HARRISBURG, PA — The state Senate has unanimously approved a pair of bills sponsored by Sen. Lisa Baker that would create an “Honoring Our Veterans” license plate for motorcycles. Fifteen dollars of the license fee would be dedicated to supporting veterans in need through the Veterans Trust Fund.

Senate Bill 284 would authorize the creation of the newest specialty plate. A similar plate for passenger vehicles was created through Act 194 of 2012, but did not include an option for motorcycle owners.

“The idea for us to do a plate for motorcycles came from a group of Vietnam veterans in my Senate district that like to do motorcycle rides for charity,” Baker said, adding that the plates “will be another source of pride for those who want to support our veterans.”

A companion bill, Senate Bill 285, calls for $15 of the $35 license plate fee to be transferred to the Veterans Trust Fund, a state-run fund dedicated to helping needy veterans with food, utilities, mortgage, or rent payments, health care and other necessities of life. To date $1.2 million has been raised for that fund from various sources including the license plate sales. In March, grants totaling $350,000 from the fund were awarded to 10 charitable organizations and veterans’ service organizations by the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

Both bills head to the House for consideration.