Topeka ? Supporters of “In God We Trust” license plates got a $10,000 fee break from the Kansas House on Friday.

House Bill 2134 would allow the “In God We Trust” license plate to be produced without the required upfront fee of $10,000 paid to the Division of Vehicles of the Kansas Department of Revenue.

The fee is traditionally required to help cover the cost of producing distinctive license plates, which are usually sponsored by a group or organization as a fundraising tool.

But state Rep. Virgil Peck, R-Tyro, said because there wasn’t a specific organization pushing the “In God We Trust” plates, the money couldn’t be raised.

Peck, however, said there are many people interested in getting the plates.

Officials said that under the bill, the cost of the $10,000 for the first run of 2,000 plates will be funded by the Kansas Department of Transportation, and that money will be replaced as plates are ordered. Peck said the plates will make money for the state. A bill to allow the plates was approved last year.

But some lawmakers didn’t like the idea.

State Rep. Don Myers, R-Derby, said he supported the “In God We Trust” plate, but that it wasn’t fair to exempt it from the fee while making other groups pay. He said he had to tell a constituent who wanted to start a distinctive plate for Gold Star families, who have had a loved one killed in war, that under state law they would have to pay the start-up fee.

The bill to exempt the “In God We Trust” plate from the fee was approved on an 87-31 vote and now goes to the Senate for consideration.