What's happening
This bill creates a new "In God We Trust" license plate for New York vehicles for an extra fee.
Why it matters
Applies statewide. Any New York resident can request the "In God We Trust" plate, so this new option is available regardless of where you live in the state.
Requires minimum demand or financial backing. The DMV will only design and issue the plate if it receives either a $6,000 surety bond or at least 200 pre-orders (with non-refundable fees), ensuring taxpayer funds aren't used unless there's enough demand.
Funds go to DMV plate development. The extra $25 annual fee for this plate will be put into a dedicated state fund for DMV plate design and production, potentially supporting the creation of other specialty plates in the future.
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Who cares
Religious Individuals and Organizations
People who want to publicly express their faith or support for the phrase "In God We Trust" will care about the availability of a distinctive license plate carrying this motto.
Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
The DMV will be responsible for designing, producing, issuing, and managing the administrative and financial logistics of this new license plate, including handling the required surety bond and service charges.
- Likely concerns
Secular and Civil Liberties Groups
Organizations concerned about the separation of church and state or the endorsement of religious messages by government entities may be interested in or opposed to the introduction of these plates.
Vehicle Owners in New York
Any resident interested in specialty or distinctive license plates—whether for personal expression, support of a cause, or collection—may care about this new option and the associated costs.
Headline styles
Offer 'In God We Trust' Plates
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to rules
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
10699
IN SENATE
September 11, 2026
Introduced by Sen. LANZA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to establishing distinctive "In God We Trust" license plates
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new section 404-ff to read as follows:
§ 404-ff. Distinctive "In God We Trust" license plates. 1. Any person residing in this state shall, upon request, be issued a license plate bearing the words "In God We Trust". Application for said license plate shall be filed with the commissioner in such form and detail as the commissioner shall prescribe.
2. A distinctive plate issued pursuant to this section shall be issued in the same manner as other number plates upon the payment of the regular registration fee prescribed in section four hundred one of this article, provided, however, that an additional annual service charge of twenty-five dollars shall be charged for such plate.
§ 2. 1. A distinctive plate established pursuant to section 404-ff of the vehicle and traffic law, as added by section one of this act, shall only be designed, produced and issued upon the delivery to the department of motor vehicles of a surety bond in the amount of six thousand dollars, which shall be executed by a surety company authorized by the department of financial services to transact business in this state. Provided, however, that if the commissioner of motor vehicles shall have received prior to plate design, production and issuance at least two hundred orders for such distinctive plate together with the additional annual service charge applicable to each such order, which shall be non-refundable, no such surety bond shall be required. All service charges collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited pursuant to the provisions of section 404-oo of the vehicle and traffic law to the credit of the department of motor vehicles distinctive plate development fund established by section 95-g of the state finance law and
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD16347-01-6
shall be used for the design, production, advertising and distribution of distinctive license plates in accordance with such section 95-g.
2. If, upon the expiration of two years following the date upon which distinctive plates in the series are first available for sale two hundred or more sets of such plates are sold, a bond delivered pursuant to this section shall be discontinued. If fewer than two hundred sets of such plates are sold by such time, the department of motor vehicles shall be entitled to recover against the bond in an amount proportionate to such shortfall.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law; provided, however, that section two of this act shall take effect immediately. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to establishing distinctive "In God We Trust" license plates
Purpose
Relates to establishing distinctive "In God We Trust" license plates.
Summary of provisions
Section one amends the vehicle and traffic law by adding a new section 404ff.
Section two states that a distinctive plate can only be designed, produced and issued upon the delivery to the department of a surety bond in the amount of six thousand dollars However, if the Commissioner receives prior to the plate design at least two hundred orders with the annual service charge, no such surety bond will be required.
Section three is the effective date.
Justification
Currently, New York State makes available many different distinctive license plates. This legislation would allow vehicle owners, for a small fee, like other distinctive plates, the option of choosing an "In God We Trust" vanity license plate for their vehicle. Across the United States, there currently twenty-one states that have or offer "In God We Trust" license plates. These states are Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Upon this bill becoming law, New York State would join almost half the States in America to give their residents the option to register their motor vehicle with this new distinctive license plate.
Legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law, however, that section two of this act shall take effect immediately. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.