Bill Sponsors
Furtado, Messier, Donovan, Alzate, Tanzi, Cruz, Stewart, Ajello, Shallcross Smith, and Cortvriend
Committee
House Finance
Summary
Select
This bill increases the fees for motor vehicle inspections in Rhode Island starting January 1, 2027. The inspection fee for motorcycles and electric vehicles will rise from $11 to $15. Additionally, the standard motor vehicle emissions inspection fee will increase from $55 to $75. The extra revenue from the $75 fee will be distributed among the local inspection station owners, the state's highway maintenance account, and the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA), which will receive $10 from each inspection.
Sponsor
Analysis
Pros for Progressives
- Provides a dedicated new funding stream for the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA), which supports public transportation and benefits low-income individuals who rely on it.
- Increases the portion of the fee retained by local inspection station owners, supporting small businesses and potentially boosting the wages of local mechanics.
- Directs additional revenue toward the state's highway maintenance account, improving public infrastructure and ensuring safer roads for the community.
Cons for Progressives
- Imposes a regressive fee increase that disproportionately burdens low-income individuals who must pay the same flat rate as wealthy vehicle owners.
- Increases the financial strain on working-class families who rely on personal vehicles to commute to work and access essential services.
- Fails to offer waivers, sliding scale fees, or financial assistance for low-income drivers who may struggle to afford the $75 inspection cost.
Pros for Conservatives
- Increases the profit margin for private businesses by allowing inspection station owners to retain a larger portion of the inspection fee.
- Utilizes a user-fee model to fund road maintenance and public transit, ensuring that those who use the transportation system contribute to its upkeep.
- Generates revenue for necessary state highway maintenance without raising broad-based income or corporate taxes.
Cons for Conservatives
- Significantly increases the financial burden on citizens by raising the mandatory emissions inspection fee by nearly 40%.
- Forces private vehicle owners to subsidize public transportation by diverting $10 of their mandatory inspection fee directly to RIPTA.
- Increases government extraction of wealth from taxpayers through mandatory regulatory fees, limiting personal financial freedom.
Constitutional Concerns
None Likely. This is a standard regulatory fee increase for vehicle inspections and does not implicate free speech, due process, or unreasonable searches and seizures.
Impact Overview
Groups Affected
- Vehicle owners
- Motorcycle owners
- Electric vehicle owners
- Inspection station owners
- RIPTA passengers
Towns Affected
All
Cost to Taxpayers
Motor vehicle owners: $75/inspection; Motorcycle and electric vehicle owners: $15/inspection
Revenue Generated
Amount unknown
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
• 03/27/2026 Introduced, referred to House Finance
• 04/10/2026 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (04/14/2026)
• 04/14/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
• 04/10/2026 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (04/14/2026)
• 04/14/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Bill Text
SECTION 1. Section 31-38-7 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-38 entitled "Inspection of Motor Vehicles" is hereby amended to read as follows:
31-38-7. Operation of official stations.
(a) No permit for an official station shall be assigned or transferred or used at any location other than designated in it, and the permit shall be posted in a conspicuous place at the designated location.
(b) The state-certified person operating an official inspection station shall issue a certificate of inspection and approval upon an official form to the owner of a vehicle upon inspection of the vehicle and determining that its equipment required under the provisions of this chapter is in good condition and proper adjustment, otherwise, no certificate shall be issued. A record and report shall be made of every inspection and every certificate issued. The records shall be kept available for review by those employees of the department of revenue that the director may designate.
(c) The following fees shall be charged for inspection and issuance of certificate of inspection and approval:
(1) For every vehicle with a registered gross weight of not more than eight thousand five hundred pounds (8,500 lbs.), the fee shall be included with the fee charged pursuant to § 31-47.1- 11;
(2) For every vehicle of a registered gross weight of more than eight thousand five hundred pounds (8,500 lbs.) or more, except trailers, fifteen dollars ($15.00);
(3) For every motorcycle and electrically powered vehicle,eleven dollars ($11.00) fifteen dollars ($15.00);
(4) For every trailer or semi-trailer with a registered gross weight of more than one thousand pounds (1,000 lbs.), eleven dollars ($11.00); and
(5) Provided, that for the inspection of vehicles used for the transportation of persons for hire, as provided in § 31-22-12, and subject to an inspection pursuant to chapter 47.1 of this title, the fee shall be included with the fee charged pursuant to § 31-47.1-11.
