Bill Sponsors
Senator Walter S. Felag
Committee
Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs
Summary
Select
This bill authorizes the Division of Motor Vehicles to create and issue special license plates for the Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub. Drivers who choose to buy these plates will pay a $40 surcharge on top of regular registration fees, with $20 going to the state's general fund and $20 to the Honor Flight Hub. There is also a $10 fee for future renewals that goes entirely to the organization. The organization must use the funds for Rhode Island-based charities and submit an annual accounting report before receiving the money.
Sponsor
Analysis
Pros for Progressives
- Generates funding to support military veterans in the community by providing them with free trips to national memorials.
- Includes strict financial oversight by requiring the organization to submit an annual accounting report before receiving funds, ensuring transparency.
- Mandates that the funds received by the organization must be used to benefit Rhode Island-based charitable organizations, directly supporting the local community.
Cons for Progressives
- Relies on a regressive flat fee ($40) for those who wish to support the cause, which takes a larger percentage of income from lower-income individuals.
- Directs half of the initial surcharge ($20) to the state's general fund rather than fully allocating the money to the charitable organization.
- Focuses state administrative resources on creating specialty license plates rather than addressing broader systemic issues affecting veterans, such as healthcare or housing.
Pros for Conservatives
- Supports traditional patriotic values by raising private funds to honor WWII and Korean War veterans with trips to national memorials.
- Relies on voluntary contributions from citizens who choose to buy the license plates rather than mandating new taxes to fund the charity.
- Generates additional revenue for the state's general fund through the $20 portion of the initial surcharge without raising broad-based taxes.
Cons for Conservatives
- Increases government bureaucracy by requiring the Division of Motor Vehicles to design, process, and administer a new specialty license plate program.
- Imposes regulatory burdens on the charitable organization by requiring annual accounting reports and restricting how they can spend the funds.
- Diverts half of the initial voluntary surcharge ($20) to the state's general fund instead of allowing all the money to go directly to the veterans' charity.
Constitutional Concerns
None Likely. The bill simply authorizes the creation of a specialty license plate for a specific non-profit organization, which is a standard administrative function of the state. It does not infringe upon free speech, due process, or protection from unreasonable searches and seizures.
Impact Overview
Groups Affected
- Vehicle owners
- Military veterans
- Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub
- Division of Motor Vehicles
- Rhode Island charities
Towns Affected
All
Cost to Taxpayers
None
Revenue Generated
General Fund: $20 per initial plate issued. Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub: $20 per initial plate issued, $10 per registration renewal.
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Bill Status
Current Status
Held
Comm Passed
Floor Passed
Law
History
• 06/06/2026 Introduced, referred to Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs
• 06/06/2026 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (06/09/2026)
• 06/09/2026 Committee recommends passage
• 06/09/2026 Placed on Senate Calendar (06/11/2026)
• 06/11/2026 Senate read and passed
• 06/11/2026 Placed on House Calendar (06/11/2026)
• 06/11/2026 House passed in concurrence
• 06/18/2026 Transmitted to Governor
• 06/06/2026 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (06/09/2026)
• 06/09/2026 Committee recommends passage
• 06/09/2026 Placed on Senate Calendar (06/11/2026)
• 06/11/2026 Senate read and passed
• 06/11/2026 Placed on House Calendar (06/11/2026)
• 06/11/2026 House passed in concurrence
• 06/18/2026 Transmitted to Governor
Bill Text
SECTION 1. Chapter 31-3 of the General Laws entitled "Registration of Vehicles" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
31-3-132. Special plate for Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub.
(a) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles is empowered to make available special motor vehicle registration plates for the not-for-profit entity Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub. The plates shall be designed to reference the not-for-profit Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub.
(b) The special 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 registration plates issued to the vehicle. The original registration plates for the vehicle shall be removed from the vehicle and returned to the division of motor vehicles. 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 special plate.
(c) Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub motor vehicle plates shall be the same size as regular motor vehicle plates and shall be designed by the Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub, in conjunction with the division of motor vehicles, with the design approved by the Rhode Island state police.
(d) The Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub plates shall be subject to compliance with § 31-3-117 relating to the number of minimum pre-paid order of plates per plate type (i.e. passenger, commercial, etc.) and any required payment. The Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub plates shall not be issued unless the minimum order requirements are met. The initial order will be handled by the Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub and shall not be submitted to the division of motor vehicles for production until the minimum order(s) have been met and the proper paper work submitted to the division.
(e) The administrator of motor vehicles shall develop prepayment procedures, and any other procedures deemed necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.
(f) In addition to the regular prescribed motor vehicle registration fee, Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub plates shall be subject to a forty-dollar ($40.00) issuance surcharge.
(g) The forty-dollar ($40.00) issuance surcharge shall be allocated as follows: twenty dollars ($20.00) shall be allocated to the general fund and the remaining twenty dollars ($20.00) shall be distributed annually to Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub in furtherance of its mission of "honoring our veterans by offering WWII and Korean War Veterans a no-cost trip to visit the memorials in Washington, DC."
(h) A ten-dollar ($10.00) surcharge for subsequent registration renewals shall be allocated to the Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub.
(i) In consideration of the receipt of funds from the registration of the Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub plates, the Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub must use any Rhode Island sourced funds in and for the benefit of Rhode Island-based charitable organizations.
(j) Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub will be required to submit an annual accounting report before such monies are distributed.
(k) There shall be no refunds for early cancellation of Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub plates.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect six (6) months after passage.
31-3-132. Special plate for Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub.
(a) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles is empowered to make available special motor vehicle registration plates for the not-for-profit entity Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub. The plates shall be designed to reference the not-for-profit Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub.
(b) The special 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 registration plates issued to the vehicle. The original registration plates for the vehicle shall be removed from the vehicle and returned to the division of motor vehicles. 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 special plate.
(c) Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub motor vehicle plates shall be the same size as regular motor vehicle plates and shall be designed by the Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub, in conjunction with the division of motor vehicles, with the design approved by the Rhode Island state police.
(d) The Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub plates shall be subject to compliance with § 31-3-117 relating to the number of minimum pre-paid order of plates per plate type (i.e. passenger, commercial, etc.) and any required payment. The Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub plates shall not be issued unless the minimum order requirements are met. The initial order will be handled by the Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub and shall not be submitted to the division of motor vehicles for production until the minimum order(s) have been met and the proper paper work submitted to the division.
(e) The administrator of motor vehicles shall develop prepayment procedures, and any other procedures deemed necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.
(f) In addition to the regular prescribed motor vehicle registration fee, Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub plates shall be subject to a forty-dollar ($40.00) issuance surcharge.
(g) The forty-dollar ($40.00) issuance surcharge shall be allocated as follows: twenty dollars ($20.00) shall be allocated to the general fund and the remaining twenty dollars ($20.00) shall be distributed annually to Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub in furtherance of its mission of "honoring our veterans by offering WWII and Korean War Veterans a no-cost trip to visit the memorials in Washington, DC."
(h) A ten-dollar ($10.00) surcharge for subsequent registration renewals shall be allocated to the Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub.
(i) In consideration of the receipt of funds from the registration of the Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub plates, the Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub must use any Rhode Island sourced funds in and for the benefit of Rhode Island-based charitable organizations.
(j) Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub will be required to submit an annual accounting report before such monies are distributed.
(k) There shall be no refunds for early cancellation of Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub plates.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect six (6) months after passage.