House panel introduces pet-friendly license plate bill

An Idaho House panel introduced a bill on Thursday to create pet friendly license plates.

The funds collected by the license plate fees would go to the Idaho Humane Society.

The fees for the license plate fund would be put into a new state fund, called the “Pet Lovers Fund.” All funds would be used to assist low-income area pet-owners, veterinarians, animal shelters and impound facilities with decreasing pet overpopulation.

Raising funds for these programs help rural communities, whose veterinarians often do volunteer work, said Rep. Melissa Wintrow, D-Boise.

“Larger urban areas like ours, Ada County, are doing well because we have larger orgs and non-profits who do fundraising and help out,” she told the House Transportation & Defense Committee. “But, some rural communities might need a little more assistance.”

The committee agreed to introduce the bill on Thursday, asking only to what non-profit company the funds would go to.

The bill may now go to a public hearing. The bill will need to pass both the House and Senate and receive the governor’s signature to become law.

– Kyle Pfannenstiel covers the 2018 Idaho Legislature for the University of Idaho McClure Center for Public Policy Research.