​Under current law, inmates working for PRIDE Enterprises manufactures license plates and validation stickers for DHSMV and DHSMV is not required to obtain competitive bids in order to contract them. The Legislature created Prison Rehabilitative Industries and Diversified Enterprises (PRIDE) in 1981 as a private, non-profit corporation to lease and manage the state prison industries program.
CS/HB 695 by the Tourism, Infrastructure & Energy Subcommittee and Representative Nick Duran (R-Miami) and the companion bill, SB 862, filed by Senator Joe Gruters (R-Sarasota) are being pushed by lobbyists Cory Guzzo and Jorge Chamizo of Floridian Partners on behalf of California based ReviverMX, Inc. Lobbyist compensation reports for the latest reported quarter showed that the  lobbying firm was paid $560,000 in legislative lobbying pay and another $390,000 in executive branch earnings for a combined total of $950,000, according to a summary provided by Florida Politics.  Their other clients include Avail, Florida Internet & Television, Liberty Mutual Group, the Seminole Tribe of Florida, Florida Gulf Coast University, the Florida Insurance Council, Gulf Power, TECO Energy, Anheuser-Busch, HP,  U.S. Sugar, the Florida Realtors and Magellan Health.

​Senator Joe Gruters was elected to the Senate in 2018, after having served in the House from 2016-2018. He is a CPA and was educated at USF and FSU. He was reelected Florida GOP chair in January, and Sarasota County Commissioner Christian Ziegler was reelected party vice chair. He co-chaired Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign in Florida before taking over as Florida GOP chair in 2019 and helping the president carry the state in 2020.
Representative Nick Duran is a nonprofit executive director for the Florida Association of Free and Charitable Clinics and was educated at UF and New York Law School. He was elected to the House in 2016.
The Digital License Plate bill proposes to eliminate DHSMV’s current authority to evaluate alternative license plates through a pilot program and formally creates the Digital License Plate Pilot Program. Beginning July 1, 2021, DHSMV must administer the pilot program, which is limited to the installation of digital license plates on government-owned motor vehicles. By July 1, 2022, DHSMV must allow any motor vehicle registered in Florida to be equipped with a digital license plate in lieu of a physical license plate. 
The bill authorizes DHSMV to contract with one or more digital license plate providers, and DHSMV may authorize the display of a plate number and validation sticker on a digital license plate. DHSMV may authorize the use of digital license plates for toll collection, if approved by the Department of Transportation or other appropriate tolling authority, and parking permits. DHSMV may establish procedures for displaying emergency alerts, static logo displays, and other displays on the license plate. The bill defines the term “digital license plate provider” as a person or an entity engaged in the business of providing digital license plate hardware and services to motor vehicles.

​The current version of the bill now requires that, before purchasing a digital license plate, the vehicle owner must purchase a metal license plate from DHSMV and pay all applicable motor vehicle fees. The bill also provides requirements for the digital license plate and requires providers to maintain an inventory of digital license plates, make available digital versions of each specialty license plate, and update the vehicle’s registration in real time. 
The bill analyst, Johnson, assumes that most of the programming is between the digital license plate provider and the consumer, so the bill will have an insignificant impact on DHSMV expenditures. However, the bill is unclear as to whether or not DHSMV will continue collecting all existing license plate fees. The bill provides that a consumer who chooses to purchase a digital license plate must purchase it directly from the digital license plate provider. In addition to any fees associated with the purchase of the digital license plate, the consumer is also responsible for paying to DHSMV all applicable motor vehicle fees, including the annual use fee associated with any specialty license plate the consumer wishes to display on the digital license plate.
As of now, only black and white displays are available, but the company CEO claims that color versions may be available in a year or so.
According to DHSMV, the bill should have an insignificant impact on it, since the purchase of the digital license plate will be conducted solely between the digital license plate provider and the consumer. Therefore, DSHMV does not plan on programming connectivity between the proposed digital license plates and DSHMV systems and will continue with its current procedures for original and renewal license plate transactions (per Email from Kevin Jacobs, Legislative Affairs Director, Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, February 25, 2021.) The bill does not appear to impact county or municipal governments.

​"We look forward to working with Reviver and the ecosystem of vehicle compliance their platform and digital license plates will provide our DMV and our citizens. The expressive nature of their digital plates provides untapped opportunities for valuable communications." said Senator Joe Gruters, (R – Sarasota), the bill sponsor. Representative Nick Duran (D – Miami) who is sponsoring the House bill, said, "Bringing digital license plates to Florida helps to pave the way into a more connected future. Florida has always been on the cutting-edge of technology and allowing the use of this technology can bring large-scale efficiency and savings to the over 17 million registered vehicles in our state."

