Rhode Island House Bill H7085

Rhode Island 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/14/26
• Refer: 1/14/26

Caption

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES

Summary

H7085 amends Rhode Island’s motor vehicle registration laws to repeal the state’s authorization for a special commemorative license plate honoring the 50th anniversary of Mr. Potato Head. Under the bill, the Division of Motor Vehicles would no longer be empowered to issue new Mr. Potato Head anniversary plates after the act takes effect. The bill preserves existing plates already in circulation, but only if they remain continuously renewed. If an existing plate registration lapses, is revoked, or the plate is lost or destroyed, the right to re-register that plate would end permanently. The bill also keeps the current rule that these plates are not transferable to another vehicle, including a vehicle owned by the registrant’s family members.

Impact

The bill would narrow Chapter 31-3 of the Rhode Island General Laws by removing the statutory authority for future issuance of the Mr. Potato Head commemorative registration plate. It would not affect ordinary vehicle registrations, but it would eliminate a special DMV product and end the associated $40 service charge for new applicants, along with the related revenue split that previously supported the Rhode Island Community Food Bank and DMV administrative costs. Existing plate holders would retain their plates only under the bill’s continuity rules.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee testimony or votes, the measure appears largely administrative and noncontroversial. Its stated purpose is straightforward: to repeal an outdated commemorative plate authorization while protecting current plate holders who keep their registrations active. There is no evidence in the provided record of organized opposition or support, and no vote history is available to indicate broader legislative sentiment.

Contention

The main policy issue is whether the state should continue authorizing a niche commemorative plate program for a consumer-brand character. The bill does not appear to raise major fiscal or regulatory disputes, but it does end a small revenue stream that previously directed half of the plate surcharge to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank and half to DMV costs. Any concern would likely come from current plate holders or supporters of the charity funding arrangement, while the bill’s sponsors appear to favor simplifying the registration code and discontinuing the special plate program.