AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES (Authorizes the division of motor vehicles to issue special license plates in recognition and support of the Lime Rock Foundation, Inc.)

H7302

2026 -- H 7302
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LC003445
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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:
Representative Lauren H. Carson

Date Introduced:
January 23, 2026

Referred To:
House Special Legislation
(by request)
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 Lime Rock Foundation, Inc.

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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, Lime Rock Foundation, Inc.
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The plates shall be designed to reference the not-for-profit entity Lime Rock Foundation, Inc.
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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 Lime Rock Foundation, Inc. motor vehicle plates shall be the same size as regular
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motor vehicle plates and shall be designed by Lime Rock Foundation, Inc., in conjunction with the
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division of motor vehicles, and which license plate design shall include references to the Ida Lewis
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Lighthouse with the design approved by the Rhode Island state police.
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(d) The Lime Rock Foundation, Inc. plates shall be subject to a compliance with § 31-3-
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117 relating to the number of minimum pre-paid order of plates per plate type (i.e. passenger,
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commercial, etc.) and any required payment. The Lime Rock Foundation, Inc. plates shall not be

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issued unless the minimum order requirements are met. The initial order will be handled by the
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Lime Rock Foundation, Inc. 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, Lime Rock
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Foundation, Inc. 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 the Lime Rock Foundation, Inc. to preserve the historic Ida Lewis
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Lighthouse in Rhode Island to ensure that every person can experience preservation of the
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lighthouse.
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(h) A ten dollar ($10.00) surcharge for subsequent registration renewals shall be allocated
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to the Lime Rock Foundation, Inc.
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(i) In consideration of the receipt of funds from the registration of Lime Rock Foundation,
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Inc. plates, the Lime Rock Foundation, Inc. must use any Rhode Island sourced funds in and for
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the benefit of Rhode Island based charitable organizations.
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(j) Lime Rock Foundation, Inc. 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 Lime Rock Foundation, Inc. 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 authorize the division of motor vehicles to issue special license plates in
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recognition and support of the Lime Rock Foundation, Inc.
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This act would take effect six (6) months after passage.
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