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S 2413Personal

Motor and Other Vehicles - Registration of Vehicles

Creates a special license plate to fund colon cancer awareness and honor Maryellen Goodwin through voluntary surcharges.

Signed into law70 Yea0 Nay5 Not voting
Population
Affected
5
Email Legislator
Introduced Jan 30, 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 Maryellen Goodwin for the "Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island." Vehicle owners can voluntarily purchase this plate for a $40 surcharge in addition to standard registration fees. Of this surcharge, $20 goes to the state's General Fund and $20 goes to the non-profit to support colon cancer awareness. A $10 surcharge applies to subsequent renewals, all of which goes to the charity. The plates will only be produced if a minimum number of prepaid orders are received.

For younger readers

This law lets people buy a special license plate for their car that helps fight cancer. The plate is named after a lady named Maryellen Goodwin. When someone buys this special plate, they pay extra money. Some of that money goes to the state government, but the rest goes to a group that helps people learn about colon cancer. It is like a bumper sticker built into the license plate that raises money for a good cause. The state will only make these plates if enough people promise to buy them first.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups
Vehicle ownersPartnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode IslandDMV employeesColon cancer patientsLaw enforcement
Impacted communities
All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost
Vehicle Owners: $40 issuance surcharge, Vehicle Owners: $10 renewal surcharge
Estimated revenue
$20/plate issuance to General Fund

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints
For Progressives
  • Generates a dedicated funding stream for a non-profit organization focused on public health and colon cancer awareness, potentially leading to earlier detection and better health outcomes for the community.
  • Promotes community engagement and solidarity by allowing residents to voluntarily contribute to a charitable cause through a state-sanctioned mechanism, fostering a sense of shared responsibility for public health.
  • Ensures accountability and transparency by requiring the non-profit to submit annual accounting reports, guaranteeing that funds are used specifically for the benefit of Rhode Island-based charitable organizations.
  • Relies on voluntary consumer fees to fund public health initiatives rather than establishing robust, guaranteed state funding for cancer prevention and healthcare access, which may result in inconsistent support.
  • Creates a financial barrier to participation, as the additional surcharges make these commemorative plates accessible primarily to those with disposable income, rather than being an inclusive community effort.
  • Allocates half of the initial surcharge ($20) to the general fund rather than directing the full amount to the charitable cause, effectively using a charitable initiative to generate general state revenue.
For Conservatives
  • Establishes a voluntary funding mechanism for a charitable cause that relies on individual choice and private contributions rather than mandated tax increases or government spending.
  • Generates revenue for the state's General Fund through the initial issuance surcharge without imposing a financial burden on taxpayers who choose not to participate in the program.
  • Protects the state from financial risk by requiring the non-profit to handle the initial administrative burden of collecting prepaid orders, ensuring tax dollars are not wasted on production unless there is proven demand.
  • Expands the size and scope of government bureaucracy by requiring the Division of Motor Vehicles to manage yet another specialty license plate program, diverting attention from core agency functions.
  • Turns state-issued identification property into a vehicle for social messaging, distracting from the primary purpose of vehicle registration which is law enforcement identification and revenue collection.
  • Involves the state government in the collection and distribution of funds for private non-profits, a role that should remain distinct from government operations to avoid potential conflicts of interest or favoritism.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 42 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 Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island.

(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 Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island, a qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. The plates shall be designed to reference the Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island and Maryellen Goodwin to specifically increase awareness of colon cancer. The plate shall be referred to as the Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island -- Maryellen Goodwin motor vehicle plate.

(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 Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island -- Maryellen Goodwin motor vehicle plates shall be the same size as regular motor vehicle plates and shall be designed by the Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island in conjunction with the division of motor vehicles, with the design approved by the Rhode Island state police.

(d) The Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island -- Maryellen Goodwin 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 Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island -- Maryellen Goodwin plates shall not be issued unless the minimum order requirements are met. The initial order will be handled by the Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island 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, the Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island 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 Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island to assist in the fiscal needs and in furtherance of its mission to raise colon cancer awareness.

(h) A ten-dollar ($10.00) surcharge for subsequent registration renewals shall be allocated to the Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island.

(i) In consideration of the receipt of funds from the registration of Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island -- Maryellen Goodwin motor vehicle license plates, Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island shall use any Rhode Island-sourced funds in and for the benefit of Rhode Island-based charitable organizations to raise colon cancer awareness.

(j) Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island will be required to submit an annual accounting report to the administrator of the division before such monies are distributed.

(k) There shall be no refunds for early cancellation of the Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island -- Maryellen Goodwin plates.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.