H 7302Personal

Motor and Other Vehicles - Registration of Vehicles

This bill creates a special license plate featuring the Ida Lewis Lighthouse to raise funds for its preservation.

On the floor67 Yea0 Nay8 Not voting

Population
Affected

Introduced Jan 23, 2026Committee House Special Legislation

Plain-English Summary

This bill authorizes the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles to create and issue a special license plate for the Lime Rock Foundation, Inc. The plate will feature a design referencing the historic Ida Lewis Lighthouse. To obtain the plate, vehicle owners must pay a $40 surcharge upon initial issuance, with $20 going to the state's general fund and $20 to the Foundation. A $10 surcharge applies to renewals, benefiting the Foundation. Proceeds must be used to preserve the lighthouse and support Rhode Island-based charities. The plate will only be produced if a minimum number of pre-paid orders are received.

For younger readers

This new law lets people choose a special license plate for their car. Instead of the normal picture, this plate will have a picture of the Ida Lewis Lighthouse on it. People who want this plate have to pay a little extra money. That extra money goes to a group called the Lime Rock Foundation. This group will use the money to fix up and take care of the lighthouse so it stays safe and can be enjoyed by everyone. It helps save a piece of history.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups

Vehicle OwnersLime Rock Foundation IncDivision of Motor VehiclesHistoric PreservationistsRhode Island Charities

Impacted communities

All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost

None

Estimated revenue

$20/plate issuance

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints

For Progressives

Generates revenue for the preservation of a historic public landmark (Ida Lewis Lighthouse) and supports local charities without raising mandatory taxes.
Promotes community engagement and awareness regarding local history and cultural heritage through a voluntary contribution mechanism.
Includes transparency requirements by mandating annual accounting reports from the foundation to ensure funds are used properly for the benefit of the community.
Diverts administrative resources of the Division of Motor Vehicles toward a niche private interest rather than focusing on improving essential services for all residents.
Perpetuates a system where public state property (license plates) is commodified for specific private groups, potentially excluding organizations with fewer resources to organize such campaigns.
Relies on voluntary consumerism to fund historic preservation, which some may argue should be a publicly funded responsibility rather than dependent on the ability of drivers to pay extra fees.

For Conservatives

Utilizes a voluntary user-fee model to fund historic preservation, ensuring that only those who want the specific plate pay for it rather than burdening the general taxpayer.
Supports the preservation of Rhode Island tradition and history (the Ida Lewis Lighthouse) through private sector initiative rather than government mandate.
Generates some revenue for the state General Fund ($20 per initial plate) through a voluntary transaction, contributing to state coffers without a tax increase.
Expands government bureaucracy by requiring the Division of Motor Vehicles to manage yet another specialty plate design, prepayment procedure, and accounting process.
Involves the state government in the collection and distribution of funds for private non-profit entities, which arguably falls outside the core scope of government duties.
Creates potential administrative waste if the program requires significant state employee time to oversee compliance and annual accounting reports from the foundation.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 38 additions

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Chapter 31-3 of the General Laws entitled "Registration of Vehicles" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 31-3-132. Special plate for the Lime Rock Foundation, Inc.

(a) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles is empowered to make available special motor vehicle registration plates for the not-for-profit entity, Lime Rock Foundation, Inc. The plates shall be designed to reference the not-for-profit entity Lime Rock Foundation, Inc.

(b) The special plate shall be displayed upon the same registration number assigned to the vehicle for which it was issued and shall be used in place of and in the same manner as the registration plates issued to the vehicle. The original registration plates for the vehicle shall be removed from the vehicle and returned to the division of motor vehicles. The registration certificate for the plates shall be carried in the vehicle in accordance with § 31-3-9. The registration certificate shall be in effect for the special plate.

(c) The Lime Rock Foundation, Inc. motor vehicle plates shall be the same size as regular motor vehicle plates and shall be designed by Lime Rock Foundation, Inc., in conjunction with the division of motor vehicles, and which license plate design shall include references to the Ida Lewis Lighthouse with the design approved by the Rhode Island state police.

(d) The Lime Rock Foundation, Inc. plates shall be subject to a compliance with § 31-3- 117 relating to the number of minimum pre-paid order of plates per plate type (i.e. passenger, commercial, etc.) and any required payment. The Lime Rock Foundation, Inc. plates shall not be issued unless the minimum order requirements are met. The initial order will be handled by the Lime Rock Foundation, Inc. and shall not be submitted to the division of motor vehicles for production until the minimum order(s) have been met and the proper paper work submitted to the division.

(e) The administrator of motor vehicles shall develop prepayment procedures and any other procedures deemed necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.

(f) In addition to the regular prescribed motor vehicle registration fee, Lime Rock Foundation, Inc. plates shall be subject to a forty dollar ($40.00) issuance surcharge.

(g) The forty dollar ($40.00) issuance surcharge shall be allocated as follows: twenty dollars ($20.00) shall be allocated to the general fund and the remaining twenty dollars ($20.00) shall be distributed annually to the Lime Rock Foundation, Inc. to preserve the historic Ida Lewis Lighthouse in Rhode Island to ensure that every person can experience preservation of the lighthouse.

(h) A ten dollar ($10.00) surcharge for subsequent registration renewals shall be allocated to the Lime Rock Foundation, Inc.

(i) In consideration of the receipt of funds from the registration of Lime Rock Foundation, Inc. plates, the Lime Rock Foundation, Inc. must use any Rhode Island sourced funds in and for the benefit of Rhode Island based charitable organizations.

(j) Lime Rock Foundation, Inc. will be required to submit an annual accounting report before such monies are distributed.

(k) There shall be no refunds for early cancellation of Lime Rock Foundation, Inc. plates.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect six (6) months after passage.