A Pueblo Chile license plate is really happening
The spiciest legislative win so far.
Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper signed House Bill 1012 on Tuesday, creating the second chile license plate in the nation.
It’ll debut in September 2018.
The possibility of the chile plate, spearheaded by Pueblo Rep. Daneya Esgar, created somewhat of a rivalry between Colorado and New Mexico — home to the Hatch Chile.
As Esgar’s bill passed the appropriations committee, New Mexico introduced its own license plate measure. The legislation was passed and signed by Gov. Susana Martinez — she actually vetoed the original proposal, as it required an extra $35 fee. Martinez said that was too high.
The New Mexico lawmaker who introduced the bill wanted a portion of the revenue from the plates to go back to farmers, but in the end said she was okay with the governor’s veto.
The Pueblo Chile license plate will cost drivers an extra $5o.
And while a fancy addition to any Pueblo Chile-lover’s sweet ride, the extra cost of the specialty license plate won’t go back to the Pueblo farmers responsible for growing the crop.
No donation to a charity will be required.
In order for a license plates to warrant a donation, there has to be a fiscal agent, said Rep. Daneya Esgar, who is leading the effort along side (former) Pueblo County Commissioner Liane ‘Buffie’ McFadyen.
“With the Pueblo Chile Growers Association being so new, that was going to be something that would be difficult,” Esgar said.
The license plate, which sports a bushel of multi-colored Pueblo chiles, will be for recognition only.
But local officials say the plate is a good marketing measure for Pueblo Chile and will help farmers that way.
