Arizona’s specialty license plate program offers drivers a chance to support over 100 different causes, yet some voices suggest that not all groups are given fair representation. Democratic legislators argue that a particular nonprofit group advocating for LGBTQ scholarships is being unfairly excluded.
The specialty plates, priced at $25 each, contribute $17 to the sponsoring organization. However, before benefiting from these fees, organizations must secure legislative approval and provide an initial $32,000 to cover plate creation costs.
While lawmakers propose numerous bills each year to support their preferred initiatives, the Arizona Department of Transportation currently offers 114 specialty plates, with plans underway to introduce more.
Recent legislative efforts saw a bill passed to aid the Arizona Space Commission, while another pending approval could add 22 new plates for various causes, from wildlife conservation to skin cancer prevention.
Concerns of Exclusion
Representative Lorena Austin (D-Mesa) has been advocating for a “community college access and success” plate to fund scholarships for LGBTQ students. Despite multiple attempts, this proposal has not progressed, with Austin, Arizona’s first openly non-binary lawmaker, claiming it hasn’t even been granted a committee hearing.
In Arizona’s legislative process, a bill requires an initial hearing to advance. Austin suggests that the blocking of this bill goes beyond partisan politics, alleging discrimination from Republican lawmakers.
Austin contends that the exclusion from House Bill 2127, which proposes nearly two dozen new specialty plates, is due to its association with an LGBTQ-supportive group.
“For the past three, four years now, we’ve tried to run a bill for Maricopa County Community College scholarships, and it continues to be denied because the source of the funding comes from an LGBTQ-supporting organization,” Austin said. “And I was told that because it comes from a supporting LGBTQ+ organization, it would not be allowed to be heard.”
House Bill 2127 initially aimed to honor Bronze Star Medal veterans but was expanded to include causes supported by both parties, such as public education and law enforcement.
Representative Neal Carter (R-San Tan Valley), who introduced HB 2127, offered limited insights into the exclusion of the LGBTQ plate.
“I ran one of them. There were several others included on it, and I believe that it mirrors the Senate,” Carter stated.
Underlying Issues
Representative Betty Villegas (D-Tucson), who proposed the current version of the community college plate, supports Austin’s view. Unlike previous versions, her proposal did not specify LGBTQ beneficiaries, instead referring to aiding “college-bound persons in need.”
Austin confirmed the intent was still to support Equality Maricopa, which aids LGBTQIA+ students in Maricopa County Community Colleges.
Villegas alleged that Senate Republicans blocked her bill, despite no explicit reasons being given. “We all know it. We all know why,” she asserted.
She noted that the bill’s exclusion coincided with inquiries about the sponsoring nonprofit. “The only giveaway is they wanted to know who the nonprofit was,” Villegas remarked, claiming it was subsequently removed from consideration.
Senate President Warren Petersen and Senator David Farnsworth, leading the transportation committee, did not comment on these allegations. Similarly, Governor Katie Hobbs’ spokesperson reserved comment.
KJZZ is licensed to the Maricopa County Community College District.
