Motor Vehicles - Specially Designed Vintage Reproduction Registration Plates
Summary
HB313 makes changes to Maryland’s law governing specially designed vintage reproduction registration plates. The bill requires the Motor Vehicle Administration to continue making these plates available without a sunset or time limit, and it sets specific fees for the plate: $100 at initial issuance and $25 for each renewal. The bill also preserves the plate’s required appearance, which must resemble the black lettering on a yellow background plate issued by Maryland in 1910.
The measure applies to qualifying vehicles in several classes, including passenger vehicles, certain trucks, historic vehicles, multipurpose vehicles, and street rods. It amends Transportation Article § 13-619.3 to replace the prior fee-setting structure, which allowed the Administration to set fees by regulation, with fixed statutory amounts. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025.
Impact
HB313 amends Maryland Transportation Article § 13-619.3 by removing the prior one-year availability limitation for the vintage reproduction plate program and by establishing mandatory fee amounts in statute. It affects the Motor Vehicle Administration’s authority over program duration and pricing, and it directs collected fees to cover administrative costs and be credited to the Gasoline and Motor Vehicle Revenue Account for distribution under existing transportation funding provisions. Vehicle owners, lessees, and certain business representatives eligible to register qualifying vehicles under this section are the primary affected parties.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been broadly supported and noncontroversial. It passed the House 136-0 and the Senate 46-0, indicating unanimous approval in both chambers. No committee transcripts were provided, and the voting record suggests general agreement with the bill’s administrative and fee-related changes.
Contention
There is little evidence of substantive contention in the available record. The main policy change is the shift from administratively set fees to fixed statutory fees and the removal of the time limit on availability, but the unanimous votes suggest these changes were not disputed. Any potential concern would likely have centered on whether the fixed fees are appropriate or whether making the plate program permanent could affect administrative flexibility, but no opposition is reflected in the provided materials.