IdahoIdaho drivers can choose America250 plates that fund historic preservation
Owners of eligible Idaho vehicles registered for no more than 26,000 pounds can request state-approved America250 plates, with extra fees supporting the Idaho Heritage Trust.
What it does
With state approval, eligible Idaho vehicle owners can choose America250 plates starting July 1, 2026. They pay $35 initially and $25 each year afterward, plus regular registration fees.
The trust receives $25 from each initial America250 plate fee and $15 from each yearly fee. The general plate charge does not fund copyrighted-design payments to the trust.
These funding rules do not limit the trust to spending interest earned on plate proceeds. They also do not require project sponsors to match preservation grants.
Argument forDrivers choosing America250 plates could help pay for Idaho historic preservation projects through their initial and yearly plate fees.
Argument againstRelying on optional America250 plate purchases could make preservation funding depend on how many drivers choose those plates.
More detail
Eligible vehicle owners can request America250 plates with approval from the Idaho Transportation Department. Vehicles must be registered in Idaho under a law allowing special plates and have a registered maximum gross weight of no more than 26,000 pounds. Availability follows department rules, and owners pay regular registration fees in addition to the special plate fees. The trust must accept the red, white, and blue design, and the department must approve it. Owners transferring plates to another vehicle must pay transfer fees and receive its registration before displaying them. Applications are allowed on or after July 1, 2026. Beginning January 1, 2027, the plates no longer have to display “America250.”
The state treasurer sends part of America250 plate fees to the Idaho Heritage Trust. The state highway account receives $10 from each initial and yearly America250 plate fee to cover program administration. The trust pays startup costs, including plate design. Sample plates cost $30, with $20 going to the trust and $10 to the state highway account. The general $3.75 charge for each plate issued remains; these provisions do not lower that charge. The act took effect March 27, 2026; America250 plate applications are allowed on or after July 1, 2026.
The trust’s plate-funding rules do not require a permanent endowment or matching money for preservation grants. These rules concern the Idaho Heritage Trust’s plate funding and grants for heritage preservation projects. Preservation proposals must meet the trust’s criteria, and grants depend on available money. These provisions do not require the trust to keep plate proceeds in a permanent fund. The act took effect March 27, 2026, upon passage and approval.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 30Reported Signed by Governor Brad Little on March 27, 2026 Session Law Chapter 223 Effective: 03/27/2026Became Law
- Mar 30Delivered to Governor at 1:45 p.m. on March 27, 2026To Governor
- Mar 27Returned Signed by the President; Ordered Transmitted to GovernorMinor
- Mar 27Signed by President; returned to HouseMajor
- Mar 27Received from the House enrolled/signed by SpeakerMajor
- Mar 26Reported Enrolled; Signed by Speaker; Transmitted to SenateMajor
- Vote recorded Rules Suspended: Ayes 68 Nays 1 Abs/Excd 1, read in full as required –. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 26Rules Suspended: Ayes 68 Nays 1 Abs/Excd 1, read in full as required – PASSED - 67-2-1AYES – Alfieri, Barbieri, Beiswenger, Berch, Bingham, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cannon, Cayler, Cheatum, Church, Cornilles, Crane(12), Crane(13), Dygert, Egbert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Erickson, Fuhriman, Furniss, Galaviz, Gannon, Garner, Green, Hall(Stone), Handy, Harris, Hawkins, Haws, Healey, Hill, Holtzclaw, Hostetler, Leavitt, Manwaring, Marmon, McCann, Mendive, Mickelsen, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Nelsen, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Price, Rasor, Raybould, Raymond, Redman, Sauter, Scott, Shepherd, Shirts, Skaug, Tanner(13), Tanner(14), Thompson, Vander Woude, Veile, Weber, Wheeler, Wisniewski, Mr. SpeakerNAYS – Mathias, RubelAbsent – PalmerFloor Sponsor - EhlersTitle apvd - to enrolMajor
- Mar 26Read second time as amended in Senate; Filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 25Read first time as amended in Senate; Filed for Second Reading
- Mar 25Reported Engrossed; Filed for First Reading of Engrossed Bills
- Mar 24Bills as Amended Referred to JRA for Engrossing
- Vote recorded Read third time as amended in the Senate –. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 24Returned from the Senate Amended; Held at Desk
- Mar 24House Concurred in Senate Amendments
- Mar 24Returned from the Senate Amended; Held at Desk
- Mar 24Read third time as amended in the Senate – PASSED - 31-3-1AYES – Anthon, Bernt, Blaylock, Burtenshaw, Carlson, Cook, Den Hartog, Foreman, Galloway, Grow, Guthrie, Harris, Hart, Keyser, Kohl, Lakey, Lenney, Lent, Nichols, Okuniewicz, Rabe, Ricks, Ruchti, Semmelroth, Shippy, Taylor, Toews, VanOrden, Woodward, Zito, ZuiderveldNAYS – Adams, Ward-Engelking, WintrowAbsent and excused – Bjerke(Bjerke)Floor Sponsor - HarrisTitle apvd - to HousePassed 2nd Chamber
- Mar 19Read second time as amended in the Senate, filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 18Read first time as amended in the Senate; Filed for Second Reading
- Mar 18Amendments reported printed
- Mar 17Reported out as amended; filed for first reading
- Mar 17Amendments ordered printed
- Mar 17Placed in the Committee of the Whole
- Mar 12Reported out of committee; to 14th Order for amendment
- Mar 11Introduced, read first time; referred to: TransportationMinor
- Mar 11Received from the House passed; filed for first reading
- Mar 10Rules Suspended: Ayes 69 Nays 0 Abs/Excd 1, read in full as required – PASSED - 60-9-1AYES – Alfieri, Barbieri, Beiswenger, Bingham, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cannon, Cayler, Cheatum, Cornilles, Crane(13), Dygert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Erickson(Larsen), Fuhriman, Furniss, Garner, Hall(Stone), Handy, Harris, Hawkins, Healey, Hill, Holtzclaw, Hostetler, Leavitt, Manwaring, Marmon, McCann, Mendive, Mickelsen, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Nelsen, Palmer, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Price, Rasor, Raybould, Raymond, Redman, Sauter, Scott, Shepherd, Shirts, Skaug, Tanner(13), Tanner(14), Thompson, Vander Woude, Veile, Weber, Wheeler, Wisniewski, Mr. SpeakerNAYS – Berch, Church, Egbert, Galaviz, Gannon, Green, Haws, Mathias, RubelAbsent – Crane(12)Floor Sponsor - EhlersTitle apvd - to SenatePassed 1st Chamber
- Vote recorded Rules Suspended: Ayes 69 Nays 0 Abs/Excd 1, read in full as required –. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 10Read second time; Filed for Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 9Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second ReadingMinor
- Mar 5Reported Printed and Referred to Transportation & Defense
- Mar 4Introduced, read first time, referred to JRA for PrintingIntroduced
Transportation