(d) The director of the department of revenue may establish a state inspection facility at which any motor vehicle may be reinspected at no cost to the owner. The state inspection facility may inspect all public conveyance vehicles or these inspections may be otherwise provided for by the director, or any other vehicles which, in the opinion of the director of revenue, or his or her designee, require specific testing to ensure for the health and safety of the general public.
(e) Any other inspections or activities which may be required to be performed at a state inspection facility may be performed at any official inspection station if determined by the director.
SECTION 2. Section 31-47.1-11 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-47.1 entitled "Motor Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program" is hereby amended to read as follows:
31-47.1-11. Fees.
(a) Beginning in fiscal year 2015 until January 1, 2027, a fee of fifty-five dollars ($55.00) is to be charged for each motor vehicle inspected. The amount of fees collected shall provide for the cost of the inspection, the costs of administering the motor vehicle emissions inspection program and other costs provided by law. The fee must be paid for each motor vehicle inspected at an emissions inspection station at the time of the inspection and is payable whether a compliance certificate, waiver certificate, or no certificate is issued. There shall be no fee charged for one reinspection of a vehicle that failed an initial inspection when the reinspection is conducted at the AIRS that conducted the initial inspection.
Of the fifty-five dollars ($55.00) fee, nineteen dollars ($19.00) shall be retained by the inspection station owner to cover the costs of performing the inspection. The remaining thirty-six dollars ($36.00) shall be remitted to the program manager. The program manager shall retain no more than four dollars ($4.00) of the fee and remit no less than thirty-two dollars ($32.00) for deposit in the Rhode Island highway maintenance account. Be it further provided that twenty dollars ($20.00) generated from the fee be deposited into the Rhode Island highway maintenance fund according to the schedule provided in subsection (b) of § 39-18.1-5. The general assembly shall annually appropriate such sums as may be required to cover the costs of administering the program by the division of motor vehicles and the department of environmental management. LC006217 - Page 2 of 4
(b) [Deleted by P.L. 2014, ch. 145, art. 21, § 6].
(c)(1) On and after January 1, 2027, a fee of seventy-five dollars ($75.00) is to be charged for each motor vehicle inspected. The amount of fees collected shall provide for the cost of the inspection, the costs of administering the motor vehicle emissions inspection program and other costs provided by law. The fee shall be paid for each motor vehicle inspected at an emissions inspection station at the time of the inspection and is payable whether a compliance certificate, waiver certificate, or no certificate is issued. There shall be no fee charged for one reinspection of a vehicle that failed an initial inspection when the reinspection is conducted at the AIRS that conducted the initial inspection.
(2) Of the seventy-five dollar ($75.00) fee charged pursuant to the provisions of subsection (c)(1) of this section, twenty-four dollars ($24.00) shall be retained by the inspection station owner to cover the costs of performing the inspection. The remaining fifty-one dollars ($51.00) shall be remitted to the program manager. The program manager shall retain no more than four dollars ($4.00) of the fee and remit no less than thirty-seven dollars ($37.00) for deposit in the Rhode Island highway maintenance account. Twenty dollars ($20.00) generated from the fee shall be deposited into the Rhode Island highway maintenance fund according to the schedule in § 39-18.1- 5(b). The remaining ten dollars ($10.00) shall be deposited directly to Rhode Island public transit authority (RIPTA). The general assembly shall annually appropriate such sums as may be required to cover the costs of administering the program by the division of motor vehicles and the department of environmental management.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2027.
31-38-7. Operation of official stations.
(a) No permit for an official station shall be assigned or transferred or used at any location other than designated in it, and the permit shall be posted in a conspicuous place at the designated location.
(b) The state-certified person operating an official inspection station shall issue a certificate of inspection and approval upon an official form to the owner of a vehicle upon inspection of the vehicle and determining that its equipment required under the provisions of this chapter is in good condition and proper adjustment, otherwise, no certificate shall be issued. A record and report shall be made of every inspection and every certificate issued. The records shall be kept available for review by those employees of the department of revenue that the director may designate.
