Allows for a special RI license plate to raise awareness for colon cancer. The plate would be designed by the partnership to reduce cancer in RI. The fees for the plate would be divided equally between the general fund and the partnership not-for-profit.
Summary
H5376 authorizes the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles to create a special motor vehicle registration plate for the Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island, a qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The plate is intended to increase awareness of colon cancer and would be designed by the organization in coordination with the DMV, with approval from the Rhode Island State Police. The bill also sets out administrative requirements for minimum preorders, prepayment procedures, and annual accounting by the nonprofit before funds are distributed.
The bill establishes a $40 issuance surcharge for the special plate, with $20 going to the state general fund and $20 distributed annually to the Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island. It also imposes a $10 surcharge on subsequent renewals, payable to the nonprofit. The organization must use Rhode Island-sourced funds for the benefit of Rhode Island-based charitable organizations to raise colon cancer awareness, and no refunds are allowed for early cancellation of the plate.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would amend Rhode Island General Laws chapter 31-3 by adding a new section authorizing a specialty license plate program tied to a cancer-awareness nonprofit. It would create a new revenue stream for both the general fund and the Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island, while also imposing DMV administrative duties related to plate design, ordering, and fee collection. The measure affects vehicle registration law, specialty plate procedures, and the allocation of registration surcharges.
Sentiment
The available voting history shows strong support for the bill, with House passage on May 20, 2025 by a vote of 73-0. No committee transcript is available, but the unanimous vote suggests broad agreement with the bill’s charitable and public-awareness purpose. The bill’s focus on colon cancer awareness and support for a nonprofit likely contributed to the favorable reception.
Contention
There is little evidence of substantive opposition in the available record. The main policy details that could draw attention are the split of the issuance surcharge between the general fund and the nonprofit, the requirement that the organization submit annual accounting reports, and the minimum preorder requirement before plates are produced. These provisions appear designed to ensure administrative accountability and financial viability rather than reflecting major controversy.