North Carolina HB 1157: Red Wolf Special Registration Plate.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 1157

Short Title: Red Wolf Special Registration Plate. (Public)
Sponsors: Representatives Ball, Ross, and Alston (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to: Appropriations, if favorable, Finance, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and
Operations of the House
May 4, 2026
*H1157-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLES TO ISSUE A RED 2
WOLF SPECIAL REGISTRATION PLATE, TO PROVIDE FOR THE DISTRIBUTION 3
OF THE FEES FROM THE PLATE TO SUPPORT RED WOLF CONSERVATION, TO 4
APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND INITIAL ISSUANCE OF 5
THE PLATE AND FOR CAMPUS PROMOTION OF THE PLATE, AND TO DIRECT 6
NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY TO PROMOTE THE PLATE ON CAMPUS. 7
Whereas, the red wolf is one of the rarest canids in the world and is native to North 8
Carolina and the southeastern United States; and 9
Whereas, North Carolina holds a unique place in the history and future of red wolf 10
conservation; and 11
Whereas, the preservation of native wildlife is important to the natural heritage, 12
environmental health, educational mission, and cultural identity of the State; and 13
Whereas, the creation of a Red Wolf special registration plate would allow residents 14
of the State to demonstrate support for the preservation of this iconic native species; and 15
Whereas, revenues generated from the issuance of the Red Wolf special registration 16
plate can provide a recurring source of support for red wolf conservation, management, research, 17
monitoring, and habitat preservation and restoration; and 18
Whereas, it is in the interest of the State to provide one-time funds to support the 19
initial design, development, and issuance of the plate so that the plate may be made available 20
without unnecessary delay; and 21
Whereas, North Carolina State University, as a leading public institution with the 22
Wolfpack identity and a broad statewide alumni and supporter network, is well positioned to help 23
promote awareness of the Red Wolf special registration plate and its conservation purpose; Now, 24
therefore, 25
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 26
SECTION 1. G.S. 20-63 reads as rewritten: 27
"§ 20-63. Registration plates furnished by Division; requirements; replacement of regular 28
plates with First in Flight plates, First in Freedom plates, or National/State 29
Mottos plates; surrender and reissuance; displaying; preservation and cleaning; 30
alteration or concealment of numbers; commission contracts for issuance. 31
... 32
(b1) The following special registration plates do not have to be a "First in Flight" plate, 33
"First in Freedom" plate, or "National/State Mottos" plate as provided in subsection (b) of this 34

General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 House Bill 1157-First Edition
section. The design of the plates that are not "First in Flight" plates, "First in Freedom" plates, or 1
"National/State Mottos" plate must be developed in accordance with G.S. 20-79.4(a3). For 2
special plates authorized in G.S. 20-79.7 on or after July 1, 2013, the Division may not issue the 3
plate on a background under this subsection unless it receives the required number of applications 4
set forth in G.S. 20-79.3A(a). 5
... 6
() Red Wolf. 7
...." 8
SECTION 2. G.S. 20-79.4 reads as rewritten: 9
"§ 20-79.4. Special registration plates. 10
... 11
(b) Types. – The Division shall issue the following types of special registration plates: 12
... 13
() Red Wolf. – Issuable to the registered owner of a motor vehicle in accordance 14
with G.S. 20-81.12. The plate shall bear the phrase "Red Wolf" and an image 15
that depicts a red wolf. The plate authorized by this subdivision is not subject 16
to the provisions of G.S. 20-79.3A or G.S. 20-79.8. 17
...." 18
SECTION 3. G.S. 20-79.7 reads as rewritten: 19
"§ 20-79.7. Fees for special registration plates and distribution of the fees. 20
... 21
(a1) Fees. – All other special registration plates are subject to the regular motor vehicle 22
registration fee in G.S. 20-87 or G.S. 20-88 plus an additional fee in the following amount: 23
24
Special Plate Additional Fee Amount 25
... 26
Red Drum Expired July 1, 2016 27
Red Wolf $30.00 28
Retired Legislator $30.00 29
... 30
(b) Distribution of Fees. – The Special Registration Plate Account and the Collegiate and 31
Cultural Attraction Plate Account are established within the Highway Fund. The Division must 32
credit the additional fee imposed for the special registration plates listed in subsection (a1) of this 33
section among the Special Registration Plate Account (SRPA), the Collegiate and Cultural 34
Attraction Plate Account (CCAPA), the North Carolina Land and Water Fund (NCLWF) which 35
is established under G.S. 143B-135.234, and the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, which is 36
established under G.S. 143B-135.56, as follows: 37
38
Special Plate SRPA