TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – In October, a new license plate law was enacted, prompting Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida to declare his opposition to any similar legislation that might reach his desk in the future.
This declaration was in response to a social media post by Florida Representative Tom Fabricio, a Republican from Miami Lakes. Fabricio had introduced a bill aimed at eliminating the requirement for yellow decals on vehicles across the state, a move that DeSantis publicly supported.
The conversation on license plate regulations took another turn when a social media user inquired about the possibility of introducing a requirement for a front license plate, especially in light of the state’s evolving license plate policies.
Earlier in the year, there was a proposal for a law mandating that Florida residents display two license plates on their vehicles—one at the front and one at the back. Known as the “Lilly Glaubach Act,” this bill was named after a 13-year-old girl from Tampa who tragically lost her life in a hit-and-run incident while cycling home from school.
The proposed legislation aimed to facilitate law enforcement efforts in tracking down hit-and-run suspects by requiring front plates, which would enhance vehicle identification during investigations. Unfortunately, the bill did not progress past the committee stage and never reached a full Senate vote.
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.
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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