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S2746APersonal

Motor and Other Vehicles - Registration of Vehicles

This bill creates a special license plate for the Rhode Island Manufacturers Association to fund local charitable organizations.

In committee
Population
Affected
15
Email Legislator
Introduced Feb 27, 2026Committee Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

Plain-English Summary

This bill authorizes the creation of a special motor vehicle license plate for the Rhode Island Manufacturers Association. To obtain the plate, drivers must pay a $40 surcharge in addition to regular registration fees. Of this $40, $20 goes to the state's general fund, and $20 goes to the Association. There is also a $10 surcharge for future registration renewals that goes directly to the Association. The Association is required to use these funds for Rhode Island-based charitable organizations and must submit an annual accounting report to receive the money.

For younger readers

This bill allows the state to make a new, special license plate for cars. The design will be for the Rhode Island Manufacturers Association, a group that supports businesses that make things in the state. If someone wants this special plate for their car, they have to pay an extra $40. Half of that money goes to the state, and the other half goes to the Association to be given away to local charities. When people renew their car registration, they will pay an extra $10 that also goes to charities.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups
Rhode Island Manufacturers AssociationVehicle owners purchasing special platesRhode Island-based charitable organizationsDivision of Motor VehiclesRhode Island State Police
Impacted communities
All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely. The bill simply authorizes a specialty license plate for a non-profit organization, which is a standard administrative function of the state's motor vehicle department. It does not appear to infringe on free speech, due process, or protection from unreasonable searches and seizures.

Estimated cost
Vehicle owners purchasing special plates: $40 initial surcharge, $10 renewal surcharge
Estimated revenue
General Fund: $20 per initial plate issuance; Rhode Island Manufacturers Association: $20 per initial plate issuance and $10 per renewal

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints
For Progressives
  • Generates additional revenue for the state's general fund through a $20 portion of the initial surcharge, which can be used to support public services and social safety nets.
  • Mandates that the funds received by the Rhode Island Manufacturers Association be directed to local, Rhode Island-based charitable organizations, directly benefiting the community and potentially assisting disadvantaged populations.
  • Requires an annual accounting report before distributing funds, ensuring transparency and accountability in how the generated charitable funds are managed and spent.
  • Promotes a business and manufacturing advocacy organization on state-issued license plates, which might be viewed as state endorsement of corporate interests in the public sphere.
  • Relies on a regressive flat fee structure ($40 initial, $10 renewal) rather than a progressive funding mechanism to raise money for charities and the general fund.
  • Lacks specific guidelines on what types of charitable organizations will receive the funds, leaving open the possibility that money could go to charities that do not align with progressive values of social justice or equity.
For Conservatives
  • Allows individuals to voluntarily express their support for Rhode Island's manufacturing industry and businesses through their choice of license plate.
  • Uses a voluntary, user-funded approach to raise money for charitable organizations rather than imposing mandatory taxes on the general public.
  • Empowers a private, non-profit organization (the Rhode Island Manufacturers Association) to distribute charitable funds, relying on the private sector rather than government welfare programs to help the community.
  • Diverts $20 of the initial surcharge into the state's general fund, effectively creating a new revenue stream for government spending rather than keeping all funds within the private sector.
  • Imposes government red tape by requiring the Rhode Island Manufacturers Association to submit an annual accounting report to the state before they can receive their portion of the funds.
  • Restricts the freedom of the Rhode Island Manufacturers Association by mandating exactly how they must spend the raised funds (only on local charitable organizations) rather than allowing them to use the money for general corporate advocacy.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

2 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 Manufacturers Association.

(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 the Rhode Island Manufacturers Association. The plates shall be designed to reference the Rhode Island Manufacturers Association.

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

(d) The Rhode Island Manufacturers Association 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 Manufacturers Association plates shall not be issued unless the minimum order requirements are met. The initial order will be handled by the Rhode Island Manufacturers Association 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 Manufacturers Association 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 Manufacturers Association to enhance the ability of Rhode Island Manufacturers.

(h) A ten dollar ($10.00) surcharge for subsequent registration renewals shall be allocated to the Rhode Island Manufacturers Association.

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

(j) Rhode Island Manufacturers Association 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 Manufacturers Association plates.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect six (6) months after passage.