AN ACT Relating to creating Mount St. Helens special license plates;
Summary
HB 1370 creates a new Mount St. Helens special license plate in Washington and adds it to the state’s special license plate program. The bill defines “Mount St. Helens license plate” as a special plate displaying an image of Mount St. Helens and authorizes the Department of Licensing to issue the plate under the same general framework used for other special plates. It also makes conforming changes to the statutes governing special license plates and their administration.
The bill sets the fees and revenue distribution for the new plate. Like other special plates, purchasers would pay the standard vehicle registration charges plus the special plate fee, and the Department of Licensing may retain a limited amount for administrative costs. Net proceeds are deposited into a dedicated Mount St. Helens account and used to support education, stewardship, and science at Mount St. Helens through the Mount St. Helens Institute. The bill takes effect November 1, 2025.
Impact
HB 1370 amends Washington’s special license plate statutes in RCW chapter 46.16A to add Mount St. Helens as an authorized plate series and to create a new account for proceeds. It expands the list of special plate offerings available to vehicle owners and establishes a funding stream for a nonprofit partner to receive and use the proceeds for Mount St. Helens-related educational programming and stewardship activities. The bill affects the Department of Licensing, special plate purchasers, and the Mount St. Helens Institute.
Sentiment
No committee transcript or vote record was provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or opposition in the materials supplied. Based on the bill text, the measure appears straightforward and promotional in nature, aimed at supporting a well-known Washington landmark and related educational programming. The absence of recorded votes or discussion suggests no documented controversy in the available record.
Contention
The bill text does not show major policy disputes, but the main structural issue is the use of a special license plate as a fundraising mechanism and the allocation of proceeds to a designated nonprofit. As with other specialty plates, any contention would likely center on whether the administrative fee and revenue split are appropriate, whether the state should add another plate to the program, and whether the Mount St. Helens Institute is the right recipient and steward of the funds. No specific objections or supporters are identified in the provided materials.