2023 Oklahoma Statutes
Title 47. Motor Vehicles
§47-1135.7v1. Authorization to design and issue special license plates.

A. The Oklahoma Tax Commission or private vendor with whom the Commission has contracted is authorized to design and issue special license plates to any person that applies to the Tax Commission or private vendor for the creation of a special license plate and meets the minimum standards and qualifications specified in this section.

B. If the following standards and guidelines are satisfied, the Tax Commission shall authorize the issuance of a special license plate to the person making application for the special license plate:

1. The license plate is to:

• a.show membership in or affiliation with an organization, or
• b.demonstrate support for an organization, group or cause;

2. The license plate does not advertise or endorse a product, brand, or service that is provided for sale;

3. The license plate does not promote any philosophy based on prejudice or that is contrary to state civil rights laws; and

4. Two hundred prepaid applications for the special license plate are received by the Tax Commission or private vendor.

C. The fee for special license plates shall be determined in accordance with Section 1 of this act. If the special license plate does not provide financial assistance the fee shall be no less than Fifteen Dollars ($15.00) per year of renewal and shall be in addition to all other registration fees provided by the Oklahoma Vehicle License and Registration Act. Unless otherwise provided in this section, Fifteen Dollars ($15.00) of the fee shall be apportioned as follows: Eight Dollars ($8.00) of the special license plate fee shall be deposited in the Oklahoma Tax Commission Reimbursement Fund to be used for the administration of the Oklahoma Vehicle License and Registration Act and the remaining amounts of the special license plate fee shall be apportioned as provided in Section 1104 of this title.

D. The fee for special license plates that provide financial assistance shall be determined in accordance with Section 1 of this act. Provided, the fee shall be no less than Thirty-five Dollars ($35.00) and shall be in addition to all other registration fees provided by the Oklahoma Vehicle License and Registration Act. Thirty-five Dollars ($35.00) per year of renewal of the fee shall be apportioned as follows:

1. Twenty Dollars ($20.00) of the fee shall be apportioned to the License Plate Special Program Assistance Revolving Fund created in Section 1135.8 of this title to be used in the manner detailed in the application for the special license plate;

2. Eight Dollars ($8.00) of the fee shall be deposited in the Oklahoma Tax Commission Reimbursement Fund to be used for the administration of the Oklahoma Vehicle License and Registration Act; and

3. Any remaining amounts of the fee shall be apportioned as provided in Section 1104 of this title.

E. If a person applies for a special license plate that provides financial assistance, the application shall designate a state agency to be responsible for expending the funds generated by the special license plate and the application shall designate a specific public purpose for which the funds are to be used. The application shall include an acknowledgment from the designated state agency of their agreement with acceptance of the designated funds.

F. Special license plates shall not be transferred to any other person but shall be removed from the vehicle upon transfer of ownership and retained. The special license plate may then be used on another vehicle but only after such other vehicle has been registered for the current year.

Special license plates shall be renewed each year by the Tax Commission or a motor license agent, unless authorized by the Tax Commission to be renewed for a period greater than one (1) year. The Tax Commission shall notify all persons issued special license plates of the renewal procedures prior to the expiration of the special license plate. The notice shall contain all necessary information and shall contain instructions for the renewal procedure upon presentation to a motor license agent or the Tax Commission. The license plates shall be issued on a staggered system.

If a special license plate is issued pursuant to this section, any registration fee required for such plate and the fee required pursuant to subsection A of Section 1132 of this title shall be remitted at the same time and subject to a single registration period. The Oklahoma Tax Commission shall promulgate rules establishing a method for making required fee adjustments when a special license plate is obtained during a twelve-month period for which a registration fee has already been remitted pursuant to this subsection. The combination of fees in a single remittance shall not alter the apportionment otherwise provided for by law.

The Tax Commission is hereby directed to develop and implement a system whereby motor license agents are permitted to accept applications for special license plates authorized under this section. The motor license agent shall confirm the applicant's eligibility, if applicable, collect and deposit any amount specifically authorized by law, accept and process the necessary information directly into such system and generate a receipt accordingly. For performance of these duties, motor license agents shall retain the fee provided in Section 1141.1 of this title for registration of a motor vehicle. The motor license agent fees for acceptance of applications and renewals shall be paid out of the Oklahoma Tax Commission Reimbursement Fund.

G. All special plates issued by the Tax Commission prior to the effective date of this act shall not be subject to the requirements and qualifications outlined in this section.

H. As used in this section, "person" includes an individual, group, organization or not-for-profit corporation that is recognized as such by the Internal Revenue Service.

Added by Laws 2005, c. 416, § 6, eff. Nov. 1, 2005. Amended by Laws 2018, c. 69, § 5, eff. Nov. 1, 2018; Laws 2021, c. 188, § 8, eff. Nov. 1, 2021.