<p class=ldtitle>A BILL to authorize the issuance of special license plates for supporters of Quail Forever bearing the legend QUAIL FOREVER; fees.</p>
Summary
HB1371 authorizes the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles to issue special license plates for supporters of Quail Forever with the legend “QUAIL FOREVER.” Applicants would pay the standard special-plate fee structure plus an additional $25 annual fee. The bill ties the plate program to the existing special license plate framework in Virginia law, while exempting these plates from certain provisions of the general special-plate statute.
The bill also creates a dedicated funding mechanism for the program. For each $25 fee collected above 1,000 registrations, $15 would be deposited into a nonreverting Quail Forever Fund within the Department of Accounts and then paid annually to Pheasants Forever, Inc. to support Quail Forever’s operations in Virginia. The remaining fees would be retained by DMV to cover administrative expenses. In effect, the bill establishes both a commemorative plate and a revenue stream supporting the affiliated conservation organization.
Impact
HB1371 would amend Virginia’s motor vehicle and special license plate laws by adding a new authorized specialty plate category for Quail Forever supporters. It would also create a new special nonreverting fund and direct a portion of plate revenues to a private nonprofit conservation organization, while preserving DMV’s ability to recover administrative costs. The bill affects vehicle owners who choose the plate, DMV administration, and Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever as the beneficiary organization.
Sentiment
The available legislative history suggests the bill was generally noncontroversial, but it did not advance during the session and was continued to the next session in the Transportation Committee by voice vote. That outcome indicates at least some interest in the proposal, but not enough momentum for final action. No committee transcript or recorded votes are available to show detailed debate or opposition.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials, but the bill’s structure could raise questions about whether state-collected fees should be directed to a private nonprofit and whether the plate program justifies the administrative effort. Any concerns would likely center on the use of public fee collections, the exemption from portions of the general special-plate statute, and the policy of creating a new specialty plate for a particular interest group.