TALLAHASSEE, Fla. \u2013 Ahead of next year\u2019s Legislative session, lawmakers with the Senate Committee on Transportation approved a bill that would bring a new specialty plate to the Sunshine State.<\/p>\n
That bill \u2014 SB 246<\/a> \u2014 was first filed back in October by Sen. Joe Gruters (R-District 22) and Sen. Ana Rodriguez (R-District 40). <\/p>\n SB 246 aims to establish a license plate design based on the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), adding it to the list of other specialty plates offered in Florida<\/a>.<\/p>\n According to the legislation, the plate would have the word \u201cFlorida\u201d printed at the top, and the words \u201cUFC Lives Here\u201d appearing along the bottom.<\/p>\n [BELOW: Here\u2019s what to know about Florida\u2019s newest \u2018license plate\u2019 law]<\/p>\n In addition, the annual use fees from plate sales would go to the nonprofit UFC Foundation, which may use the proceeds to support charities like children\u2019s hospitals, youth advocacy and support for first responders.<\/p>\n \u201cFlorida represents the second-largest UFC fanbase in the country, and we will be honored to launch this program with your assistance,\u201d UFC Foundation spokesman Brian Smith told lawmakers during Tuesday\u2019s committee meeting.<\/p>\n The committee ultimately approved SB 246 by a vote of 5-1, meaning it has two more committee stops before it can go to the full Senate for a full vote.<\/p>\n If approved, the bill is set to take effect on Oct. 1, 2026.<\/p>\n IF APPROVED, WHEN WILL THE NEW PLATE BE AVAILABLE?<\/p>\n In short: drivers can begin buying new plates starting on Oct. 1, though it might take a while before drivers will actually receive one.<\/p>\n According to state officials, a new plate\u2019s respective organization is supposed to begin offering pre-sale vouchers when the law takes effect.<\/p>\n [BELOW: Can you change the color of your Florida license plate?]<\/p>\n Starting on that date, the organizations will have two years to sell 3,000 vouchers before the license plate will be manufactured.<\/p>\n If the pre-sale period ends without an organization hitting that target, their respective specialty plate will instead be deauthorized, meaning it won\u2019t actually be produced.<\/p>\n