Gov. Tony Evers introduced a proposal in the state budget Feb. 18 to create new butter-themed plates for Wisconsin motorists. The butter-themed plate would feature a yellow background to resemble butter, celebrating the state's rich dairy heritage.
Evers also proposed a blackout plate which would have a black background with white lettering, a design that has gained popularity in neighboring states like Minnesota and Iowa.
“There are currently several ways for Wisconsinites to customize and personalize their license plates to show their Wisconsin style, and this provision would add a couple more,” Evers’ team told The Daily Cardinal in an email.
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) currently offers approximately 60 specialty license plates, from promoting endangered species to honoring veterans and supporting Wisconsin sports. Each plate carries an annual $25 fee, generating millions of dollars for the state's transportation fund.
“These specialty plates will generate revenue for the state down the road while celebrating our proud history as ‘America’s Dairyland,’ so you butter believe that’s a win-win-win for the state and for our budget,” Evers said.
Evers additionally proposed allocating $14.8 million to replace aging license plates.
Nearly one million vehicles in Wisconsin are operating with plates that are 20 years old, according to DOT estimates from 2023. The investment aims to ensure compliance with a law requiring automatic replacement of plates older than 10 years by 2032.
The state Legislature is expected to review and debate the proposal in the coming weeks along with the rest of the 2025-27 budget proposal.
