H7780AaaPersonal

Motor and Other Vehicles - Registration of Vehicles

This bill creates a special Rhode Island Hockey Hall of Fame license plate to help fund local charities.

Introduced38 Yea0 Nay0 Not voting

Population
Affected

Introduced Feb 12, 2026Committee House Special Legislation

Plain-English Summary

This bill authorizes the creation of a special motor vehicle license plate for the Rhode Island Hockey Hall of Fame. To get this plate, drivers will pay a $40 fee in addition to their regular registration fee. Of this $40, $20 goes to the state's general fund and $20 goes to the Rhode Island Hockey Hall of Fame to support local charities. When renewing the registration, there is a $10 fee that goes entirely to the organization. The plates will only be produced if a minimum number of prepaid orders are collected.

For younger readers

This bill allows people in Rhode Island to buy a special license plate for their car that shows the Rhode Island Hockey Hall of Fame. A license plate is the metal sign on the front and back of a car with numbers and letters. To get one, a person has to pay an extra $40. Half of that money goes to the state government, and the other half goes to the Hockey Hall of Fame so they can give it to local charities that help people.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups

Car ownersRhode Island Hockey Hall of FameRhode Island charitable organizationsDivision of Motor VehiclesRhode Island State Police

Impacted communities

All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely. This bill simply authorizes a specialty license plate for a non-profit organization and outlines the administrative procedures and fees associated with it. There are no apparent constitutional issues regarding free speech, due process, or unreasonable searches and seizures.

Estimated cost

Drivers ordering the plate: $40 initial surcharge, $10 renewal surcharge

Estimated revenue

General Fund: $20 per initial plate order; Rhode Island Hockey Hall of Fame: $20 per initial plate order and $10 per renewal. Total amount unknown.

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints

For Progressives

Requires the Rhode Island Hockey Hall of Fame to use the funds it receives specifically for Rhode Island-based charitable organizations, which could help support vulnerable communities and the social safety net.
Generates an additional $20 per initial plate order for the state's general fund, providing extra revenue that could be used to support generous public services and programs.
Includes accountability measures by requiring the Rhode Island Hockey Hall of Fame to submit an annual accounting report before receiving funds, ensuring transparency in how charitable money is handled.
The $40 initial surcharge and $10 renewal fee might make these special plates inaccessible to lower-income individuals, making it a regressive way to fundraise where only wealthier citizens can participate.
Devotes government time and resources (DMV and State Police) to designing and issuing a license plate for a sports-related organization rather than focusing on urgent systemic reform or social justice initiatives.
Does not specify or restrict which types of charitable organizations will receive the funds, leaving open the possibility that the money might not go to groups directly helping the poor, disadvantaged, or marginalized.

For Conservatives

Supports a private, non-profit organization through voluntary contributions rather than mandatory taxpayer-funded government assistance, aligning with conservative preferences for private charity.
Promotes the traditional, cultural value of sports and local community pride by celebrating the Rhode Island Hockey Hall of Fame.
Ensures financial accountability and respect for the rule of law by legally requiring the organization to submit an annual accounting report before receiving the accumulated surcharge funds.
Adds unnecessary complexity and administrative burden to the state's Division of Motor Vehicles by creating another special license plate category.
Diverts $20 of the initial $40 surcharge to the government's general fund, effectively acting as an additional hidden tax on citizens who just want to support a local sports organization.
Mandates state police involvement in approving the design of a simple sports license plate, which is an unnecessary expansion of government oversight into minor civic matters.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

3 versions

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 39 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 Rhode Island Hockey Hall of Fame.

(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 Rhode Island Hockey Hall of Fame. The plates shall be designed to reference the not-for-profit entity Rhode Island Hockey Hall of Fame.

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

(d) The Rhode Island Hockey Hall of Fame 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 Rhode Island Hockey Hall of Fame plates shall not be issued unless the minimum order requirements are met. The initial order will be handled by the Rhode Island Hockey Hall of Fame 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, Rhode Island Hockey Hall of Fame 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 Rhode Island Hockey Hall of Fame to commemorate, preserve, and promote the game of hockey in Rhode Island.

(h) A ten dollar ($10.00) surcharge for subsequent registration renewals shall be allocated to the Rhode Island Hockey Hall of Fame.

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

(j) The Rhode Island Hockey Hall of Fame will be required to submit an annual accounting report before such monies are distributed.

(k) There shall be no refunds for early cancellation of Rhode Island Hockey Hall of Fame plates.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.