ASSEMBLY TRANSPORTATION AND INDEPENDENT AUTHORITIES COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 1738

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MARCH 16, 2026

      The Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 1738.

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

      The bill provides that the design of the Delta Sigma Theta license plate is to display appropriate words or a slogan and an emblem honoring the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.  The chief administrator is to, in consultation with the Eastern Regional Director of Delta Sigma Theta, select the design and color scheme of the Delta Sigma Theta 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 Delta Sigma Theta license plates.  After the deduction of the cost of designing, producing, issuing, renewing, and publicizing the plates and of any computer programming changes that are necessary to implement the license plate program, in an amount not to exceed $150,000, the additional fees will be deposited into a special non-lapsing fund known as the “Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. License Plate Fund.”  The proceeds of the fund are to be annually appropriated to Delta Sigma Theta 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 Delta Sigma Theta license plate program.  The bill also requires the Eastern Regional Director of Delta Sigma Theta to appoint a liaison to represent the Eastern Region of Delta Sigma Theta (Eastern Region) in all communications with the commission regarding the Delta Sigma Theta license plates.

      The chief administrator is responsible for publicizing the availability of the license plates on the commission’s website.  The Eastern Region, or an individual or entity designated by the Eastern Region, may also publicize the availability of the license plates in any manner the Eastern Region deems appropriate.

      The bill prohibits the commission from using State or other public funds to offset the initial cost to implement the Delta Sigma Theta license plate program.  The bill requires the Eastern Region, or an individual or entity designated by the Eastern Region, to contribute non-public monies in an amount to be determined by the chief administrator, 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 Eastern Region to receive funds from private sources to be used to offset the initial costs.

      The chief administrator is not required to design, produce, issue, or publicize the availability of the Delta Sigma Theta license plates or make any necessary programming changes until:  (1) the Eastern Region, or the individual or entity designated by the Eastern Region, has provided the commission with the money necessary to offset the initial costs incurred by the commission in establishing the Delta Sigma Theta license plate program; and (2) the Eastern Region liaison has provided the commission with a minimum of 500 completed applications for the Delta Sigma Theta license plates.

      This bill repeals an expired section of law authorizing the creation and issuance of Delta Sigma Theta 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 after enactment if sufficient applications and fees to offset the initial costs are not received by that date.

      This bill was prefiled for introduction in the 2026-2027 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.