TRENTON, N.J. — A new bill advancing in the New Jersey Legislature would create a specialty license plate recognizing women veterans, with proceeds benefiting organizations that support their needs.
The proposed license plate, designed to feature a silhouette of a woman veteran saluting against an American flag background along with the words “Woman Veteran,” would be available to individuals who provide proof of military service through official documentation such as a DD-214 form.
In addition to standard motor vehicle registration fees, applicants would pay a $50 application fee and a $10 annual renewal fee for the plates. The additional fees would be directed to the newly established “Woman Veteran License Plate Fund,” with proceeds appropriated to groups and organizations that provide services to women veterans.
The program includes safeguards to ensure financial viability. The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) would not bear any public costs for creating the plates. Instead, the Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs (DMVA), or a designated individual or entity, must provide up to $25,000 in private funding to cover initial design, production, and programming costs. Additionally, the DMV would require a minimum of 500 completed applications before moving forward with production.
If the program proves too costly, the MVC reserves the right to discontinue it if the average cost per plate exceeds $50 over two consecutive fiscal years. The bill also designates a DMVA liaison to coordinate with the MVC on the program’s implementation.
The provisions of the bill would take effect after the DMV receives both the required funding and applications, but it would expire if these conditions are not met within 12 months of enactment.
