For nearly two decades, Missouri drivers have had the option to show their Kansas City Chiefs pride right on their license plates. But with the team now eyeing a future across state lines in Kansas, that symbolic show of support could be heading for the exit ramp.
A new bill filed by Missouri state Rep. Chad Perkins aims to pull the plug on Chiefs-branded license plates, ending a longstanding agreement that’s been in place since 1999.
If the legislation gains traction and is signed into law, the change would take effect on August 28. That means no new Chiefs plates would be issued after that date-though current ones would stay valid until they expire.
And with that, the required annual $35 donation to keep the plates active would also be gone.
This move is part of a broader legislative response to the Chiefs’ announcement back in December that they plan to leave Arrowhead Stadium and build a new home in Kansas once their current lease expires in 2031. That decision didn’t sit well with some Missouri lawmakers, and this bill is one of several attempts to push back.
Other proposed measures include requiring the team to foot the bill for demolishing Arrowhead, stripping them of eligibility for state tax credits, and even forcing them to tack on extra fees for ticket sales. The message from some in Jefferson City is clear: if the Chiefs are leaving Missouri, they shouldn’t expect the same perks on the way out.
Perkins, a Republican from Bowling Green, hasn’t commented publicly on his bill. And the Chiefs, for their part, declined to weigh in on the proposal.
Right now, Missouri offers a wide range of specialty license plates-everything from professional sports teams to causes like breast cancer awareness and organizations like the Eagle Scouts. As of December 2025, there were 656 active Chiefs plates on Missouri vehicles, according to the state’s Department of Revenue.
Here’s how it works: to get a Chiefs plate, drivers make a $35 annual donation to the Hunt Family Foundation, formerly known as the Chiefs Children’s Fund. That donation gets you a receipt, which you take to your local license office. Add a $15 fee for the specialty plate itself, and you’re on your way.
But the future of that process is now in question. While Perkins’ bill has been filed, it hasn’t yet been scheduled for a hearing-a key step in the legislative process. And with lawmakers returning to Jefferson City last month facing a packed agenda and ongoing partisan gridlock in the state Senate, there’s no guarantee this bill will make it to the finish line.
House Speaker Jonathan Patterson, a Republican from Lee’s Summit, didn’t respond to questions about the bill’s prospects. But he’s already voiced skepticism about some of the other anti-Chiefs proposals floating around the Capitol.
“I get that there’s a lot of emotion around it,” Patterson said last month. “I think it’s best that we make our laws with clear eyes and do things that are good for our constituents as a whole and… not target certain groups - even though it feels good.”
So while the Chiefs may be preparing for a future in Kansas, their legacy in Missouri-on the field and on the road-still lingers. Whether that legacy continues to ride along on Missouri license plates is now up to lawmakers.