​According to ReviverMX, Inc., the company pursuing the legislation, their digital license plates are currently available in California and Arizona, and they claim 11 other states are in various stages of adoption. Depending on the type of digital license plate, prices start at $499 plus $55 per year or $17.95 per month with a 36-month agreement. https://reviver.com/shop/ The company is currently selling Rplates through multiple channels including automotive dealerships, affinity groups such as professional sports teams and college alumni associations, and small to medium-sized commercial fleets.
A SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT was included in ReviverMX’s press release announcing the Florida legislation: ReviverMX, Inc. (The Company) has prepared and provides all of the financial and related information stated herein. The Company makes no express or implied representation or warranty as to projections, estimates, future plans, or forward-looking assumptions or statements, nor as to their attainability or the accuracy and completeness of the assumptions from which they are derived. Projections and estimates of the Company's performance are necessarily subject to a high degree of uncertainty and may vary materially from actual results.
ReviverMX, formerly Smart Plate, Inc. was founded in 2009 and did not start selling a product until June 2018. According to the SEC EDGAR database and summary reports, the company raised $25.5 million in seed and A rounds. And a further
Reviver Auto has raised a total of $32M in funding over 5 rounds. Funding was also raised in July, 2019 from a Venture - Series Unknown round and a further %6.6M was raised last year in convertible notes from 48 investors. ViewTrade Securities, based in Boca Raton, are handling most of the fundraising..
According to PrivCo., Reviver Auto is funded by 3 main investors with ACK Group and Walden Riverwood Ventures are the most recent investors and has post-money valuation in the range of $50M to $100M as of Jan 10, 2018,  Board members include Ernst Lieb, the former CEO and President of Mercedes Benz USA, Canada and Australia.

​The latest version of the bill deleted a requirement for ReviverMX to pay $4.00 from the sale of each digital license plate to PRIDE on a quarterly basis. PRIDE Enterprises was incorporated in December 1981 and was formally established by the Legislature in 1983 to act as a private not-for-profit corporation1 operating correctional work programs in Florida’s prisons The final transfer of correctional work programs was completed in July 1984. PRIDE Enterprises does not receive funding from the Legislature and is supported by the earnings that it generates from the sale of its products and services. The DOC is required to lease buildings and land to PRIDE to operate these correctional work programs. PRIDE currently operates 35 different work programs in 21 prison correctional facilities and sells to all levels of government as well as nonstate and private entities. According to Dun & Bradstreet, annual revenue is $76.9 million.
In 2004, PRIDE’s CEO, Pamela Jo Davis, and president, John F. Bruels, were suspended by the company’s board as auditors probed loans the firm made to close affiliates. The board chairman, Maria Camila Leiva, said the board did not believe the two did anything wrong. Davis was paid by a spinoff firm and continued to be paid during her suspension, said PRIDE spokeswoman Evelyn Knight. Bruels was suspended with pay also.
In 2018, the Florida Dept of Corrections, Office of Inspector General Annual Report for FY 2017-18 showed that a Follow-up of Audit of PRIDE, found that  audit staff could not determine whether the billing process for PRIDE Accounts Receivable was accurate
An inmate may be employed by the PRIDE Enterprises or by any other private entity operating on the grounds of a correctional institution during the last 24 months of the inmate’s imprisonment. PRIDE generally pays inmates between 20 cents and 55 cents per hour, depending on their skill level and length of service. In addition, for every $1 an inmate earns, PRIDE pays 15 cents on behalf of inmates for victim restitution and transfers these payments to the department for distribution.

The Florida State Parks Foundation has won bipartisan support in its bid to get a specialty license plate to support Florida’s award-winning state parks. Senate Bill 676 was filed by Republican Sen. Dennis Baxley (SD 12), and House Bill 249 was filed by Democratic Representative Allison Tant (HD 9). About $1 billion dollars is needed to reinvest in aging infrastructure and provide needed facilities in parks yet to be developed; a specialty Florida Park Service license plate would provide funding for this effort.
​​If passed, bills in the Florida House and Senate will authorize a specialty license plate to provide significant funding to protect and preserve Florida’s state parks.

