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H7229
2026 -- H 7229
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LC003972
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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 Fascia, Perez, Fellela, Furtado, and Messier
Date Introduced:
January 21, 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 the Real Access Motivates Progress.
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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 Real Access Motivates
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Progress. The plates shall be designed to reference the not-for-profit entity Real Access Motivates
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Progress.
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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) The Real Access Motivates Progress motor vehicle plates shall be the same size as
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regular motor vehicle plates and shall be designed by Real Access Motivates Progress in
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conjunction with the division of motor vehicles, with the design approved by the Rhode Island state
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police.
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(d) The Real Access Motivates Progress plates shall be subject to compliance with § 31-3-
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117 relating to the number of minimum prepaid orders of plates per plate type (i.e., passenger,
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commercial, etc.) and any required payment. The Real Access Motivates Progress plates shall not
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be issued unless the minimum order requirements are met. The initial order will be handled by Real
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Access Motivates Progress and shall not be submitted to the division of motor vehicles for
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production until the minimum order(s) have been met and the proper paper work submitted to the
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division.
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(e) The administrator of motor vehicles shall develop prepayment procedures and any other
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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, Real Access
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Motivates Progress 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 Real Access Motivates Progress to support accessibility programs
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and initiatives.
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(h) A ten dollar ($10.00) surcharge for subsequent registration renewals shall be allocated
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to Real Access Motivates Progress.
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(i) In consideration of the receipt of funds from the registration of Real Access Motivates
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Progress plates, Real Access Motivates Progress must use any Rhode Island-sourced funds in and
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for the benefit of Rhode Island-based charitable organizations.
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(j) Real Access Motivates Progress will be required to submit an annual accounting report
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before such monies are distributed.
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(k) There shall be no refunds for early cancellation of Real Access Motivates Progress
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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 a special license plate for the charity Real Access Motivates Progress,
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a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
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This act would take effect six (6) months after passage.
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