plate are also authorized, subject to the existing personalized plate rules and fees.
The bill ties the plate program to the Wild Horse Fund and the state’s wild horse population management efforts. It specifies how donations are collected and credited, and it includes a legislative declaration that the donations are custodial funds not subject to appropriation or TABOR. The bill also amends the statutory definition of “gift” to include donations made to the Wild Horse Fund and updates the fund statute to accept those donations. Finally, it includes a state appropriation to the Department of Revenue to cover implementation costs, including license plate ordering, DRIVES system support, and related administrative expenses.
The bill amends Colorado law in Title 24, Title 35, and Title 42 to establish a new special license plate program and to integrate its revenue flow into existing state funds. It creates a new section governing eligibility, fees, renewal donations, personalized plates, and the transfer of proceeds to the Wild Horse Fund, the Colorado DRIVES vehicle services account, and the Highway Users Tax Fund. It also makes a one-time appropriation to the Department of Revenue for implementation and administration of the new plate program.
The available context suggests the bill moved forward without recorded committee debate or roll-call controversy in the provided materials, and it ultimately passed and was signed by the governor. The overall sentiment appears supportive, consistent with a commemorative or cause-based license plate measure that directs proceeds to a wildlife-related fund. The bipartisan sponsorship also suggests broad, practical support rather than ideological conflict.
The main policy issue embedded in the bill is the required donation and fee structure for the plate, including the initial higher donation before July 1, 2028, the later reduced donation, and the additional one-time issuance fee beginning in 2028. Another point that could draw scrutiny is the bill’s declaration that the donations are custodial funds and not subject to appropriation or TABOR, which affects how the money is treated under state fiscal law. No specific opposition or disputed testimony is included in the provided context, so any contention appears limited to the mechanics of funding and implementation rather than the plate concept itself.