The Florida Park Service manages 800,000 acres of land for public recreational use. Florida’s 175 state parks contain 948 historic structures and more than 1,500 archaeological sites, plus more than 100 miles of beaches, thousands of miles of hiking, biking, equestrian and paddling trails, 2,769 miles of roads, 171 bathhouses, 363 restrooms, 570 pavilions and four lighthouses.
State parks attracted 28 million visitors in 2019 and generated almost $3 billion in local and statewide economic impact, including more than $205 million in state sales tax and 48,622 jobs.
The Foundation is based at 1700 North Monroe Street, Suite 11 #200, Tallahassee Florida. For more information. Click here.
So far, 8 other new specialty license plates have been proposed in the upcoming 2021 Legislative Session, including proposed plates for Inter Miami CF, Toastmasters, Gopher Tortoise, Orlando United, Honor Flight, Disease Prevention and Early Detection, Ethical Ecotourism and Protect Biscayne Bay.
Bills have also been filed to create digital license plates and a private vendor specialty license plate program.

A bill has been filed by Representative Geraldine F 'Geri' Thompson (D-Orange County) (HB 533) to amend the Divine Nine proposed specialty license plate, currently in its presale, to change the distribution of marketing funds from each of the nine fraternity/sorority plates to the Association to Preserve African-American Society, History, and Tradition (PAST), Inc., solely for the marketing of the plate. The companion Senate bill (SB 1200) has been filed by Senator Perry Thurston (D-Fort Lauderdale.)
The bill also proposes to limit the purchasers of the Divine 9 specialty plates to residents of the state of Florida who are registered owners of a motor vehicle and who are members of the applicable organization. The person must also present proof of membership in the organization and the bill adds that, notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the Divine 9 specialty license plate may be displayed on a privately owned passenger motor vehicle, pickup truck, motorcycle, boat or pleasure motor vehicle including, but not limited to, a recreational vehicle.
The Association to Preserve African-American Society, History, and Tradition (PAST), Inc. is based in Orlando and headed by Executive Director Elizabeth Thompson, Representative Thompson's daughter.
Representative Thompson has served in the Florida House of Representatives since 2018, after previously serving in the Senate (2012-2016) and the House (2006-2012). She was the Democratic Leader pro tempore from 2008-2010.
As part of the specialty license plate bill signed by Governor Ron DeSantis, the bill approved the creation of a “super tag” template for nine black fraternities and sororities dubbed the “Divine Nine”:
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority (founded in 1908 at Harvard University)
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity (founded in 1906 at Cornell University)
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority (founded in 1913 at Howard University)
Iota Phi Theta Fraternity (founded in 1963 at Morgan State College)
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity (founded as Kappa Alpha Nu in Indiana in 1911 and changed the name in 1915)
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity (founded in 1911 at Howard University)
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity (founded in 1914 at Howard University)
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority (founded in 1922 at Butler University)
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority (founded in 1920 at Howard University)
The group of plates have to collect a combined 3,000 presales before becoming eligible for production. DHSMV must cycle through the list of approved plates in the statutory order listed - Divine Nine is number 23 on the list.

​The Divine Nine license plate will use a standard template and a unique logo, graphic, or color for each of the organizations in the Divine Nine. The plate must bear DHSMV-approved colors and design and must include the official logo, graphic, or color as appropriate for each organization. The word “Florida” must appear at the top of the plate and the words “Divine Nine” must appear at the bottom of the plate.
The annual use fees from the sale of the plate are to be distributed as follows:
• 5% of the proceeds are distributed to the United Negro College Fund, Inc., for college scholarships for Florida residents attending Florida's historically black colleges and universities.
• The remaining 95% of the proceeds are distributed to the appropriate charitable foundations based on the purchaser’s selected license plate as follows:
10% solely for marketing of the plate; and
85% percent to promote community awareness and action through educational, economic, and cultural service activities within this state.

The United Negro College Fund’s mission is “to build a robust and nationally-recognized pipeline of under-represented students who, because of UNCF support, become highly-qualified college graduates and to ensure that our network of member institutions is a respected model of best practice in moving students to and through college.”

SB 940/HB 599 Disease Prevention & Early Detection has been filed by Senator Berman and Representative Robinson to benefit the Women's Breast & Heart Initiative, Florida Affiliate, Inc., to provide increased education and awareness relating to early detection, prevention, and screening of breast and heart issues.
Based in Miami Lakes and headed by Andrea Ivory, a breast cancer survivor and WBHI Founder and sole officer, director and Executive Director. WBHHI was formerly known as the Women’s Breast Health Initiative, Florida Affiliate. It was established in 2005 with a single goal of providing at-risk women access to early detection and proper treatment for breast cancer, WBHI created a unique, door-to-door neighborhood outreach program that increases awareness of breast health and the importance of early detection, as well as providing access to mammograms for women who are uninsured and underserved by the health care system.
In 2013, WBHI addressed another crucial health care need in the community by incorporating education and awareness of heart disease – the leading cause of death in women – into their grassroots campaigns. According to WBHHI, to date these efforts have positively impacted the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.

