ASSEMBLY TRANSPORTATION AND INDEPENDENT AUTHORITIES COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 5756

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  DECEMBER 15, 2025

      The Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 5756.

      As reported, this bill authorizes the Chief Administrator (chief administrator) of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission) to issue special Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc. (Lambda Theta Phi) license plates.

      The bill provides that the design of the Lambda Theta Phi license plate is to display appropriate words or a slogan and an emblem honoring Lambda Theta Phi.  The chief administrator, in consultation with the North Atlantic Regional Vice President of Lambda Theta Phi, is to select the design and color scheme of the Lambda Theta Phi license plates.

      In addition to all fees otherwise required by law for the registration of a motor vehicle, there is an application fee of $50 and an annual renewal fee of $10 for the Lambda Theta Phi license plates.  After deducting the costs to implement the plates, the additional fees are to be deposited into a special non-lapsing fund known as the “Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc. License Plate Fund.”  The proceeds of the fund are to be annually appropriated to Lambda Theta Phi to be used to support the organization’s mission and programs.

      The chief administrator is required to annually certify the average cost of producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing the availability of the specialty license plates.  If the average cost per plate exceeds $50 in two consecutive fiscal years, the chief administrator may discontinue the Lambda Theta Phi license plate program.  The bill also requires the North Atlantic Regional Vice President of Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc. to appoint a liaison to represent the North Atlantic Region of Lambda Theta Phi in all communications with the commission regarding the Lambda Theta Phi license plates.

      The bill provides that State or other public funds are not to be used by the commission for the initial cost to implement the Lambda Theta Phi license plate program.  The bill requires the North Atlantic Regional Vice President of Lambda Theta Phi, or an individual or entity designated by the North Atlantic Regional Vice President of Lambda Theta Phi, to contribute non-public monies, not to exceed $25,000, to offset the initial costs to design, produce, issue, and publicize the license plates and for computer programming changes that may be necessary to implement the program.  The bill authorizes the North Atlantic Region of Lambda Theta Phi to receive funds from private sources to be used to offset the initial costs.

      The commission is not required to design, produce, issue, or publicize the availability of the Lambda Theta Phi license plates until:  (1) the North Atlantic Regional Vice President of Lambda Theta Phi, or the individual or entity designated by the North Atlantic Regional Vice President of Lambda Theta Phi, has provided the commission with the money necessary to offset the initial costs incurred by the commission in establishing the Lambda Theta Phi license plate program; and (2) the North Atlantic Region of Lambda Theta Phi liaison has provided the commission with a minimum of 500 completed applications for the Lambda Theta Phi license plates.

      The provisions of the bill will remain inoperative until the first day of the seventh month after the appropriate applications and fees required to offset the initial costs incurred by the commission are provided to the commission.  The bill expires on the last day of the 12th month if sufficient applications and fees to offset the initial costs are not received by that date.