SB 1531 Arizona Senate · 57th Legislature - Second Regular Session

special plate; distracted driving

SB 1531 creates a new "distracted driving special plate" program in Arizona, requiring a $32,000 upfront payment to the Department of Transportation by December 31, 2026, before the plates can be issued. The donor designs the plates (subject to department approval) and may combine it with personalized plate requests. For each plate issued, a $25 fee is charged, with $17 directed to a "distracted driving special plate fund" (to be deposited into the State Highway Fund). This program directly affects vehicle owners who pay the fees and seek these special plates, but only after the initial $32,000 payment is made. The bill does not change distracted driving laws or enforcement.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 2, 2026 Last action Mar 17, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Version Senate Engrossed Version (03/11/2026) · 6 edits · Mar 11, 2026
MODERATE
This bill introduces a new 'Distracted Driving' special license plate program in Arizona. It establishes a $32,000 upfront implementation fee paid by a private entity to launch the program, which must then design the plates for departmental approval. The program creates a dedicated fund where $8 of the annual plate fee goes to administration and $17 is donated to a 501(c)(3) organization focused on reducing distracted driving accidents.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of special plates by adding a new category specifically for distracted driving awareness, funded through a combination of private investment and public donations.
FISCAL

Created a new 'Distracted Driving Special Plate Fund' requiring a $32,000 private payment to activate the program, with the first $32,000 reimbursed to the payer.

Established a mandatory fee split where $8 of the annual plate fee covers administration and $17 is donated to a qualified non-profit for distracted driving education.

Amended the State Highway Fund statutes to include the new administration fees and donations from the distracted driving plates as separate line items.

ELIGIBILITY

Added new eligibility criteria allowing the private entity that paid the implementation fee to design the special plates, subject to departmental approval.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new statute (28-2470.40) defining the fund, its administration, and the specific mission goals for the recipient non-profit organization.

DEFINITION

Updated the definition of 'highway user revenues' to explicitly exclude the special plate administration fees and donations associated with the new distracted driving plates.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
7
Key actions
2
Committee
1
Mar 11, 2026
Upper · Passed
PASSED
upper
Feb 17, 2026
Upper · Passed
DP
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Frank Carroll
Frank Carroll
RRepublican
AZ
28