Senator Manny Diaz (R-Hialeah Gardens) has filed SB 292 to create a specialty license plate for Inter Miami CF. The funds are intended to be distributed to the Inter Miami CF Foundation Corporation, to plan and execute sports-based development and direct-service community programs, initiatives and events, with a maximum of 10% to be used for marketing and promotion.
Senator Diaz was born in Hialeah, is the Chair of the Senate Health Policy Committee and was elected to the Florida Senate in 2018 after having served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2012-2018. 

​After losing 13 of 23 matches this season in the MLS, Inter Miami now has its sights on Manchester United goalkeeper Sergio Romero. Despite the apparent interest from Inter Miami, the same report also noted that salary caps in the U.S. could cause a bit of a problem for Romero’s potential move to MLS.
The Argentine’s current salary is around the region of £100,000-per-week ($134,000), an amount Beckham’s side might not be able to match at the moment.
Beckham's MLS franchise is also linked to move for Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud, Eurosport reported. In fact, Beckham has reportedly made an offer of $5.3 million for the striker earlier this month.

Senator Diaz has also filed SB 342, requiring tax collectors to determine service charges collected by privately owned license plate agents for motor vehicle titles; requiring that additional service charges be itemized and disclosed to the person paying them; requiring a license plate agent to enter into a contract with the tax collector for a certain purpose; requiring tax collectors and approved license plate agents to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the department for a certain purpose.

The competition for the design of a new specialty “Florida Stands with Israel” license plate has officially launched and the general public is invited to submit their designs through November 14th.
Last month, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed legislation (HB 1135), authorizing the creation of the specialty auto tag. The bill enjoyed bipartisan sponsorship and passed through both the Florida House and Senate unanimously.
The contest is being sponsored by the Israeli-American Council (IAC) and technically coordinated by co-sponsor organization, Artists 4 Israel. The panel of judges will consist of the lead legislative sponsors of the bill – Sen. Aaron Bean, Sen. Lauren Book, who also has a specialty license plate for her nonprofit organization, Lauren's Kids, former Rep. JW Grant, who is now the state's Chief Information Officer, House Minority Leader Kionne McGhee, Rep. Scott Plakon, and Florida CFO/Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis – joined by Bal Harbour Mayor and community leader Gabe Groisman.

After the final design is submitted and approved by the Florida Department of Transportation the IAC will roll out a community  marketing campaign, along with the co-sponsorship of IAC for Action and their local community partners, to drive the necessary 3000 plate pre-sales needed to authorize production.
A portion of the revenue generated by sales of the new specialty license plate will benefit Hatzalah of Miami-Dade, inc., a non-profit that deploys community based paramedics to slash response times and increase survival rates.
Israeli-American Council Board Member and IAC for Action Board Chairman Shawn Evenhaim stated: “The kind of warmth demonstrated by this specialty plate is why Florida has always been a leading destination for Israeli-Americans. This gesture celebrates a long and close relationship. Florida and Israel share many ties, including bilateral trade, common values, and leadership in cutting edge fields that have a quality of life impact for all citizens. Florida has been a leader over the years in the fight against anti-Jewish hatred and discrimination, for example, its groundbreaking anti-BDS law and codification this past year of the IHRA definition of antisemitism. We applaud and sincerely appreciate this meaningful expression of solidarity and are pleased that the Israeli-American community can play a part in support of these efforts. Thank you Governor DeSantis and the Florida Legislature.”
For more information on the contest and to submit a design please visit:  www.floridastandswithisrael.com.

​Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Monday signed legislation authorizing the creation of a "Florida Stands with Israel" specialty license plate. The bill enjoyed bipartisan sponsorship and passed through both the Florida House and Senate unanimously.

