TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A new bill that would allow Floridians to have specialty license plates is heading to Governor Ron DeSantis' desk after it passed the Senate unanimously on Monday.
House Bill 403 adds more than 100 new specialty plates for sale, with fees going towards organizations in support of certain charities. It first passed the House on Thursday, Feb. 22.
The fees for the license plates will cost $25 annually.
Here are the new plate options and what charity they would be benefiting.
- Margaritaville
- Fees collected will go towards late singer Jimmy Buffett's Singing for Change organization, which supports small nonprofits by providing grants to create positive changes in low-income communities.
- Clearwater Marine Aquarium
- The aquarium itself is a non-profit organization, which would use profits collected towards marine mammal research and environmental conservation.
- General Aviation
- Plate fees would benefit the Aerospace Center for Excellence, offering experiences in aviation for those pursuing STEM careers.
- The Villages: May All Your Dreams Come True
- The organization would put fees towards The Villages Charter School, which provides K-12 education at its six attendance centers.
- Cure Diabetes
- Plate purchases would benefit the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation, which is dedicated to finding cures for diabetes as well as training programs for health care professionals.
- Recycle Florida
- The Recycle Florida Foundation is the state's leading recycling association, offering forums and lessons on how to improve recycling habits in the community.
- Boating Capital of the World
- Fees directly benefit the Captain Sandy Charities, started by renowned superyacht captain, Sandy Yawn. The organization promotes awareness and funding of maritime employment opportunities, environmental education, behavioral health assistance and developmental disability services.
- Project Addiction: Reversing the Stigma
- The titular organization's license plate will benefit its mission of bringing awareness to the opioid epidemic and finding ways to honor those who have lost their lives to substance abuse and mental illness.
- United Service Organizations
- By supporting out military services, fees from USO's plate help veterans stay connected their families, homes and things they love.
If approved by the governor, the bill would go into effect on Oct. 1.