Bill Sponsors
Bennett, Shallcross Smith, Fogarty, Potter, Cortvriend, Fellela, Read, McNamara, Azzinaro, and Boylan
Committee
House Special Legislation
Summary
Select
This legislation authorizes the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to create and issue a special commemorative license plate honoring Governor Roger Williams. The plate will feature the state seal and a specific design provided by the DMV. Vehicle owners can choose to purchase this plate for their passenger cars or commercial vehicles by paying the standard registration fees plus a service charge of $25.00 and a transfer charge of $5.00. Of these additional fees, $15.00 covers the DMV's production costs, and the remaining money is deposited into the state's general fund.
Sponsor
Analysis
Pros for Progressives
- Generates unrestricted revenue for the state's general fund, which can be utilized to support public services and social safety nets without raising mandatory taxes on the working class.
- Honors Roger Williams, a historical figure celebrated for establishing the separation of church and state and advocating for fair dealings with Indigenous peoples, aligning with values of tolerance and justice.
- Provides a voluntary mechanism for civic engagement and historical education, fostering a sense of community identity without imposing requirements on the public.
Cons for Progressives
- Utilizes a regressive fee structure where access to this specific cultural expression is limited to those who can afford the extra cost, excluding lower-income residents.
- Allocates legislative time and administrative resources to performative historical commemoration rather than addressing systemic issues like poverty, housing, or healthcare.
- Increases the bureaucratic workload of the Division of Motor Vehicles, potentially slowing down essential services for residents who rely on the DMV for basic compliance needs.
Pros for Conservatives
- Promotes and preserves traditional state history and heritage by honoring the state's founder, reinforcing shared cultural values and state pride.
- Generates revenue for the state through a voluntary user fee rather than a mandatory broad-based tax increase, adhering to principles of fiscal choice.
- Allows individuals to voluntarily express their patriotism and appreciation for Rhode Island history without government mandates forcing speech or behavior.
Cons for Conservatives
- Expands the size and scope of the administrative state by adding more bureaucracy and product lines to the Division of Motor Vehicles.
- Functions as a government cash grab disguised as cultural heritage, extracting more money from citizens for a simple government permission slip (registration).
- Distracts government agencies from their core function of maintaining rule of law and order by involving them in the design and marketing of commemorative merchandise.
Constitutional Concerns
None Likely
Impact Overview
Groups Affected
- Vehicle Owners
- Division of Motor Vehicles
- Commercial Vehicle Owners
- Historical Enthusiasts
- State Government
Towns Affected
All
Cost to Taxpayers
Vehicle Owners: $30 initial extra fee per plate (Voluntary)
Revenue Generated
$15 per plate issued (Voluntary)
BillBuddy Impact Ratings
Importance
Measures population affected and overall level of impact.
Freedom Impact
Level of individual freedom impacted by the bill.
Public Services
How much the bill is likely to impact one or more public services.
Regulatory
Estimated regulatory burden imposed on the subject(s) of the bill.
Clarity of Bill Language
How clear the language of the bill is. Higher ambiguity equals a lower score.
Enforcement Provisions
Measures enforcement provisions and penalties for non-compliance (if applicable).
Environmental Impact
Impact the bill will have on the environment, positive or negative.
Privacy Impact
Impact the bill is likely to have on the privacy of individuals.
Bill Status
Current Status
Held
Comm Passed
Floor Passed
Law
History
• 01/14/2026 Introduced, referred to House Special Legislation
Bill Text
SECTION 1. Chapter 31-3 of the General Laws entitled "Registration of Vehicles" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
31-3-131. Registration plate to honor Governor Roger Williams.
(a) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles is empowered to make available a motor vehicle registration plate commemorating Governor Roger Williams as the first governor of what became the State of Rhode Island. The plate shall bear the designation “Governor Roger Williams” and a design provided by the division, and shall bear the seal of the state imprinted on it. The plate shall be displayed upon the same registration number assigned to the vehicle for which it was issued and shall be used in place of and in the same manner as the original registration plates issued to the vehicle. The original registration plates for the vehicle shall be removed from the vehicle and the registration certificate for the plates shall be carried in the vehicle, in accordance with § 31-3-9. The registration certificate shall be in effect for the plate.
(b) An automobile or commercial commemorative Governor Roger Williams plate shall be issued upon application using forms furnished by the administrator upon payment in addition to the regular prescribed motor vehicle registration fee.
(c) In addition to the regular prescribed motor vehicle registration fee, the Governor Roger Williams plates shall be subject to payment of a service charge of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) and a transfer charge of five dollars ($5.00) for the plate, of which fifteen dollars ($15.00) shall be deposited to the division of motor vehicles for its costs in manufacturing and distributing the plates, and the remainder shall be deposited into the general fund.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect six (6) months after passage.
31-3-131. Registration plate to honor Governor Roger Williams.
(a) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles is empowered to make available a motor vehicle registration plate commemorating Governor Roger Williams as the first governor of what became the State of Rhode Island. The plate shall bear the designation “Governor Roger Williams” and a design provided by the division, and shall bear the seal of the state imprinted on it. The plate shall be displayed upon the same registration number assigned to the vehicle for which it was issued and shall be used in place of and in the same manner as the original registration plates issued to the vehicle. The original registration plates for the vehicle shall be removed from the vehicle and the registration certificate for the plates shall be carried in the vehicle, in accordance with § 31-3-9. The registration certificate shall be in effect for the plate.
(b) An automobile or commercial commemorative Governor Roger Williams plate shall be issued upon application using forms furnished by the administrator upon payment in addition to the regular prescribed motor vehicle registration fee.
(c) In addition to the regular prescribed motor vehicle registration fee, the Governor Roger Williams plates shall be subject to payment of a service charge of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) and a transfer charge of five dollars ($5.00) for the plate, of which fifteen dollars ($15.00) shall be deposited to the division of motor vehicles for its costs in manufacturing and distributing the plates, and the remainder shall be deposited into the general fund.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect six (6) months after passage.