​The Israeli-American Council applauded DeSantis, the Florida Legislature and the people of Florida "for this heartwarming expression of solidarity, which affirms the strong bond between the State of Florida's citizens and the Jewish State of Israel."
The design of the specialty license plate will be decided by a free 30-day contest open to submissions by the general public. The contest will be sponsored by the IAC and coordinated by co-sponsor organization, Artists 4 Israel. You can order by clicking here (additional fees apply) or at your local Tax Collector's office or DMV.
After the final design is submitted and approved by the Florida Department of Transportation the IAC will lead a community marketing campaign, along with the co-sponsorship of IAC for Action and our local community partners, to drive the necessary 3000 plate pre-sales needed to authorize production.
"The design of the specialty license plate will be decided by a free 30-day contest open to submissions by the general public," the IAC said in a statement. "The contest will be sponsored by the IAC and technically coordinated by co-sponsor organization, Artists 4 Israel. The panel of judges will consist of the lead legislative sponsors of the bill – Sen. Aaron Bean, Sen. Lauren Book, Rep. JW Grant, Rep. Kionne McGhee and Rep. Scott Plakon – joined by Bal Harbour Mayor and community leader Gabe Groisman."
IAC Board Member and IAC for Action Board Chairman Shawn Evenhaim stated: "This kind of warmth is why Florida has always been a leading destination for Israeli-Americans. This gesture celebrates a long and close relationship. Florida and Israel share many ties, including bilateral trade, common values, and leadership in cutting edge fields that have a quality of life impact for all citizens. Florida has been a leader over the years in the fight against anti-Jewish hatred and discrimination, for example, its groundbreaking anti-BDS law and codification this past year of the IHRA definition of antisemitism. We applaud and sincerely appreciate this meaningful expression of solidarity and are pleased that the Israeli-American community can play a part in support of these efforts. Thank you Governor DeSantis and the Florida Legislature. Shana Tova U'Metuka."
IAC Co-Founder and CEO Shoham Nicolet stated: "This is an incredible gesture of friendship following Governor DeSantis' highly successful 2019 trade mission to Israel and signing of a tough antisemitism law in Jerusalem. When considering the special Florida-Israel relationship, it is critical to examine the cutting-edge nature of the bi-lateral trade and exchange taking place. Trade with Israel encompasses many of the state's most vital sectors, such as agriculture, water desalinization, health sciences, disaster relief, avionics, and essential technology research and development.  The Florida-Israel relationship has a beneficial quality of life impact around the world. We applaud the efforts of the sponsoring legislators who made this happen. We also thank our friends at Artists 4 Israel and the Broward Jewish Federation for their co-sponsorship in this campaign. We thank our counterparts at IAC for Action, and my colleague Executive Director Joe Sabag, who is a leading Floridian pro-Israel advocate, for their excellent work in providing policy guidance and expertise throughout the authorization process."

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill on Friday which, among other things, will introduce 32 new specialty license plates onto the road. The bill, sponsored by former Rep. Jamie Grant, paves the way for 32 new specialty license plates, establishes a cap of 150 specialty license plates and formalizes a discontinuation process for low performing specialty license plates.
You can participate in the pre-sale by clicking here.
HB 1135 also authorizes the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to issue a new type of specialty license plates for fleet and motor vehicle dealer vehicles.

The bill also provides for a redesign of the Special Olympics tag to change the slogan to “Be a Fan”; redistribution of proceeds for the “Live the Dream” license plate to be limited to Sickle Cell Disease organizations and the Miami-based Chapman Partnership, with March of Dimes and the Florida Association of Healthy Start Coalitions being deleted, and the DMV now responsible to pay a 5% royalty fee to the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, Inc. for the use of the image of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. ; and a change in the use of proceeds for “In God We Trust” tag with up to 90% to be utilized to provide education in public and private schools regarding the historical significance of religion in American and Florida history.
The revenue from the Florida Law Enforcement Officer license plates, originally distributed to the Police and Kids Foundation, Inc., to invest and reinvest, and only the interest earnings was to be used for the operation of the Police and Kids Foundation, Inc., now may be directly used for the operations, activities, programs, and projects of the Police and Kids Foundation, Inc.  Preserve Vision Florida is changing their name on their plate from Prevent Blindness.

​A cap of 150 plates is now in place, with 32 new plates created by the bill, provided they meet the presell requirements with the current number of plates at 122. 
To create the new plate, the organization must submit its proposed art design to DHSMV as soon as practicable, but no later than 60 days after October 1, 2020 . Within 120 days from October 1, 2020, DHSMV must establish a method to issue a specialty license plate voucher allowing for the presale of such plate. The $5 processing fee, the service charge and branch fee, and the annual use fee for the specialty license plate are charged for the voucher. All other applicable fees are charged at the time the license plate is issued. The presell is now 3,000 (4,000 for out of state colleges)
The bill provides that new specialty license plates that have been approved by law but are awaiting issuance will be issued in the order they appear in s. 320.08058, F.S., provided all requirements, including the presale requirement, have been met. If the next awaiting specialty license plate has not met the presale requirement, DHSMV must proceed in the order provided in law to identify the next qualified specialty license plate that has met the presale requirement. DHSMV must cycle through the list in statutory order.
If the Legislature has approved 150 or more specialty license plates, DHSMV may not make any new specialty license plates available for design or issuance until a sufficient number of plates are discontinued so that the number of plates being issued is reduced to fewer than 150.

