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S 2176Arts & Culture

Motor and Other Vehicles - Registration of Vehicles

Creates a special license plate to raise funds for the Friends of the Historic Narragansett Towers.

Signed into law70 Yea0 Nay5 Not voting
Population
Affected
5
Email Legislator
Introduced Jan 16, 2026Committee Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

Plain-English Summary

This legislation authorizes the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles to create a special license plate honoring the "Friends of the Historic Narragansett Towers." To obtain this plate, vehicle owners must pay a $40 surcharge. Half of this fee goes to the state's General Fund, and the other half goes to the non-profit organization to support cultural programs and the preservation of the Towers. A $10 surcharge applies to future registration renewals, which goes entirely to the organization. The plates will only be produced if a minimum number of pre-orders are received.

For younger readers

This new law allows people to buy a special license plate for their car that features the Historic Narragansett Towers, a famous landmark in Rhode Island. If someone wants this special plate, they have to pay extra money. Some of that money goes to the state, but most of it goes to a group that takes care of the Towers and holds fun events there. This helps the group keep the building looking nice and open for everyone to enjoy. The group has to sell a certain number of plates before they can be made.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups
Vehicle OwnersFriends of the Historic Narragansett TowersDivision of Motor VehiclesRhode Island State PoliceArts and Culture Enthusiasts
Impacted communities
Narragansett

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost
None
Estimated revenue
$20/plate issuance

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints
For Progressives
  • Generates revenue for a non-profit organization dedicated to arts, culture, and historic preservation without imposing mandatory taxes on the general public.
  • Promotes community engagement and public awareness of local history and cultural assets, strengthening community identity.
  • Includes transparency requirements by mandating annual accounting reports to ensure funds are used for charitable purposes within Rhode Island.
  • Utilizes government resources and administrative time at the DMV for a specific interest group rather than focusing on broad systemic improvements to transportation services.
  • Relies on a flat fee structure which, while voluntary, is regressive in nature, making the ability to support this cause via public display more accessible to wealthier residents.
  • Contributes to the fragmentation of state identity by adding yet another variation to the standard license plate, rather than unifying the public under shared symbols.
For Conservatives
  • Utilizes a voluntary user-fee model to fund cultural preservation, ensuring that only those who wish to support the cause pay for it, rather than raising general taxes.
  • Supports the preservation of a historic landmark and traditional architecture, reinforcing pride in local heritage and history.
  • Empowers a private, non-profit entity to manage cultural programs and preservation efforts rather than expanding a government agency to do the work.
  • Expands the scope of government bureaucracy by requiring the DMV and State Police to oversee the design, production, and accounting of niche license plates.
  • Sets a precedent for the government to pick winners and losers among charities by granting state-sanctioned fundraising mechanisms to specific groups.
  • Commingles state revenue collection with private fundraising, potentially complicating the tax code and government accounting practices.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

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.