SB181 - Provides for the issuance of special license plates indicating support for Nevada State University. (BDR 43-787)

- 83rd Session (2025) Senate Bill No. 181–Senator Cruz-Crawford CHAPTER.......... AN ACT relating to special license plates; providing for the issuance of special license plates indicating support for Nevada State University; exempting the special license plates from certain provisions otherwise applicable to special license plates; imposing a fee for the issuance and renewal of such license plates; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Legislative Counsel’s Digest: Existing law authorizes the issuance of various special license plates. (NRS 482.3672-482.37947) Section 1 of this bill requires the Department of Motor Vehicles, in cooperation with Nevada State University, to design, prepare and issue special license plates indicating support for Nevada State University. Section 1 requires a person wishing to obtain the special license plates to pay to the Department: (1) a fee for initial issuance of $35 and a fee for renewal of $10; (2) all applicable registration and license fees and governmental services taxes; and (3) an additional fee for initial issuance of $25 and an additional fee for renewal of $20, to be deposited with the State Treasurer who must, on a quarterly basis, distribute the fees evenly to Nevada State University to support athletics programs and the Nevada State University Foundation to operate a program to provide certain necessary items to students, faculty and staff of the University. Section 1 authorizes a person wishing to obtain the special license plates to request that the plates be combined with personalized prestige plates if the person pays the additional fees for the personalized prestige plates. Section 2 of this bill makes a conforming change to apply provisions relating to the issuance and renewal of a special license plate for certain trailers to include the Nevada State University special license plate. Section 5 of this bill prohibits the Department from issuing the Nevada State University special license plate for a full trailer or semitrailer. Under existing law, certain special license plates: (1) must be approved by the Department; (2) are subject to a limitation on the number of separate designs of special license plates which the Department may issue at any one time; and (3) may not be designed, prepared or issued by the Department unless a certain number of applications for the plates are received. (NRS 482.367002, 482.367008, 482.36705) Sections 6-8 of this bill exempt from such requirements the special license plates indicating support for Nevada State University. Section 9 of this bill excludes the Nevada State University special license plates from the definition of “special license plate” for purposes of existing provisions governing investigations relating to finances of charitable organizations that receive additional fees from special license plates. (NRS 482.38272-482.38279) Section 3 of this bill prohibits a new vehicle dealer who is authorized to issue certificates of registration from accepting an application for the registration of a motor vehicle if the applicant wishes to obtain the Nevada State University special license plates. Section 4 of this bill authorizes the Director of the Department to order the preparation of sample license plates that are of the same design and size as the Nevada State University special license plates. Section 10 of this bill makes a conforming change to authorize the holder of the original registration of any vehicle to transfer the registration and use of the – 2 – - 83rd Session (2025) Nevada State University special license plates to another vehicle under certain circumstances. Section 11 of this bill establishes a fee of $10 for the replacement of a Nevada State University special license plate. EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Chapter 482 of NRS is hereby amended by adding thereto a new section to read as follows: 1. The Department, in cooperation with Nevada State University, shall design, prepare and issue license plates that indicate support for Nevada State University using any colors and designs which the Department deems appropriate. 2. The Department shall issue license plates that indicate support for Nevada State University for a passenger car or light commercial vehicle upon application by a person who is entitled to license plates pursuant to NRS 482.265 and who otherwise complies with the requirements for registration and licensing pursuant to this chapter. A person may request that personalized prestige license plates issued pursuant to NRS 482.3667 be combined with license plates that indicate support for Nevada State University if that person pays the fees for the personalized prestige license plates in addition to the fees for the license plates that indicate support for Nevada State University pursuant to subsections 3 and 4. 3. The fee for the license plates that indicate support for Nevada State University is $35, in addition to all other applicable registration and license fees and governmental services taxes. The license plates are renewable upon the payment of $10. 4. In addition to all other applicable registration and license fees, governmental services taxes and the fee prescribed pursuant to subsection 3, a person who requests a set of license plates that indicate support for Nevada State University must pay a fee of $25 for the issuance of the plates and a fee of $20 for each renewal of the plates, to be deposited in accordance with subsection 5. 5. The Department shall deposit the fees collected pursuant to subsection 4 with the State Treasurer for credit to the State General Fund. The State Treasurer shall, on a quarterly basis, distribute equally the fees deposited pursuant to this subsection between: – 3 – - 83rd Session (2025) (a) Nevada State University to support athletics programs at Nevada State University; and (b) The Nevada State University Foundation to operate a program to provide to students, faculty and staff of Nevada State University necessary items, including, without limitation: (1) Perishable and nonperishable food items; (2) School supplies; (3) Clothing; and (4) Personal hygiene products. 6. The provisions of NRS 482.36705 do not apply to license plates described in this section. 7. If, during a registration period, the holder of license plates issued pursuant to the provisions of this section disposes of the vehicle to which the plates are affixed, the holder shall: (a) Retain the plates and affix them to another vehicle that meets the requirements of this section if the holder pays the fee for the transfer of the registration and any registration fee or governmental services tax due pursuant to NRS 482.399; or (b) Within 30 days after removing the plates from the vehicle, return them to the Department. 8. The Department may accept any gifts, grants and donations or other sources of money for the production and issuance of the special license plates pursuant to this section. All money received pursuant to this subsection must be deposited in the Revolving Account for the Issuance of Special License Plates created by NRS 482.1805. Sec. 2. NRS 482.2065 is hereby amended to read as follows: 482.2065 1. A trailer may be registered for a 3-year period as provided in this section. 