Washington's New Pickleball Plate Serves Up Fun!

Washington state has officially launched a new specialty license plate dedicated to pickleball, a sport invented in the state in the 1960s and officially designated its state sport in 2022. This plate is one of several new specialty designs being introduced, with a portion of its proceeds intended to fund the construction and maintenance of public pickleball courts. The Seattle Metro Pickleball Association spearheaded the effort to create the plate.

The legislative journey for the pickleball plate involved significant effort, including gathering thousands of signatures and overcoming challenges in previous legislative sessions. This year, it was successfully passed as part of a larger bill, "Bill's Bill," named in honor of the late Sen. Bill Ramos. The specialty plates cost $157.25, with personalization options available at an additional cost. Revenue generated beyond production expenses will benefit the sponsoring nonprofit.

In addition to the pickleball plate, Washington is also rolling out other specialty designs, including a retro throwback and one honoring pollinators, with more planned for the future, such as plates for the LeMay car museum and Mount St. Helens. A moratorium on new specialty plate applications is in effect until 2029, ensuring a controlled introduction of these unique identifiers.