DHSMV must cycle through the list in the following statutory order:

1. Ducks Unlimited “Conserving Florida Wetlands” (Ducks Unlimited, Inc.)
2. Auburn University “War Eagle” (Tampa Bay Auburn Club)
3. Beat Childhood Cancer (75% to Beat Nb and 25% to Ryan Callahan Foundation)
4. Walt Disney World (Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central and Northern Florida, Inc.)
5. Florida 4-H (Florida 4-H Club Foundation, Inc)
6. Donate Life Florida “Donors Save Lives” (Donate Life Florida and the Joshua Abbott Organ and Tissue Donor Registry)
7. Florida State Beekeepers Association “Save the Bees”
8. Rotary (Community Foundation of Tampa Bay, Inc.)
9. Highwaymen (City of Fort Pierce)
10. Dan Marino Campus “Marino Campus” (Dan Marino Foundation, Inc.)
11. Orlando City Soccer (55% to the Professional Sports Development Trust Fund within the Department of Economic Opportunity; 455 to Enterprise Florida, Inc.)
12. Daughters of the American Revolution (to to promote patriotism, preserve American history, and secure America’s future…)
13. Gadsden Flag “Don’t Tread on Me” (Florida Veterans Foundation, Inc.)
14. America the Beautiful (Live Laugh Love Give, Inc.)
15. Explore Off Road Florida “Explore Off Road” (Florida Off Road Foundation, Inc.)
16. American Eagle “In God We Trust” (American Eagle Foundation, based in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee)
17. Guardian Ad Litem “Heartfelt Child Advocacy (Florida GAL Foundation, Inc.)
18. Jumbo Shrimp (St. Johns Riverkeeper, Inc.) 
19. Thank a Lineman (Lake-Sumter State College Foundation, Inc.)
20. Best Buddies “BestBuddies.org” (Best Buddies International, Inc.)
21. University of Georgia (Georgia Bulldog Club of Jacksonville)
22. The Divine Nine (Alpha Phi Alpha, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Delta Sigma Theta, Phi Beta Sigma, Zeta Phi Beta, Sigma Gamma Rho, Iota Phi Theta, United Negro College Fund)
23. Florida Bay Forever (Florida National Parks Association, Inc.)
24. Bonefish and Tarpon Trust
25. Coastal Conservation Association “Conserve Florida’s Fisheries” (Coastal Conservation Association Florida)
26. Johnson and Wales University (Johnson and Wales University-North Miami)
27. Florida Stands with Israel (Hatzalah of Miami-Dade, Inc.)
28. Give Kids the World (Give Kids the World, Inc.,)
29. Marine Corps League (Marine Corps League, Department of Florida)
30. K9s United (K9s United, Inc.)
31. Florida Native “Native” (Florida Native Plant Society, Inc.)
32. University of Alabama “Roll Tide” (The Pensacola Bama Club)

​The bill requires DHSMV to discontinue the specialty license plate with the fewest number of plates in circulation, including license plates exempt from a statutory sales requirement on January 1 of each year. For the specialty license plates in the bottom 10 percent of sales, the bill requires DHSMV to mail a warning letter to the sponsoring organizations.
Effective July 1, 2023, the bill requires DHSMV to discontinue the issuance of approved specialty license plates if the number of valid registrations falls below 3,000 plates (4,000 for out of state colleges) for 12 consecutive months.

​In addition to the existing exemption from the 3,000 plate sales requirement for in-state collegiate license plates, the bill provides exceptions from the discontinuance requirement for license plates:
· For institutions in and entities of the State University System;
· With statutory eligibility limitations for purchase;
· For which the annual use fees are distributed by a foundation for student and teacher leadership programs and teacher recruitment and retention; and
 · Florida Professional Sports Team license plates.

​The bill requires DHSMV, in cooperation with the independent colleges and universities, to create a standard template specialty license plate with a unique logo or graphic identifying each independent college or university. Each independent college or university may elect to use this standard template specialty license plate in lieu of its own specialty license plate. Annual use fees from the sale of these license plates are distributed to the independent college or university for which the logo or graphic is displayed and must be used as provided in s. 320.08058(3), F.S. 
Independent colleges and universities opting to use the standard template specialty license plate will have their plate sales combined for purposes of meeting the 3,000 plate minimum sales threshold and determining the 150 plate limit. These plates must be ordered directly from DHSMV.
Prior to the development of an out-of-state college or university license plate, DHSMV must have documentation on file indicating the college or university has consented to use an appropriate image on the license plate.
The bill prohibits any entity from using specialty license plate revenue for lobbying. The current prohibition is limited to agencies.

