House committee substitute makes the following changes to the 1st edition.

Current GS 20-63(b1) exempts certain special registration plates from being a "First in Flight" or "First in Freedom" plate, as required in subsection (b) of the statute, and instead requires the design of plates that are not "First in Flight" or "First in Freedom" plates be developed in accordance with GS 20-79.4(a3), which sets out a standardized format for special license plates. Further, for special plates authorized in GS 20-79.7 on or after July 1, 2013, subsection (b1) prohibits the Division of Motor Vehicles from issuing the plate on a background under the subsection unless it receives at least 200 applications for the plate in addition to the applications required under GS 20-79.4 (special registration plates) or GS 20-81.12 (collegiate insignia plates and other certain special plates).

Adds new subdivision (54) to authorize a background for the Order of the Long Leaf Pine special registration plate, subject to the requirements set out in subsection (b1) of the statute.

Makes conforming changes to the act's long and short titles.

Changes the effective date to when the act becomes law (previously, effective July 1, 2016).