S 2175Personal

Motor and Other Vehicles - Registration of Vehicles

This bill adds Space Force to Reserve plates and allows heavier commercial vehicles to use these special plates.

Held for study

Population
Affected

Introduced Jan 16, 2026Committee Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

Plain-English Summary

This legislation amends the Rhode Island General Laws regarding special motor vehicle registration plates for members of the United States Reserve Forces. It increases the maximum gross weight for eligible commercial vehicles from 8,500 pounds to 12,000 pounds, allowing heavier vehicles to display these plates. Additionally, the bill updates the list of military branches displayed on the plates to include the "Space Force," alongside the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard. The bill maintains existing service charges and renewal procedures.

For younger readers

Rhode Island has special license plates for people who serve in the military reserves. This bill makes two small changes to the rules for these plates. First, it allows bigger work trucks to use these special plates than before. Second, it adds the name "Space Force" to the list of military groups written on the plate, joining the Army, Navy, and others. This makes sure people serving in the Space Force are included and can show their service on their vehicles.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups

Reserve Forces membersSpace Force membersOwners of commercial vehicles (8,500-12,000 lbs)Surviving spouses of veteransDivision of Motor Vehicles

Impacted communities

All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost

None

Estimated revenue

$20 per plate service charge, $5 transfer charge

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints

For Progressives

Updates state law to be inclusive of all current service branches by formally recognizing members of the Space Force.
Benefits working-class veterans and reservists who rely on heavier commercial trucks for their livelihoods by expanding vehicle eligibility.
Maintains a revenue stream for the state through service and transfer fees that are deposited into general revenues.
Encourages the use of heavier, potentially less fuel-efficient vehicles by expanding the weight limit for special registration plates.
Continues the practice of charging fees to veterans for recognition rather than providing this service at no cost.
Focuses on symbolic gestures for the military rather than addressing substantive issues like housing or healthcare for veterans.

For Conservatives

Honors the military by updating the law to recognize service members in the newly established Space Force.
Reduces regulatory restrictions on vehicle owners by allowing heavier commercial trucks to qualify for special plates.
Supports veterans and their families by maintaining the ability to transfer plates to a surviving spouse.
Imposes fees on active and retired military members for the privilege of displaying their service branch on their vehicle.
Maintains bureaucratic hurdles, such as the requirement that 900 plates must be ordered before issuance can begin.
Requires interaction with the Division of Motor Vehicles for renewals and transfers, sustaining administrative government oversight.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 12 additions · 2 deletions

SECTION 1. Section 31-3-80 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-3 entitled "Registration of Vehicles" is hereby amended to read as follows: 31-3-80. Reserve Forces plates.

(a) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles is empowered and authorized to make available to all active and retired members of the United States Reserve Forces of Rhode Island a special motor vehicle registration plate for any motor vehicle eligible for registration as an automobile or a commercial vehicle having a gross weight of ~~eight thousand five hundred pounds~~ ~~(8,500 lbs.)~~ twelve thousand pounds (12,000 lbs.) or less.

(b) The special motor vehicle registration plate shall carry on it the designation “US Reserve Forces” and shall carry on it the titles (Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard) arranged on the left hand side of the plate from top to bottom in this order of precedence, with numerals to the right of the titles and over the United States flag on the plate.

(c) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall issue the plate upon payment of a service charge of twenty dollars ($20.00) and a transfer charge of five dollars ($5.00) for the plate. All revenues shall be deposited as general revenues.

(d) For the purposes of this section an active or retired member of the United States Reserve Forces shall be defined as currently serving or having retired under honorable conditions from any of the Reserve Forces other than the Rhode Island Army or Air National Guard.

(e) In a national state of emergency, any active member of the United States Reserve Forces driving a vehicle bearing the special motor vehicle registration plate shall be authorized and empowered to travel upon the highways of the state notwithstanding any driving ban imposed by any state or municipal authority.

(f) No US Reserve Forces plates shall be issued until at least nine hundred (900) such plates have been ordered.

(g) A DD 214 showing "honorable discharge" shall be furnished to the division of motor vehicles for issuance. (h)(1) Passenger vehicles shall be renewed every two (2) years, and the renewal month shall be based on the first letter of a registered owner's last name, or the first letter of the name of the company of which the vehicles are registered.

(2) Commercial vehicles, as defined in subsection (a) of this section, shall be renewed annually in March.

(i) Upon the death of the veteran, the plates may be transferred to the holder's surviving spouse for the spouse's lifetime unless or until the spouse remarries.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.