​According to Kevin Jacobs, Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs, Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, creation or modification of specialty and special license plates require system programming to implement. Depending on the number of distributions tied to the plate, the amount of programming may vary as will the resources needed to complete the changes. The average specialty/special license plate with a single distribution requires approximately 200-250 hours of programming, at a rate of $35 to $40 per hour. The bill creates 32 new specialty license plates, four new special license plates and removes from law five specialty license plates that have been discontinued. While DHSMV has not determined its fiscal impact, it is likely to be between $7,000 and $10,000 per plate created. Many existing plates had to pay an application fee of $60,000.00 to cover those costs in the past. DHSMV states the cost to perform an audit every three years of each specialty license plate may result in a workload impact that can also be absorbed within existing resources.

​DeSantis signed the bill on the eve of Rosh Hashanah, the “Florida Stands with Israel” tag was originally submitted to the House in a separate bill co-sponsored by House Minority Leader Kionne L. McGhee and Rep. Scott Plakon.
“This shows that our relationship with the State of Israel touches upon many of Florida’s most vital interests, values, and ideals,” the pair said in a joint statement. “Accordingly, the overwhelming majority of Floridians support this special relationship and now have a wonderful way to celebrate it.” Plakon in a separate statement recognized the plate’s symbolic passage. “I cannot think of a sweeter way to wish Florida’s Jewish community a Shana Tova – Happy New Year!” he added.
Current law prohibits the redesign of a specialty license plate unless the inventory of the license plate has been depleted. However, the organization may purchase the remaining inventory of the specialty license plate from DHSMV at the department’s cost.133 Special Olympics Florida may be required to purchase the remaining inventory of its specialty license plate at DHSMV’s cost prior to the authorized redesign of its license plates.

​A final batch of bills approved this year by the Legislature, many scheduled to become law on October 1, have finally been requested by Governor Ron DeSantis.
The 26 remaining measures, ranging from a revamp of the state’s specialty license-plate system to putting additional teeth into the fight against shark finning and trying to curb e-cigarette use by teens, have been sitting in the House and Senate since the legislative session ended on March 19.
More than 3,500 bills, memorials and resolutions were filed for the session, which began in January. DeSantis has signed 177 bills into law from the session, including the $92.2 billion budget (HB 5001), and vetoed three measures: SB 410 (Growth Management, Senator Keith Perry, R-Gainesville) SB 1292 (Public Records/Nonjudicial Arrest Record of a Minor, Senator Keith Perry, R-Gainesville) and HB 1049 (Office of Judges of Compensation Claims, Reps Charlie Stone, Cord Byrd, Jennifer Webb and Ardian Zika). Most of the bills, including the budget, went into effect with the July 1 start of the fiscal year.

​The Governor vetoed $1 billion from the budget, the largest budget veto made by a Governor in the state's history. He also vetoed $264 million worth of legislative “member” projects, which generally are earmarks for lawmakers’ districts - amounting to 518 of the 829 member projects. 
The vetoes included $134 million for aid to local governments, $28 million for Infectious disease Drug Treatment, $20 million for FSU School of Business, $5 million for FSU Florida Institute for Child Welfare, $15 million for Universities of Distinction, $5 million for UCF, $3.5 million for Nova Southeastern University - Veterans Access Clinic, $2.9 million for the City of Hialeah Educational Academy, $2 million for Gulf Coast State College, $1.5 million for Mote Marine Laboratory STEM Education, $1.5 million for Bay of Pigs - Brigade 2506 Museum, $1 million for Heart Gallery of Florida - Child Welfare Services, $1 million for Italian Club of Tampa, $650,000 for the First Tee Champ, $530,115 for Tallahassee Jewish Community Inc., $500,000 for Blind Babies Successful Transition Program, $400,000 for FAMU, $75,000 for the Bethune Cookman University - Small, Women and Minority Owned Businesses, $350,000 for Best Buddies International, $750,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters, $750,000 for Boys and Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida, $375,000 for AMIkids, $164,701 for Black Male Explorers, $255,000 Feeding Tampa Bay, $193,669 for Invicta Institute of Intelligence, $625,000 for Mental Health Assistance Allocation for Florida Virtual Schools, $500,000 for Kiwanis Club of Little Havana, $250,000 for St Augustine Lighthouse Tower Preservation, and $25,000 for ACEing Autism Florida Adaptive Tennis Project.
The budget retained $322 million for Everglades restoration, $50 million for springs and $40 million for alternative water supplies.
A planned state workers' pay raise was saved from the vetoes intended to make up for more than $2 billion in lost revenue from the coronavirus pandemic's effect on the state's economy. The Legislature had approved a 3% pay raise, worth $249 million, for all 90,000 state workers. The state also agreed to cover the cost of a 7% increase in health insurance premiums.
The changes to the specialty license-plate program (HB 1135) sponsored by Rep James "J.W." Grant, is set to take effect Oct. 1, and would allow new plates to get on the road if supporters can meet higher sales thresholds, while bumping some low sellers from the road. It would allow plates for the University of Alabama, the University of Georgia and Auburn University.

