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August 24, 2007

Dave Druker
Henry Haupt

Legislation on Specialty License Plates Signed Into Law

Secretary of State Jesse White applauded Governor Rod Blagojevich for signing into law legislation that clarifies and reaffirms the General Assembly as the sole authority to create and approve specialty license plates. The law goes into effect January 1, 2008.

In a lawsuit concerning the issuance of specialty license plates, the Federal trial court ruled that the Secretary of State can issue plates without the approval of the General Assembly. That case is now on appeal. This legislation clarifies that the Secretary of State may only issue specialty license plates with the approval of the General Assembly and signature of the governor.

Despite the claim that the Secretary of State had the authority to approve and create specialty license plates, no specialty license plate has ever been created in Illinois without being initiated and approved by the General Assembly and signed by the governor.

"This legislation supports the position that my office has maintained that only the General Assembly has the authority to create and approve specialty license plates, and that the role of my office is to administer that program," said Secretary White.

Currently, there are 60 specialty license plates available in Illinois.