H7571AaaArts & Culture

Motor and Other Vehicles - Registration of Vehicles

This bill creates a special license plate to raise money for the Friends of the Historic Narragansett Towers.

Introduced38 Yea0 Nay0 Not voting

Population
Affected

Introduced Feb 6, 2026Committee House Special Legislation

Plain-English Summary

This bill allows the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles to issue special license plates for the nonprofit organization "Friends of the Historic Narragansett Towers." Drivers who want this plate will pay a $40 surcharge in addition to regular registration fees. Half of this surcharge ($20) goes to the state's general fund, and the other half goes to the organization to support cultural programs and preserve the Towers. A $10 fee on future renewals will also go to the organization. The group must reach a minimum number of prepaid orders before the plates are produced.

For younger readers

This bill lets the state make a special license plate for cars. The picture on the plate will be for a group called the Friends of the Historic Narragansett Towers, which takes care of a famous old building in Rhode Island. If someone wants this special plate on their car, they have to pay a little extra money. Some of that extra money goes to the state, and some goes to the group to help them pay for fun events and keep the building in good shape.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups

Friends of the Historic Narragansett Towers, Drivers opting for the special plate, Division of Motor Vehicles, Rhode Island State Police, Rhode Island charitable organizations

Impacted communities

All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost

Drivers opting for the special plate: $40 initial surcharge, $10 renewal surcharge

Estimated revenue

Amount unknown

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints

For Progressives

Provides a new, voluntary funding stream for arts, cultural, and performing arts programs, supporting community enrichment without raising broad-based taxes.
Includes a strict accountability measure by requiring the non-profit organization to submit an annual accounting report before receiving the funds, ensuring transparency.
Generates additional revenue for the state's general fund through the $20 portion of the initial fee, which can be used to fund other public services and social safety nets.
Relies on a regressive, flat-fee structure ($40 initial, $10 renewal) that makes it disproportionately more expensive for lower-income individuals to participate in supporting the community cause.
Addresses arts and historical preservation funding through piecemeal, privatized charity efforts rather than implementing systemic, state-sponsored funding for cultural programs.
Directs state administrative resources toward creating specialized license plates for a single, localized group rather than focusing on broad, systemic social reform or public welfare.

For Conservatives

Utilizes a voluntary, user-funded approach to raise money for historical preservation, rather than imposing a mandatory tax increase on all citizens.
Supports the preservation of local history and traditional architecture by directing funds to maintain the Historic Narragansett Towers.
Ensures fiscal responsibility and oversight by requiring the receiving organization to submit an annual accounting report to prove how the money is being spent.
Expands government bureaucracy by requiring the Division of Motor Vehicles to design, track, and manage an entirely new category of specialized license plates.
Involves the government in collecting and distributing funds for a private, non-profit entity, blurring the line between state functions and private charity.
Diverts the time and resources of the Rhode Island State Police, who are required to review and approve the design of the new license plate rather than focusing on primary law enforcement duties.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

3 versions

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 40 additions

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 Friends of the Historic Narragansett Towers.

(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 Friends of the Historic Narragansett Towers. The plates shall be designed to reference the not-for-profit entity Friends of the Historic Narragansett Towers.

(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 Friends of the Historic Narragansett Towers motor vehicle plates shall be the same size as regular motor vehicle plates and shall be designed by the Friends of the Historic Narragansett Towers in conjunction with the division of motor vehicles, with the design approved by the Rhode Island state police.

(d) The Friends of the Historic Narragansett Towers plates shall be subject to compliance with § 31-3-117 relating to the number of minimum prepaid orders of plates per plate type (i.e., passenger, commercial, etc.) and any required payment. The Friends of the Historic Narragansett Towers plates shall not be issued unless the minimum order requirements are met. The initial order will be handled by the Friends of the Historic Narragansett Towers and shall not be submitted to the division of motor vehicles for production until the minimum order(s) have been met and the proper paperwork 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, Friends of the Historic Narragansett Towers 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 Friends of the Historic Narragansett Towers to host cultural and performing arts programs to raise public awareness and support for preservation and use of the Towers in Rhode Island.

(h) A ten dollar ($10.00) surcharge for subsequent registration renewals shall be allocated to the Friends of the Historic Narragansett Towers.

(i) In consideration of the receipt of funds from the registration of the Friends of the Historic Narragansett Towers plates, the Friends of the Historic Narragansett Towers must use any Rhode Island-sourced funds in and for the benefit of Rhode Island-based charitable organizations.

(j) The Friends of the Historic Narragansett Towers will be required to submit an annual accounting report before such monies are distributed.

(k) There shall be no refunds for early cancellation of the Friends of the Historic Narragansett Towers plates.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.