AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES (Allows for a special RI license plate to raise awareness for colon cancer. The plate would be designed by the partnership to reduce cancer in RI. The fees for the plate to be divided equally between the general fund and the partnership not-for-profit.)

H7376

2026 -- H 7376
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LC004491
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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 Donovan, Fogarty, Cotter, Potter, Cruz, Edwards,
Shallcross Smith, Carson, Speakman, and Spears

Date Introduced:
January 28, 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 partnership to reduce cancer in Rhode Island.

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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 Partnership to Reduce Cancer
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in Rhode Island, a qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. The plates shall be designed to
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reference the Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island and to specifically increase awareness
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of colon cancer. The plate shall be referred to as the Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island
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motor vehicle plate.
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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 Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island motor vehicle plates shall be the
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same size as regular motor vehicle plates and shall be designed by the Partnership to Reduce Cancer
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in Rhode Island in conjunction with the division of motor vehicles, with the design approved by
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the Rhode Island state police.

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(d) The Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island plates shall be subject to compliance
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with § 31-3-117 relating to the number of minimum prepaid orders of plates per plate type (i.e.,
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passenger, commercial, etc.) and any required payment. The partnership to reduce cancer in Rhode
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Island plates shall not be issued unless the minimum order requirements are met. The initial order
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will be handled by the Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island 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 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, the Partnership to
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Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island 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 Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island to assist in the
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fiscal needs and in furtherance of its mission to raise colon cancer awareness.
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(h) A ten-dollar ($10.00) surcharge for subsequent registration renewals shall be allocated
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to the Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island.
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(i) In consideration of the receipt of funds from the registration of partnership to reduce
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cancer in Rhode Island motor vehicle license plates, Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island
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must use any Rhode Island-sourced funds in and for the benefit of Rhode Island-based charitable
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organizations to raise colon cancer awareness.
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(j) Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island 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 colon cancer awareness plates.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon 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 allow for a special Rhode Island license plate to raise awareness for colon
2
cancer. The plate would be designed by the Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island. The
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fees for the plate would be divided equally between the general fund and the not-for-profit
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Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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