ColoradoColorado will offer wild horse plates with required yearly donations
Colorado’s law provides wild horse plates starting by January 1, 2027, with required donations for applications and yearly renewals.
What it does
Wild horse plates become available by January 1, 2027, with a $100 application donation and $50 yearly renewal donation. The application donation drops to $50 in July 2028, when extra plate fees begin.
Through June 2028, the wild horse fund pays $65.94 per plate toward state plate costs. Application donations stay protected from those transfers and may support wild horse work.
The law sets aside $143,412 to launch the plate program: $121,075 from the license plate fund and $22,337 from the vehicle services account.
Argument forRequired donations from drivers who choose these plates could provide steady support for Colorado’s wild horse management work.
Argument againstPaying early plate costs from the wild horse fund could leave less money for horse management until the transfers end.
More detail
Colorado’s Department of Revenue must offer wild horse license plates to drivers who meet the donation and payment requirements. Eligible vehicles include motorcycles, passenger cars, trucks, and noncommercial or recreational vehicles weighing no more than 16,000 pounds empty. Applicants must donate $100 through June 30, 2028, or $50 on or after July 1, 2028. Renewal requires a $50 annual donation. Regular registration taxes and fees apply. Starting July 1, 2028, issuance carries two additional $25 fees; replacement carries the specified additional $25 fee. The temporary plate-production fee exemption also ends. Personalized plates require separate fees and compliance with the state’s personalized-plate rules. Issuance starts January 1, 2027, or earlier if the Department of Revenue can issue the plates.
The state treasurer must cover early plate costs from the wild horse fund while protecting application donations from those transfers. These requirements cover the wild horse fund and state funds for vehicle services, roads, and license plates. For each plate sold, transfers total $65.94: $25 for vehicle services, $25 for roads, and $15.94 for license plates. Application donations go into a separate account that may support the wild horse project. Money in that account cannot pay these transfers. The treasurer must transfer $24,200 to the license plate fund on December 30, 2026, and return it on June 30, 2028. The temporary account and transfer rules end July 1, 2028.
The law sets aside $143,412 for the Department of Revenue to carry out the plate program. The money comes from the license plate cash fund and the Colorado DRIVES vehicle services account. The department may use $121,075 for plate ordering. The remaining $22,337 supports computer maintenance, staff work, and related services. This funding is for the 2026–27 state budget year.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 28Governor Jared Polis SignedBecame Law
- May 19Signed by the Speaker of the HouseMajor
- May 19Signed by the President of the SenateMajor
- May 19Sent to the GovernorTo Governor
- May 13House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
- Vote recorded REPASS. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded CONCUR. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded CONCUR. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded REPASS. Result: pass.Lower
- May 12Senate Third Reading Passed - No AmendmentsPassed Senate
- Vote recorded BILL. Result: pass.Upper
- May 11Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the WholeMinor
- Vote recorded Adopt amendment L.007. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Adopt amendment J.002. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Refer House Bill 26-1306, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. Result: pass.Upper
- May 11Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee
- May 7Senate Committee on Finance Refer Amended to AppropriationsMinor
- Vote recorded Refer House Bill 26-1306, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Adopt amendment L.006 (Attachment D). Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 30Introduced In Senate - Assigned to FinanceMinor
- Apr 28House Third Reading Passed - No AmendmentsPassed House
- Vote recorded BILL. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 27House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee
- Apr 24House Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to House Committee of the WholeMinor
- Vote recorded Adopt amendment L.001. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Refer House Bill 26-1306, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Adopt amendment J.001. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 6House Committee on Finance Refer Unamended to AppropriationsMinor
- Vote recorded Refer House Bill 26-1306 to the Committee on Appropriations. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 27Introduced In House - Assigned to FinanceIntroduced
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