(c) The following fees shall be charged for inspection and issuance of certificate of inspection and approval:
(1) For every vehicle with a registered gross weight of not more than eight thousand five hundred pounds (8,500 lbs.), the fee shall be included with the fee charged pursuant to § 31-47.1- 11;
(2) For every vehicle of a registered gross weight of more than eight thousand five hundred pounds (8,500 lbs.) or more, except trailers, fifteen dollars ($15.00);
(3) For every motorcycle and electrically powered vehicle,
(4) For every trailer or semi-trailer with a registered gross weight of more than one thousand pounds (1,000 lbs.), eleven dollars ($11.00); and
(5) Provided, that for the inspection of vehicles used for the transportation of persons for hire, as provided in § 31-22-12, and subject to an inspection pursuant to chapter 47.1 of this title, the fee shall be included with the fee charged pursuant to § 31-47.1-11.
(d) The director of the department of revenue may establish a state inspection facility at which any motor vehicle may be reinspected at no cost to the owner. The state inspection facility may inspect all public conveyance vehicles or these inspections may be otherwise provided for by the director, or any other vehicles which, in the opinion of the director of revenue, or his or her designee, require specific testing to ensure for the health and safety of the general public.
(e) Any other inspections or activities which may be required to be performed at a state inspection facility may be performed at any official inspection station if determined by the director.
SECTION 2. Section 31-47.1-11 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-47.1 entitled "Motor Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program" is hereby amended to read as follows:
31-47.1-11. Fees.
(a) Beginning in fiscal year 2015 until January 1, 2027, a fee of fifty-five dollars ($55.00) is to be charged for each motor vehicle inspected. The amount of fees collected shall provide for the cost of the inspection, the costs of administering the motor vehicle emissions inspection program and other costs provided by law. The fee must be paid for each motor vehicle inspected at an emissions inspection station at the time of the inspection and is payable whether a compliance certificate, waiver certificate, or no certificate is issued. There shall be no fee charged for one reinspection of a vehicle that failed an initial inspection when the reinspection is conducted at the AIRS that conducted the initial inspection.
Of the fifty-five dollars ($55.00) fee, nineteen dollars ($19.00) shall be retained by the inspection station owner to cover the costs of performing the inspection. The remaining thirty-six dollars ($36.00) shall be remitted to the program manager. The program manager shall retain no more than four dollars ($4.00) of the fee and remit no less than thirty-two dollars ($32.00) for deposit in the Rhode Island highway maintenance account. Be it further provided that twenty dollars ($20.00) generated from the fee be deposited into the Rhode Island highway maintenance fund according to the schedule provided in subsection (b) of § 39-18.1-5. The general assembly shall annually appropriate such sums as may be required to cover the costs of administering the program by the division of motor vehicles and the department of environmental management. LC006217 - Page 2 of 4
(b) [Deleted by P.L. 2014, ch. 145, art. 21, § 6].
(c)(1) On and after January 1, 2027, a fee of seventy-five dollars ($75.00) is to be charged for each motor vehicle inspected. The amount of fees collected shall provide for the cost of the inspection, the costs of administering the motor vehicle emissions inspection program and other costs provided by law. The fee shall be paid for each motor vehicle inspected at an emissions inspection station at the time of the inspection and is payable whether a compliance certificate, waiver certificate, or no certificate is issued. There shall be no fee charged for one reinspection of a vehicle that failed an initial inspection when the reinspection is conducted at the AIRS that conducted the initial inspection.
(2) Of the seventy-five dollar ($75.00) fee charged pursuant to the provisions of subsection (c)(1) of this section, twenty-four dollars ($24.00) shall be retained by the inspection station owner to cover the costs of performing the inspection. The remaining fifty-one dollars ($51.00) shall be remitted to the program manager. The program manager shall retain no more than four dollars ($4.00) of the fee and remit no less than thirty-seven dollars ($37.00) for deposit in the Rhode Island highway maintenance account. Twenty dollars ($20.00) generated from the fee shall be deposited into the Rhode Island highway maintenance fund according to the schedule in § 39-18.1- 5(b). The remaining ten dollars ($10.00) shall be deposited directly to Rhode Island public transit authority (RIPTA). The general assembly shall annually appropriate such sums as may be required to cover the costs of administering the program by the division of motor vehicles and the department of environmental management.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2027.