Florida requires financial plans from groups with approved specialty plates

Organizations with specialty plates approved by law must submit a five-year financial plan to Florida’s Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. The requirement covers organizations whose requested specialty plates are approved by law. The plan must list expected income, planned spending, allowed administrative expenses, and outside recipients of plate fees. Missing the financial-plan deadline ends the plate’s authorization. The agency must report these plans and the status of organizations with withheld revenue to the Governor and legislative leaders. The law took effect October 1, 2026. The agency’s report is due December 31 each year, including its notice about organizations with withheld revenue.

Specialty plate fees and their interest may go only to corporations meeting the stated filing or registration rules. The rules cover direct recipients of specialty plate fees and outside recipients of those fees or their interest. Florida corporations must meet the referenced definition and have filed their incorporation papers with the state. Corporations formed elsewhere must meet the referenced definition and registration rules and be authorized to operate in Florida. Organizations receiving the money may pass it to outside recipients only if those recipients meet the same requirements. The law took effect October 1, 2026.

Florida’s Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles must develop eight named specialty plates and distribute their annual fees to designated organizations. The plates represent Miami Northwestern alumni, Christopher Columbus High School, UFC, the Naval Academy, the Military Academy, Miami Dade College, Florida Film Legacy, and St. Petersburg College. The plates must meet the referenced specialty plate requirements. The law does not establish that drivers can already buy them. Miami Northwestern Alumni Association, Inc., and Christopher Columbus High School, Inc., receive their respective plate fees for school programs and need-based scholarships. Miami Dade College Foundation, Inc., receives fees for student scholarships. Each may use up to 10 percent for administration and marketing. The UFC Foundation receives UFC plate fees for Florida charities and youth mentoring, with up to 10 percent for marketing. The Jacksonville Chapter of the Naval Academy Alumni Association receives Naval Academy fees for Florida charities supporting veterans and their families. Bay Area Legal Services, Inc., receives Military Academy fees for the Florida Veterans Legal Helpline. Both academy plates allow up to 10 percent for administration related to marketing. Feature Florida Partnerships, Inc., receives Film Legacy fees and must report how it used them during the previous fiscal year. St. Petersburg College Foundation, Inc., must use 40 percent of its fees for scholarships and 50 percent for student success programs, particularly technology and job training. It may use 10 percent for administration related to marketing. The law took effect October 1, 2026. Feature Florida Partnerships’ first spending report is due by September 1, 2027, with reports due annually thereafter.

Florida’s Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles must develop an Endless Summer plate for motorcycles. These provisions cover Endless Summer plates displayed on motorcycles and other motor vehicles. The motorcycle plate must use an approved design, with any approved image placed on the far left. Valid motorcycle and other motor vehicle plates count together when deciding whether the Endless Summer plate must be discontinued. The law took effect October 1, 2026.

Fraternal Order of Police plate fees go to the Florida State Lodge Fraternal Order of Police Memorial Foundation, Inc. The provisions cover Fraternal Order of Police plate applicants and the named nonprofit foundation receiving annual fees. The foundation must distribute the money according to its articles of incorporation, its founding rules. The plate provision does not require a notarized letter confirming lodge membership or a family relationship. The law took effect October 1, 2026.