TRENTON, NJ – The New Jersey Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee recently gave a favorable report to Assembly Bill No. 203. This legislation permits the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission’s Chief Administrator to issue special license plates featuring the horse, New Jersey’s State Animal.
The design of these plates will be a collaborative effort between the Chief Administrator and the Secretary of the New Jersey Department of Agriculture. The plates, besides standard registration fees, will carry an initial application fee of $50 and a $10 annual renewal fee. The proceeds, after deducting the cost of implementation, will contribute to the “State Animal License Plate Fund.” This fund aims to support horse welfare and therapeutic riding programs for individuals with special needs in New Jersey.
The Chief Administrator must annually assess the average cost of producing, issuing, renewing, and promoting these plates. If costs exceed $50 per plate for two consecutive fiscal years, the program may be discontinued. The bill also mandates the appointment of a department liaison to facilitate communication with the commission concerning these specialty plates.
The bill outlines that no state or public funds will be used for the initial program costs. An individual or entity, designated by the Secretary, is required to provide non-public funds, capped at $25,000, to cover initial expenses. Additionally, the Department of Agriculture can accept private contributions to offset these costs.
The program’s initiation hinges on two conditions: sufficient non-public funds to cover initial expenses and a minimum of 500 completed applications for the plates. The bill remains inactive until these requirements are met and will expire if not fulfilled within 12 months.
Assembly Bill No. 203, pre-filed for the 2022-2023 session, incorporates necessary changes identified during a technical review.