AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- REGISTRATION FEES (Disabled veteran license plate may be transferred to veterans' spouse or issued to veteran or veterans spouse.)

S2414

2026 -- S 2414
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LC004568
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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 FEES

Introduced By:
Senators Felag, Raptakis, Burke, Tikoian, LaMountain, Murray, Lauria,
Vargas, and DiMario

Date Introduced:
January 30, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 31-6-8 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-6 entitled "Registration
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Fees" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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31-6-8. Disabled veterans.
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(a) Any veteran who has been honorably discharged from the service of the armed forces
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or the Merchant Marine of the United States in any of the wars or campaigns in which the United
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States has been engaged and who, while engaged in these wars or campaigns or as a result of
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engagement in these wars or campaigns, by reason of amputation, has lost one or both of the
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veteran’s arms, hands, feet, or legs, or who, by reason of other permanent injury, has lost the use
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of one or both of the veteran’s arms, hands, feet, or legs, or to whom has been granted a motor
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vehicle under chapter 870-2D, United States Public Laws 663, enacted 1946, 79th Congress, or has
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suitable documentation from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to establish that the veteran:
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(1) Has a combined service connected disability rating of one hundred percent (100%); or
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(2) Is considered “individually unemployable” due to the veteran’s service-connected
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disability, shall be exempt from the payment of any fee for the annual registration of and a license
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to operate that motor vehicle.
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(b) The administrator for the division of motor vehicles shall issue to an eligible veteran
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for use on an automobile, or on a commercial vehicle having a gross weight of twelve thousand
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pounds (12,000 lbs.) or less, registration plates designated “Disabled Veteran.”
Provided that:
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(1) Upon certification that the veteran is no longer able to operate a vehicle, the "Disabled

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Veteran" plates may be transferred, during their lifetime, to the veteran's spouse; and
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(2)
Upon the death of the
holder

initial registrant
of
the
“Disabled Veteran” plates, the
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plates may be transferred to the veteran’s surviving spouse for the spouse’s lifetime or until the
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spouse remarries.
Only one set of

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(3)
“Disabled Veteran” plates shall be issued to an eligible veteran
and

or their spouse as
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provided for in subsection (b)(1) of this section
only after certification of eligibility from the
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Veterans’ Administration or other satisfactory documentation of eligibility is presented.
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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 FEES
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This act would permit upon certification that the veteran is no longer able to operate a
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vehicle, the transfer of the plate to the veteran's spouse. Additionally, a disabled veteran license
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plate may be issued to an eligible veteran or their spouse.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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