2025 -- S 0932
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LC002613
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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
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO MOTOR AN D OTHER VEHICLES -- REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES
Introduced By: Senators Felag, Ciccone, Euer, Lauria, Appollonio, Dimitri, LaMountain,
and Murray
Date Introduced: March 28, 2025
Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 31-3-117 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-3 entitled "Registration 1
of Vehicles" is hereby amended to read as follows: 2
31-3-117. Minimum prepaid special motor vehicle registration plate orders. 3
(a) As to any special motor vehicle registration plates that have been authorized pursuant 4
to this chapter but that have not been issued or printed as of July 2, 2018, because the minimum 5
number of prepaid orders for the plates has not been reached, the minimum number of plates that 6
must be prepaid and ordered prior to the plates being made and issued shall be deemed to be six 7
hundred (600) sets of plates per plate type. If the minimum number of prepaid plates provided 8
pursuant to any other section of this chapter is a higher number, that number shall be deemed 9
reduced to six hundred (600) sets of plates per plate type. 10
(b) As to any special plates that are authorized pursuant to this chapter after July 2, 2018, 11
the minimum number of plates that must be prepaid and ordered prior to the plates being made and 12
issued shall be six hundred (600) sets of plates per plate type. 13
(c)(1) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b) of this section, the minimum number of 14
prepaid orders for special motor vehicle registration plates that either have been authorized pursuant 15
to this chapter, but have not been issued or printed as of July 2, 2022, because the minimum number 16
of prepaid orders for the plates has not been reached or are authorized pursuant to this chapter after 17
July 2, 2022, may be reduced to one hundred fifty (150) sets of plates per plate type if the applicable 18
sponsoring nonprofit entity delivers to the division of motor vehicles: 19
LC002613 - Page 2 of 3
(i) Orders for a minimum of one hundred fifty (150) sets of plates per plate type; and 1
(ii) A nonrefundable payment to compensate for the amount of special plate orders fewer 2
than six hundred (600). The payment shall be calculated as follows: six hundred (600) orders, less 3
the number of orders placed, multiplied by thirty dollars ($30.00). 4
(2) The portion of the applicable sponsoring nonprofit entity’s issuance surcharge that is to 5
be allocated to the general fund shall be deemed paid for the first six hundred (600) sets of plates 6
per plate type issued by the payment in an amount as determined by subsection (c)(1)(ii) of this 7
section. 8
(3) The division of motor vehicles shall make available plates eligible for issuance pursuant 9
to subsection (c)(1) of this section, no later than six (6) months after receipt of the orders and the 10
nonrefundable payment in the amount determined by subsection (c)(1)(ii) of this section; provided, 11
however, that if multiple orders and payments in amounts pursuant to subsection (c)(1)(ii) of this 12
section are received from different sponsoring nonprofit entities, the division of motor vehicles 13
shall be afforded no more than six (6) months for each separate plate that becomes eligible for 14
issuance and may complete the work necessary for the issuance of one order at a time in the order 15
of receipt. 16
(4) The ability of applicable sponsoring nonprofit entities to reduce the minimum number 17
of prepaid orders to one hundred fifty (150) sets of plates per plate type pursuant to subsection 18
(c)(1) of this section shall expire on December 31, 2025. The division of motor vehicles shall 19
complete the work necessary for issuance of all plates for which it receives the required orders and 20
nonrefundable payments in the amount determined by subsection (c)(1)(ii) of this section on or 21
before December 31, 2025, in accordance with subsection (c)(3) of this section. 22
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 23
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LC002613 - Page 3 of 3
EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO MOTOR AN D OTHER VEHICLES -- REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES
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This act would repeal a provision of the minimum prepaid special motor vehicle 1
registration plate orders law that was set to expire on December 31, 2025. The result would be to 2
continue the ability of applicable sponsoring nonprofit entities to reduce the minimum number of 3
initially authorized prepaid special plates beyond December 31, 2025. 4
This act would take effect upon passage. 5
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LC002613
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