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‘A simple fate:’ Florida Gov. DeSantis promises to veto this license plate rule

Latest batch of laws went into effect on Oct. 1

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – After a license plate law went into effect back in October, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced he would deny any legislation implementing another rule if it came across his desk.

His comment stemmed from another social media post by Florida Rep. Tom Fabricio (R-Miami Lakes), who filed a bill aiming to get rid of yellow decal requirements on vehicles in the state.

DeSantis praised the motion, though it spurred another comment by a user asking about a potential frontal plate requirement in the wake of new license plate rules.

Earlier this year, lawmakers introduced a bill that would require two license plates on residents’ cars — one for the front and the back.

That bill — dubbed the “Lilly Glaubach Act” after a 13-year-old Tampa girl who was struck by a car while riding her bike home from school — also sought other rules help law enforcement track down suspects in hit-and-run cases.

[BELOW: Hit-and-run legislation proposes new requirements for auto body shops]

The front license plate rule was designed to help investigators better track cars involved in these sorts of crashes. However, the bill ultimately died in committee before it even got the chance for a full Senate vote.

And while no bills for next year’s legislative session have yet been filed that would require a front license plate, DeSantis assured residents that he would not allow such a measure to pass.

“Legislation mandating that drivers have a front plate will be met with a simple fate,” he wrote. “Veto.”

Meanwhile, Fabricio’s latest bill (HB 841) would get rid of the requirements under state law that mandate drivers put a yellow registration decal sticker on their license plates.

Instead, the legislation pushes to record renewals electronically, which could help Floridians save on fees.

The bill is set to be considered during next year’s legislative session, which kicks off on Jan. 13.

If it manages to pass, the new rule is slated to take effect on July 1, 2026.


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