S 3266Administration & Compliance

To Vacate the Forfeiture or Revocation of the Charter of Charlie's Oil Co., Inc.

This bill allows Charlie's Oil Co., Inc. to restore its corporate status by paying overdue taxes and fees.

Signed into law66 Yea0 Nay9 Not voting

Population
Affected

Introduced May 5, 2026Committee Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

Plain-English Summary

This bill allows a specific business, Charlie's Oil Co., Inc., to restore its corporate charter, which was previously revoked. To do this, the company must file all required tax returns, pay any back taxes owed to the state, and pay all necessary fees to the Secretary of State by December 31, 2026. Once these conditions are met, the company will regain all its legal rights, privileges, and responsibilities as if the revocation never happened.

For younger readers

A business named Charlie's Oil Co., Inc. lost its official permission to operate as a company. This bill gives the company a chance to get that permission back. To do this, the company has to finish its paperwork, pay any taxes it owes the state, and pay some fees by the end of the year 2026. If the company does all of these things, it will be treated like it never lost its permission in the first place.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups

Charlie's Oil Co., Inc.State tax administratorsThe Rhode Island Secretary of State

Impacted communities

All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely. This is a standard legislative act to reinstate a specific corporate charter after administrative revocation, which is a routine and lawful use of legislative authority in Rhode Island.

Estimated cost

None

Estimated revenue

Amount unknown

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints

For Progressives

Ensures the collection of overdue corporate taxes, which provides necessary revenue to fund public services and social safety nets.
Requires strict compliance with state regulations and reporting before corporate privileges are restored, holding the business accountable.
Helps preserve a local business, which protects the jobs and livelihoods of the workers employed by the company.
Grants special legislative treatment to a specific corporation, which could be perceived as favoring businesses with political connections over marginalized groups.
Restores the legal standing of a business that previously failed to meet its tax obligations, potentially setting a poor precedent for corporate accountability.
Uses state legislative time and resources to assist a private oil company, conflicting with progressive environmental goals to transition away from fossil fuels.

For Conservatives

Supports private enterprise and corporate freedom by providing a pathway for a business to regain its legal standing and continue operations.
Preserves a local business and its economic contributions to the community without relying on government subsidies or financial assistance.
Offers a clear, defined mechanism to correct past administrative errors, reducing permanent government interference in the company's ability to operate.
Forces the business to pay all back taxes and state fees, imposing a financial burden on the company.
Highlights an inefficient system where businesses must seek special legislative acts rather than using streamlined administrative processes to resolve paperwork issues.
Reinstates a corporation that failed to follow the rule of law regarding tax and reporting requirements, which could be seen as rewarding non-compliance.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

SECTION 1. If, on or before December 31, 2026, Charlie’s Oil Co., Inc., qualified on December 26, 1978, shall file any corporation tax returns as may be required, and shall pay all taxes which were due or should have been due to the state, and shall file with the secretary of state a certificate signed by the tax administrator that such tax returns and such taxes have been paid; and shall also file all reports and pay all fees which may be required by the secretary of state, then the revocation of the charter of said corporation shall thereupon to wit, upon the filing of said certificate, said reports and the payment of said fees, be vacated and said corporation shall thereupon be entitled to all privileges, benefits and powers and subject to all of the same duties and liabilities as though no revocation of its charter had taken place.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.