CS/CS/HB 91 - Digital License Plates

• Defines "digital license plate" as an electronic display meeting department specifications that can be placed on registered motor vehicles in lieu of physical license plates

• Authorizes the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to conduct a pilot program limited to government-owned vehicles, evaluating digital license plate designs and technologies with at least 2 geographic regions (1 urban, 1 rural) and a 6-month evaluation period

• Department must make written recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within 8 months of contract execution regarding implementation and use of digital license plates

• Allows the department to contract with digital license plate providers; prohibits providers from selling, sharing, or storing geolocation data with a civil penalty up to $5,000 per violation

• Digital license plates may display vehicle validation information, emergency alerts, fleet identifiers, specialty plate designs, and can be used for electronic toll collection and parking permits; consumers must obtain a physical plate first and pay all applicable motor vehicle registration fees

• Effective dates: July 1, 2022 for most provisions; July 1, 2023 for digital license plate issuance and validation sticker exemptions