Pizza License Plate Comes Served with a Big CT Spending Spree
- May 5
- 1 min read
If you’ve driven down I-95 lately, you’ve likely seen it: a tiny, cartoonish slice of pepperoni pizza hovering just above a tailpipe. Connecticut has doubled down on its branding as the "Pizza Capital of the United States." As of May 2026, the "Pizza State" license plate has officially transitioned from a viral stunt to permanent state law.
Recent DMV data shows the Pizza State plate has become the 4th most popular specialty plate in the state, trailing only Preserve the Sound (#1), Conserve Wildlife (#2), and United We Stand (#3). In a move that has sports fans doing a double-take, the UConn Huskies have been officially bumped to #6.
A Good Cause
Thanks to the May 2026 budget bill, $50 of your $65 fee actually flows to Connecticut Foodshare. So, you can at least find comfort that your high cost of living is finally putting some actual food on someone else’s table.
The Pepperoni Irony
The biggest irony of this plate? The graphic. It features a slice of pepperoni pizza. Any true Nutmegger knows that our "State Pizza" is the New Haven White Clam Pie. Pepperoni is what people in Ohio eat.
The Ultimate Tax Distraction
There’s a reason the state is pushing the "Pizza State" brand so hard right now. We are currently in the thick of the 2026 tax season, and the newly passed $28.1 billion budget remains a reminder that Connecticut is one of the most expensive places to live in the country.
Between the Lines: It's a masterclass in distraction: if you can't control spending, just put a pepperoni sticker on the bumper and hope no one notices the bill.