2025 -- S 0879
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LC002572
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
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A N A C T
RELATING TO MOTOR AN D OTHER VEHICLES -- REGISTRATION FEES
Introduced By: Senators Lawson, LaMountain, Gallo, Lauria, and Britto
Date Introduced: March 21, 2025
Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 31-6-8 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-6 entitled "Registration 1
Fees" is hereby amended to read as follows: 2
31-6-8. Disabled veterans. 3
(a) Any veteran who has been honorably discharged from the service of the armed forces 4
or the Merchant Marine of the United States in any of the wars or campaigns in which the United 5
States has been engaged and who, while engaged in these wars or campaigns or as a result of 6
engagement in these wars or campaigns, by reason of amputation, has lost one or both of the 7
veteran’s arms, hands, feet, or legs, or who, by reason of other permanent injury, has lost the use 8
of one or both of the veteran’s arms, hands, feet, or legs, or to whom has been granted a motor 9
vehicle under chapter 870-2D, United States Public Laws 663, enacted 1946, 79th Congress, or has 10
suitable documentation from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to establish that the veteran: 11
(1) Has a combined service connected disability rating of one hundred percent (100%); or 12
(2) Is seventy-five (75) years of age or older with a combined disability rating of fifty 13
percent (50%); or 14
(3) Is considered “individually unemployable” due to the veteran’s service-connected 15
disability, shall be exempt from the payment of any fee for the annual registration of and a license 16
to operate that motor vehicle. 17
(b) The administrator for the division of motor vehicles shall issue to an eligible veteran 18
for use on an automobile, or on a commercial vehicle having a gross weight of twelve thousand 19
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pounds (12,000 lbs.) or less, registration plates designated “Disabled Veteran.” Upon the death of 1
the holder of “Disabled Veteran” plates, the plates may be transferred to the veteran’s surviving 2
spouse for the spouse’s lifetime or until the spouse remarries. Only one set of “Disabled Veteran” 3
plates shall be issued to an eligible veteran and only after certification of eligibility from the 4
Veterans’ Administration or other satisfactory documentation of eligibility is presented. 5
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 6
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO MOTOR AN D OTHER VEHICLES -- REGISTRATION FEES
***
This act would include a veteran who is seventy-five (75) years of age or older with a 1
combined disability rating of fifty percent (50%), as eligible for disabled veterans license plates. 2
This act would take effect upon passage. 3
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