Louisiana Senate Bill SB6

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/21/26
• Refer: 1/21/26

Caption

FEES/LICENSES/PERMITS: Creates the "Classic Black" specialty license plate. (8/1/26)

Summary

SB 6 would create a new Louisiana special prestige motor vehicle license plate called the “Classic Black” plate. The plate would be available for passenger cars, pickup trucks, recreational vehicles, motorcycles, and vans, but only after the Department of Public Safety and Corrections determines there are at least 1,000 applicants and its registration system can accommodate the new plate. The bill also specifies the plate’s appearance: a black background with white lettering and border, the Louisiana state seal and magnolia in white, and the slogan “THE PELICAN STATE.” The bill sets a $25 annual royalty fee for the plate, plus a $3.50 handling fee retained by the department. The royalty revenue would be forwarded to the Donald J. Thibodeaux Training Complex and used for emergency vehicle operations training for local governments. In addition, the bill amends existing law governing the state police training facilities to update the name and description of the Donald J. Thibodeaux Training Complex and remove an outdated reference to the Holden training center. In terms of state law, SB 6 would add a new statute authorizing the specialty plate and would amend R.S. 40:1375(B) to clarify the training complex’s facilities. It would also require the Department of Public Safety and Corrections to promulgate rules to implement the plate program. The bill’s practical effect would be to create a new revenue-generating specialty plate tied to law-enforcement training, while also updating statutory language about state police training facilities. There is little recorded legislative debate or voting history in the provided materials, so the overall sentiment cannot be measured from committee action. The bill appears administrative and noncontroversial on its face, combining a specialty plate proposal with a funding mechanism for training. The main potential points of contention would likely be whether the 1,000-applicant threshold is achievable, whether specialty plate fees are an appropriate funding source, and whether the revenue should be dedicated to the named training complex rather than the general fund or another public purpose.

Impact

SB 6 would amend R.S. 40:1375(B) to update the statutory description of the Donald J. Thibodeaux Training Complex and would add R.S. 47:463.243 to authorize a new “Classic Black” special prestige license plate. It would require the Department of Public Safety and Corrections to create and issue the plate once there are at least 1,000 applicants and the registration system is ready, set the plate’s design and fees, and dedicate annual royalty revenue to emergency vehicle operations training for local governments through the training complex.

Sentiment

No committee transcripts or votes were provided, and the bill’s last action was withdrawal from the files of the Senate prior to introduction. Based on the text alone, the measure appears straightforward and largely administrative, with a likely positive reception among supporters of specialty plates and public-safety training funding. There is no documented opposition in the provided record.

Contention

The bill’s likely points of contention are limited but would center on policy and implementation details rather than ideology. Potential concerns include whether a specialty plate is an efficient way to fund training, whether the $25 royalty and $3.50 handling fee are appropriate, whether the 1,000-applicant minimum is realistic, and whether the revenue should be earmarked for the Donald J. Thibodeaux Training Complex specifically. The only substantive statutory change beyond the plate program is the update to the training complex’s name and facility description, which appears technical and not controversial.