Rhode Island House Bill H6124

Rhode Island 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/21/25
• Refer: 3/21/25

Caption

Allows the division of motor vehicles to make special motor vehicle registration plates for the not-for-profit entity Cranston Cares provided they meet the minimum order requirements.

Summary

H6124 authorizes the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles to create a special motor vehicle registration plate for the nonprofit Cranston Cares. The plate would be designed in coordination with Cranston Cares and approved by the Rhode Island State Police, and it would be issued only if the minimum prepaid order requirements for specialty plates are met. The bill also requires the original plates to be returned to the DMV and makes the special plate subject to the same registration rules as other plates. The bill establishes a fee structure for the specialty plate. In addition to the regular registration fee, applicants would pay a $40 issuance surcharge, with $20 going to the general fund and $20 distributed annually to Cranston Cares for community initiatives. A $10 surcharge on subsequent renewals would go to Cranston Cares. The organization must use Rhode Island-sourced funds for the benefit of Rhode Island-based charitable organizations and must submit an annual accounting report before funds are distributed. No refunds would be available for early cancellation.

Impact

This bill would amend Rhode Island General Laws chapter 31-3 by adding a new section creating a Cranston Cares specialty license plate program. It would give the DMV authority to establish the plate, set prepayment and administrative procedures, and collect and distribute surcharge revenue. The measure affects vehicle registration law, DMV operations, and the flow of specialty-plate proceeds to both the state general fund and a designated nonprofit.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee testimony or votes, the measure appears to be a straightforward local or charitable specialty-plate proposal with no documented opposition in the provided materials. Its structure suggests a generally favorable posture toward supporting Cranston Cares and its community initiatives while also preserving a portion of revenue for the state. No formal vote history or hearing record is available here to indicate broader legislative sentiment.

Contention

The main policy issues embedded in the bill are administrative and financial rather than ideological. Potential points of concern include whether the minimum prepayment threshold will be met, how the DMV will manage the new plate program, and whether the surcharge allocation is appropriate given that only half of the issuance surcharge and all renewal surcharges go to the nonprofit. The bill also requires annual accounting and limits use of Rhode Island-sourced funds to Rhode Island-based charities, which may reflect legislative concern about accountability and local benefit.