AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES (Creates special motor vehicle registration plates for vehicles based on the not-for-profit entity Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub.)

H7088

2026 -- H 7088
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LC003377
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES

Introduced By:
Representatives Azzinaro, Shallcross Smith, Corvese, McNamara,
Fellela, Solomon, and Kennedy

Date Introduced:
January 14, 2026

Referred To:
House Special Legislation
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Chapter 31-3 of the General Laws entitled "Registration of Vehicles" is
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hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
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31-3-132. Special plate for Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub.

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(a) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles is empowered to make available
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special motor vehicle registration plates for the not-for-profit entity Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor
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Flight Hub. The plates shall be designed to reference the not-for-profit Rhode Island Fire Chiefs
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Honor Flight Hub.
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(b) The special plate shall be displayed upon the same registration number assigned to the
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vehicle for which it was issued and shall be used in place of and in the same manner as the
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registration plates issued to the vehicle. The original registration plates for the vehicle shall be
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removed from the vehicle and returned to the division of motor vehicles. The registration certificate
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for the plates shall be carried in the vehicle, in accordance with § 31-3-9. The registration certificate
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shall be in effect for the special plate.
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(c) Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub motor vehicle plates shall be the same size
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as regular motor vehicle plates and shall be designed by the Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight
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Hub, in conjunction with the division of motor vehicles, with the design approved by the Rhode
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Island state police.
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(d) The Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub plates shall be subject to compliance
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with § 31-3-117 relating to the number of minimum pre-paid order of plates per plate type (i.e.

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passenger, commercial, etc.) and any required payment. The Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight
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Hub plates shall not be issued unless the minimum order requirements are met. The initial order
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will be handled by the Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub and shall not be submitted to
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the division of motor vehicles for production until the minimum order(s) have been met and the
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proper paper work submitted to the division.
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(e) The administrator of motor vehicles shall develop prepayment procedures, and any
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other procedures deemed necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.
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(f) In addition to the regular prescribed motor vehicle registration fee, Rhode Island Fire
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Chiefs Honor Flight Hub plates shall be subject to a forty-dollar ($40.00) issuance surcharge.
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(g) The forty-dollar ($40.00) issuance surcharge shall be allocated as follows: twenty
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dollars ($20.00) shall be allocated to the general fund and the remaining twenty dollars ($20.00)
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shall be distributed annually to Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub in furtherance of its
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mission of "honoring our veterans by offering WWII and Korean War Veterans a no-cost trip to
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visit the memorials in Washington, DC."
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(h) A ten-dollar ($10.00) surcharge for subsequent registration renewals shall be allocated
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to the Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub.
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(i) In consideration of the receipt of funds from the registration of the Rhode Island Fire
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Chiefs Honor Flight Hub plates, the Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub must use any
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Rhode Island sourced funds in and for the benefit of Rhode Island-based charitable organizations.
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(j) Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub will be required to submit an annual
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accounting report before such monies are distributed.
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(k) There shall be no refunds for early cancellation of Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor
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Flight Hub plates.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect six (6) months after passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES
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This act would create special motor vehicle registration plates for vehicles based on the
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not-for-profit entity Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub.
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This act would take effect six (6) months after passage.
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LC003377
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LC003377 - Page 3 of 3