(1) Whenever new license plates, including duplicate or replacement license plates, are issued to any person, a fee per plate shall be charged in addition to all other required fees. The license plate fee shall be determined by the department and shall only cover the cost of the license plate and validation decals but shall not exceed:

(a) Three dollars and fifty cents through December 31, 2022; and

(b) Four dollars and twenty-five cents beginning January 1, 2023.

(2) All fees collected pursuant to this section shall be remitted to the State Treasurer for credit to the Highway Trust Fund.

(3) This section shall not apply to license plates issued pursuant to section 60-3,122, 60-3,122.02, 60-3,123, 60-3,124, or 60-3,125.