AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES (Modifies the annual registration of commercial vehicles to a biennial registration.)

S3120

2026 -- S 3120
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LC004935
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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:
Senators Felag, LaMountain, and Dimitri

Date Introduced:
March 13, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Sections 31-3-32 and 31-3-64 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-3 entitled
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"Registration of Vehicles" are hereby amended to read as follows:
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31-3-32. Expiration of registration.
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Every vehicle registration under chapters 3 — 9 of this title and every registration card and
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registration plate issued under this chapter shall expire at midnight on the thirty-first (31st) day of
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March of each year, except that the director of the department of revenue, division of motor vehicles
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shall implement a staggered registration system and a staggered distribution system for fully
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reflective plates required to be on all vehicles pursuant to § 31-3-10
and a biennial registration
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system for fully reflective plates required to be on all commercial vehicles
. Implementation of the
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staggered registration system
, biennial registration system for commercial vehicles,
and
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distribution system shall be by rules and regulations promulgated by the director of revenue,
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division of motor vehicles. Every registration card and registration plate issued to apportioned
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vehicles shall expire on the thirty-first (31st) day of May of each year. A fee for the initial issuance
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of fully reflective plates and each reissuance thereafter shall be charged in accordance with § 31-
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6-1(a). However, the requirements for the reissue of fully reflective plates shall apply only to those
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standard plates described in § 31-3-11 and not to plates authorized by any other section of the
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general or public laws. Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in § 31-41.1-4.
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31-3-64. Combination plates.
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(a) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall issue:

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(1) For any motor vehicle eligible for registration as a commercial vehicle having a gross
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weight of eight thousand eight hundred pounds (8,800 lbs.) or less, plates designated as
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“combination” upon application and proper form furnished by the administrator of the division of
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motor vehicles to applicants. The combination plates will allow those vehicles to drive for both
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commercial and pleasure purposes; or
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(2) For any motor vehicle eligible for registration as a commercial vehicle having a gross
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weight over eight thousand eight hundred pounds (8,800 lbs.) up to eleven thousand eight hundred
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pounds (11,800 lbs.) plates designated as “combination” upon application, proof of ownership of a
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camping trailer, fifth-wheel camper trailer, travel trailer, or truck camper as defined in § 31-1-3,
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and proper form furnished by the administrator of the division of motor vehicles to applicants. The
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combination plates will allow those vehicles to drive for pleasure purposes only.
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(b) The fees for commercial vehicles registering for a combination plate shall be identical
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to those established for other commercial vehicles of the same weight. A combination registration
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transaction shall be considered a change to a new registration classification and not a plate change
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transaction. A combination registration shall be renewable
on a biennial basis
during the month of
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March
each year
.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC004935
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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 modify the annual registration of commercial vehicles to a biennial
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registration.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC004935
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LC004935 - Page 3 of 3