Summary:

 Summary: SB229345 is an Act relating to motor vehicles and enacting a new Section of the Motor Vehicle Code to create an America’s Lowriders Capital special registration plate and establishing criteria for cessation of issuance and making an appropriation.  

Legislation Overview:

 Analysis: SB229345 creates a new Section of the Motor Vehicle Code and directs the Division to issue a standardized America's Lowrider Capital special registration plate recognizing the importance of New Mexico to the lowrider history and culture of the United States.  The plate shall have a logo designed pursuant to Section 66-3-424 NMSA 1978 that is developed by the Division in collaboration with the Espanola Lowrider Association.
 Section 66-3-424 NMSA 1978 refers to standardized special registration plates with logos.
The initial fee is to be $50 dollars of which $12 is to be appropriated to the Department for development and issuing cost.
The remaining $38 dollars and $20 dollars for subsequent fees is appropriated to the Cultural Affairs Department to create and distribute materials or for the development of museum exhibits explaining the importance of lowrider history and culture to the United States and New Mexico.

Beginning on July 1, 2028, and on July 1 of each subsequent year, the Department shall compare the number of America’s Lowrider Capital special registration plates issued or registration renewals for those plates in the previous Fiscal Year with the average of the number of those plates issued in Fiscal Years 2026 and 2027.
Beginning in Fiscal Year 2029, by September 1 of a Fiscal Year in which the Department determines that the number of America's Lowrider Capital special registration plates issued or registration renewals for those plates in the previous Fiscal Year is less than fifty percent of the average number of those plates issued in Fiscal Years 2026 and 2027, the Department shall stop issuing America's Lowrider Capital special registration plates.
-The effective date of the provisions of this Act is July 1, 2025.

Analysis: SB229345 creates a new Section of the Motor Vehicle Code and directs the Division to issue a standardized America's Lowrider Capital special registration plate recognizing the importance of New Mexico to the lowrider history and culture of the United States.  The plate shall have a logo designed pursuant to Section 66-3-424 NMSA 1978 that is developed by the Division in collaboration with the Espanola Lowrider Association.
 Section 66-3-424 NMSA 1978 refers to standardized special registration plates with logos.
The initial fee is to be $50 dollars of which $12 is to be appropriated to the Department for development and issuing cost.
The remaining $38 dollars and $20 dollars for subsequent fees is appropriated to the Cultural Affairs Department to create and distribute materials or for the development of museum exhibits explaining the importance of lowrider history and culture to the United States and New Mexico.

Beginning on July 1, 2028, and on July 1 of each subsequent year, the Department shall compare the number of America’s Lowrider Capital special registration plates issued or registration renewals for those plates in the previous Fiscal Year with the average of the number of those plates issued in Fiscal Years 2026 and 2027.
Beginning in Fiscal Year 2029, by September 1 of a Fiscal Year in which the Department determines that the number of America's Lowrider Capital special registration plates issued or registration renewals for those plates in the previous Fiscal Year is less than fifty percent of the average number of those plates issued in Fiscal Years 2026 and 2027, the Department shall stop issuing America's Lowrider Capital special registration plates.
-The effective date of the provisions of this Act is July 1, 2025.