2. A person who registers a trailer for a 3-year period must pay upon registration all fees and taxes that would be due during the 3- year period if he or she registered the trailer for 1 year and renewed that registration for 2 consecutive years immediately thereafter, including, without limitation: (a) Registration fees pursuant to NRS 482.480 and 482.483. (b) A fee for each license plate issued pursuant to NRS 482.268. (c) Fees for the initial issuance and renewal of a special license plate pursuant to NRS 482.265, if applicable. (d) Fees for the initial issuance and renewal of a personalized prestige license plate pursuant to NRS 482.367, if applicable. (e) Additional fees for the initial issuance and renewal of a special license plate issued pursuant to NRS 482.3667 to 482.3823, inclusive, and section 1 of this act, which are imposed to generate – 4 – - 83rd Session (2025) financial support for a particular cause or charitable organization, if applicable. (f) Governmental services taxes imposed pursuant to chapter 371 of NRS, as provided in NRS 482.260. (g) The applicable taxes imposed pursuant to chapters 372, 374, 377 and 377A of NRS. 3. As used in this section, the term “trailer” does not include a full trailer or semitrailer that is registered pursuant to subsection 3 of NRS 482.483. Sec. 3. NRS 482.216 is hereby amended to read as follows: 482.216 1. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 482.2155, upon the request of a new vehicle dealer, the Department may authorize the new vehicle dealer to: (a) Accept applications for the registration of the new motor vehicles he or she sells and the related fees and taxes; (b) Issue certificates of registration to applicants who satisfy the requirements of this chapter; and (c) Accept applications for the transfer of registration pursuant to NRS 482.399 if the applicant purchased from the new vehicle dealer a new vehicle to which the registration is to be transferred. 2. A new vehicle dealer who is authorized to issue certificates of registration pursuant to subsection 1 shall: (a) Transmit the applications received to the Department within the period prescribed by the Department; (b) Transmit the fees collected from the applicants and properly account for them within the period prescribed by the Department; (c) Comply with the regulations adopted pursuant to subsection 5; and (d) Bear any cost of equipment which is necessary to issue certificates of registration, including any computer hardware or software. 3. A new vehicle dealer who is authorized to issue certificates of registration pursuant to subsection 1 shall not: (a) Charge any additional fee for the performance of those services; (b) Receive compensation from the Department for the performance of those services; (c) Accept applications for the renewal of registration of a motor vehicle; or (d) Accept an application for the registration of a motor vehicle if the applicant wishes to: (1) Obtain special license plates pursuant to NRS 482.3667 to 482.3823, inclusive [;] , and section 1 of this act; or – 5 – - 83rd Session (2025) (2) Claim the exemption from the governmental services tax provided pursuant to NRS 361.1565 to veterans and their relations. 4. The provisions of this section do not apply to the registration of a moped pursuant to NRS 482.2155. 5. The Director shall adopt such regulations as are necessary to carry out the provisions of this section. The regulations adopted pursuant to this subsection must provide for: (a) The expedient and secure issuance of license plates and decals by the Department; and (b) The withdrawal of the authority granted to a new vehicle dealer pursuant to subsection 1 if that dealer fails to comply with the regulations adopted by the Department. Sec. 4. NRS 482.2703 is hereby amended to read as follows: 482.2703 1. The Director may order the preparation of sample license plates which must be of the same design and size as regular license plates or license plates issued pursuant to NRS 482.384. The Director shall ensure that: (a) Each license plate issued pursuant to this subsection, regardless of its design, is inscribed with the word SAMPLE and an identical designation which consists of the same group of three numerals followed by the same group of three letters; and (b) The designation of numerals and letters assigned pursuant to paragraph (a) is not assigned to a vehicle registered pursuant to this chapter or chapter 706 of NRS. 2. The Director may order the preparation of sample license plates which must be of the same design and size as any of the special license plates issued pursuant to NRS 482.3667 to 482.3823, inclusive [.] , and section 1 of this act. The Director shall ensure that: (a) Each license plate issued pursuant to this subsection, regardless of its design, is inscribed with the word SAMPLE and the number zero in the location where any other numerals would normally be displayed on a license plate of that design; and (b) The number assigned pursuant to paragraph (a) is not assigned to a vehicle registered pursuant to this chapter or chapter 706 of NRS. 3. The Director may establish a fee for the issuance of sample license plates of not more than $15 for each license plate. 4. A decal issued pursuant to NRS 482.271 may be displayed on a sample license plate issued pursuant to this section. 5. All money collected from the issuance of sample license plates must be deposited in the State Treasury for credit to the Motor Vehicle Fund. – 6 – - 83rd Session (2025) 6. A person shall not affix a sample license plate issued pursuant to this section to a vehicle. A person who violates the provisions of this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor. Sec. 5. NRS 482.274 is hereby amended to read as follows: 482.274 1. The Director shall order the preparation of vehicle license plates for trailers in the same manner provided for motor vehicles in NRS 482.270, except that a vehicle license plate prepared for a full trailer or semitrailer that is registered pursuant to subsection 3 of NRS 482.483 is not required to have displayed upon it the month and year the registration expires. 2. The Director shall order preparation of two sizes of vehicle license plates for trailers. The smaller plates may be used for trailers with a gross vehicle weight of less than 1,000 pounds. 3. The Director shall determine the registration numbers assigned to trailers. 4. Any license plates issued for a trailer before July 1, 1975, bearing a different designation from that provided for in this section, are valid during the period for which such plates were issued. 5. The Department shall not issue for a full trailer or semitrailer that is registered pursuant to subsection 3 of NRS 482.483 a special license plate available pursuant to NRS 482.3667 to 482.3823, inclusive [.] , and section 1 of this act. Sec. 6. NRS 482.367002 is hereby amended to read as follows: 482.367002 1. A person may request that the Department design, prepare and issue a special license p [Text truncated for display. Full text available on LegiScan.]