AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES (Creates a special motor vehicle registration plate for the Friends of the Historic Narragansett Towers.)

H7571

2026 -- H 7571
========
LC004681
========

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES

Introduced By:
Representatives Tanzi, and McEntee

Date Introduced:
February 06, 2026

Referred To:
House Special Legislation
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1
SECTION 1. Chapter 31-3 of the General Laws entitled "Registration of Vehicles" is
2
hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
3

31-3-132. Special plate for the Friends of the Historic Narragansett Towers.
4

(a) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles is empowered to make available
5
special motor vehicle registration plates for the not-for-profit entity Friends of the Historic
6
Narragansett Towers. The plates shall be designed to reference the not-for-profit entity Friends of
7
the Historic Narragansett Towers.
8

(b) The special plate shall be displayed upon the same registration number assigned to the
9
vehicle for which it was issued and shall be used in place of and in the same manner as the
10
registration plates issued to the vehicle. The original registration plates for the vehicle shall be
11
removed from the vehicle and returned to the division of motor vehicles. The registration certificate
12
for the plates shall be carried in the vehicle in accordance with § 31-3-9. The registration certificate
13
shall be in effect for the special plate.
14

(c) The Friends of the Historic Narragansett Towers motor vehicle plates shall be the same
15
size as regular motor vehicle plates and shall be designed by the Friends of the Historic Narragansett
16
Towers in conjunction with the division of motor vehicles, with the design approved by the Rhode
17
Island state police.
18

(d) The Friends of the Historic Narragansett Towers plates shall be subject to compliance
19
with § 31-3-117 relating to the number of minimum prepaid orders of plates per plate type (i.e.,

1
passenger, commercial, etc.) and any required payment. The Friends of the Historic Narragansett
2
Towers plates shall not be issued unless the minimum order requirements are met. The initial order
3
will be handled by the Friends of the Historic Narragansett Towers and shall not be submitted to
4
the division of motor vehicles for production until the minimum order(s) have been met and the
5
proper paperwork submitted to the division.
6

(e) The administrator of motor vehicles shall develop prepayment procedures and any other
7
procedures deemed necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.
8

(f) In addition to the regular prescribed motor vehicle registration fee, Friends of the
9
Historic Narragansett Towers plates shall be subject to a forty dollar ($40.00) issuance surcharge.
10

(g) The forty dollar ($40.00) issuance surcharge shall be allocated as follows: twenty
11
dollars ($20.00) shall be allocated to the general fund and the remaining twenty dollars ($20.00)
12
shall be distributed annually to the Friends of the Historic Narragansett Towers to host cultural and
13
performing arts programs to raise public awareness and support for preservation and use of the
14
Towers in Rhode Island.
15

(h) A ten dollar ($10.00) surcharge for subsequent registration renewals shall be allocated
16
to the Friends of the Historic Narragansett Towers.
17

(i) In consideration of the receipt of funds from the registration of the Friends of the
18
Historic Narragansett Towers plates, the Friends of the Historic Narragansett Towers must use any
19
Rhode Island-sourced funds in and for the benefit of Rhode Island-based charitable organizations.
20

(j) The Friends of the Historic Narragansett Towers will be required to submit an annual
21
accounting report before such monies are distributed.
22

(k) There shall be no refunds for early cancellation of the Friends of the Historic
23
Narragansett Towers plates.
24
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
========
LC004681
========

LC004681 - Page 2 of 3
EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES
***
1
This act would create a special motor vehicle registration plate for the Friends of the
2
Historic Narragansett Towers.
3
This act would take effect upon passage.
========
LC004681
========

LC004681 - Page 3 of 3