AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES (Allows for a special RI license plate to raise awareness for colon cancer and would be designed by the partnership to reduce cancer in RI and honoring the late Maryellen Goodwin.)

H7376Aaa

2026 -- H 7376 SUBSTITUTE A AS AMENDED
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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,

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 Maryellen Goodwin to specifically
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increase awareness of colon cancer. The plate shall be referred to as the Partnership to Reduce
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Cancer in Rhode Island -- Maryellen Goodwin 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 -- Maryellen Goodwin motor vehicle
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plates shall be the same size as regular motor vehicle plates and shall be designed by the Partnership
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to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island in conjunction with the division of motor vehicles, with the
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design approved by the Rhode Island state police.

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(d) The Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island -- Maryellen Goodwin plates shall
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be subject to compliance with § 31-3-117 relating to the number of minimum prepaid orders of
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plates per plate type (i.e., passenger, commercial, etc.) and any required payment. The Partnership
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to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island -- Maryellen Goodwin plates shall not be issued unless the
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minimum order requirements are met. The initial order will be handled by the Partnership to Reduce
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Cancer in Rhode Island and shall not be submitted to the division of motor vehicles for production
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until the minimum order(s) have been met and the 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 -- Maryellen Goodwin motor vehicle license plates, Partnership to Reduce
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Cancer in Rhode Island shall use any Rhode Island-sourced funds in and for the benefit of Rhode
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Island-based charitable 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 to the administrator of the division before such monies are distributed.
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(k) There shall be no refunds for early cancellation of the Partnership to Reduce Cancer in
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Rhode Island -- Maryellen Goodwin 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
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cancer. The plate would be designed by the Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island in honor
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of the late Maryellen Goodwin. The fees for the plate would be divided equally between the general
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fund and the not-for-profit Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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