H7097 • 2026

AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES (Removes the fee for registration and plate transfer for a Distinguished Service Cross registration plate.)

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Azzinaro, Corvese, Shallcross Smith, McNamara, Fellela, Solomon, Kennedy
Last action: 2026-04-08
Official status: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES (Removes the fee for registration and plate transfer for a Distinguished Service Cross registration plate.)

What This Bill Does

AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES (Removes the fee for registration and plate transfer for a Distinguished Service Cross registration plate.)

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

2026-04-08 Committee
Committee recommended measure be held for further study
2026-04-03 Rhode Island General Assembly
Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (04/08/2026)
2026-01-14 Rhode Island General Assembly
Introduced, referred to House Finance

Official Summary Text

AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES (Removes the fee for registration and plate transfer for a Distinguished Service Cross registration plate.)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

H7097

2026 -- H 7097
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LC003374
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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, Corvese, Shallcross Smith, McNamara,
Fellela, Solomon, and Kennedy

Date Introduced:
January 14, 2026

Referred To:
House Finance
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 31-3-48.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-3 entitled "Registration
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of Vehicles" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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31-3-48.1. Plates for recipients of Distinguished Service Cross.
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(a) The administrator of motor vehicles is empowered to make available to recipients of
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the United States Army Distinguished Service Cross medal a special motor vehicle registration
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plate for any motor vehicle eligible for registration as an automobile or commercial vehicle having
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a gross weight of twelve thousand pounds (12,000 lbs.) or less, indicating the owner as a recipient
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of the Distinguished Service Cross.
The applicant shall be required to pay a registration fee and a
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transfer charge of five dollars ($5.00) for the plate.
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(b) The plate shall contain the words “Distinguished Service Cross” across the top of the
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plate, shall bear an insignia for the distinguished service cross, and then a numeral or numerals.
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(c) Upon the death of the holder of any “Distinguished Service Cross” plate, the plate shall
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be transferred to the surviving spouse for the spouse’s lifetime or until remarriage.
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(d) The applicant shall not be required to pay a registration fee or service charge for the
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plates.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2027.
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LC003374
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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 remove the fee for registration and plate transfer for a Distinguished Service
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Cross registration plate.
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This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.
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LC003374
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