The directive came after the pandemic caused tax revenues to plummet in April, May and June and after DeSantis vetoed $1 billion in spending from the 2020-2021 budget.
Getting ready for the possibility of a special legislative session to balance Florida’s budget, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration and top House and Senate appropriations staff have called on state agencies to draw up ways to slice 8.5 percent from their current budgets to address “the expected shortfall” as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The direction to look for reductions does not mean such cuts will be made in the fiscal year 2020-2021 budget, which took effect July 1. It was included in annual budget instructions sent to state agencies in mid-July.
But it came after the pandemic caused tax revenues to plummet in April, May and June and after DeSantis vetoed $1 billion in spending from the 2020-2021 budget. DeSantis made the vetoes in hopes of conserving cash and aligning the budget, which lawmakers passed in March as the pandemic was starting to hit, with the economic realities stemming from business shutdowns and job losses.

Despite frequent requests from Democrats, DeSantis and Republican legislative leaders have shown no willingness to hold a special session before the November elections. But with the fiscal year running through June 30, they could be faced with making budget cuts at some point. As part of the Governor's effort to get the economy moving again, he is actively supporting reopening of schools. “Just as the SEALs surmounted obstacles to bring Osama bin Laden to justice, so too would the Martin County School system find a way to provide parents with a meaningful choice of in-person instruction or continued distance learning.” Gov. Ron DeSantis.
While DeSantis vetoed $1 billion, he signed a $92.2 billion budget into law that included high-profile issues such as $500 million to increase teacher pay, $625 million for the Everglades and other water-related projects and $100 million for the Florida Forever conservation program. He also approved 3 percent pay raises for state workers.
When he signed the budget in June, DeSantis said he was convinced “we’ll be able to weather the storm and do it right,” noting that the state had bolstered its reserves and had received money through a federal-stimulus law known as the CARES Act.
But DeSantis said on a radio show Monday that the pandemic will “loom” over every budget and policy debate during the 2021 legislative session, which starts in March.

"We are using intelligently the CARES Act money in a way that I think will keep us whole,” DeSantis said during an appearance on the Preston Scott show on WFLA radio in Tallahassee. “So, as we go into the legislative session, from a budget perspective, I think we’ll probably be OK for this fiscal year. I think the question is, is how robust is the recovery from the coronavirus shutdown? And if it’s robust, that gives us more options. If it’s not, then we may have to make some more tough decisions.”
A panel of economists will meet Friday to revise estimates of state general revenue, which plays a critical role in funding schools, health programs and prisons.
But economists recently said the state finished the 2019-2020 fiscal year on June 30 with $1.88 billion less in revenues than what was previously anticipated.
The declining revenues also come at a time when more Floridians have enrolled in Medicaid. Enrollment in the health-care program for poor, elderly and disabled people is expected to balloon by more than 14 percent during the current fiscal year, with economists predicting an average monthly enrollment of 4.36 million people.

​DeSantis’ office did not immediately respond to requests for comments about the memo directing agencies to look at possible budget cuts. But Senate spokeswoman Katie Betta called the reduction exercise prudent.
“It is common for (a legislative budget request) instructions to include an exercise evaluating current year cuts during times when there are significant unknown and unpredictable factors impacting the state budget,” Betta said.
Betta added that another “data point will be available later in the week” when the panel of economists update the general revenue estimates.
The July 15 budget memo also requires state agencies to compile recommendations on 10 percent worth of reductions for the 2021-2022 fiscal year, which will start July 1.
The 10 percent reduction is part of a routine budget exercise. The governor’s office and legislative budget officials made “optional” a portion of that exercise that allows agencies to make a priority listing of the programs or services targeted for potential reductions.

Meanwhile, the $5.6 billion projected surplus for California is estimated, at least back in May, to now be a budget deficit of $54.3 billion and with the last months causing even more lock downs and bailouts, this will be a lot more by the time we get to September.