MITCHELL, SD (Mitchell Now) The South Dakota Senate has approved a new optional license plate design that could generate millions of dollars a year for road maintenance.

Senate Bill 24 creates a solid-background license plate option, including black plates with white lettering and white plates with black lettering. The Department of Revenue brought the bill and it advanced through the Senate Transportation Committee.

Under the bill, motorists who choose the solid-color plate would pay $100 at initial issuance and $100 each year at renewal. The state would deposit $25 of that amount into the license plate special revenue fund for plate production, and the state highway fund would receive the remaining $75 to support road repairs and maintenance.

Supporters told the Senate the plate would be entirely optional and would not replace any existing plate designs currently available to drivers. The new plate could raise up to $3.75 million annually for road repairs, depending on participation.

The plates would be available for automobiles, pickup trucks, vans, and motorcycles. Motorists could also choose to personalize the plate for an additional $25 fee.

The bill required a two-thirds vote because they deposit the fee revenue into a continuously appropriated fund.The Senate passed SB 24 on a 31-2 vote, with two senators excused.

The bill now moves to the House for consideration.