MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES, the official text

S2746 2026 -- S 2746 ======== LC005459 ======== STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ A N A C T RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES Introduced By: Senators Raptakis, Tikoian, E Morgan, Ciccone, Thompson, Burke, Felag, Famiglietti, Patalano, and Appollonio Date Introduced: February 27, 2026 Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: 1 SECTION 1. Chapter 31-3 of the General Laws entitled Registration of Vehicles is 2 hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 3 31-3-132. Rhode Island manufacturing industry plates. 4 (a) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall issue for any motor vehicle 5 eligible for registration as an automobile, or for a commercial vehicle having a gross weight of 6 twelve thousand pounds (12,000 lbs.) or less, plates designated as manufacturing industry plates 7 upon application on proper forms furnished by the administrator of the division of motor vehicles 8 to persons engaged in the business of manufacturing, to be defined as an entity within the state that 9 takes raw materials or components and adds value thereto in order to create a final, recognizable 10 product that has been created through the use of hands, machinery, tools, appliances, and other 11 similar equipment, and which shall include any person who owns a manufacturing business or who 12 works in the manufacturing industry, and excludes manufacturers of motor vehicles as defined by 13 § 31-5.1-1. 14 (b) The designated manufacturing industry plates shall be designed as follows: 15 (1) Letters and numbers shall be blue in a white background with the words Rhode Island 16 clearly visible at the top center of the plate and the letters MID displayed down the left side of 17 the plate in all capital letters. 18 (2) Background shall contain the current plate design and contents pursuant to § 31-3-11. 19 (c) The applicant shall be required to provide information verifying their occupation in the 1 manufacturing industry that is satisfactory to the division and pay a service charge of twenty dollars 2 ($20.00) for the plate. 3 (d) The owner of a motor vehicle eligible for registration as an automobile that is issued 4 manufacturing industry plates shall continue to pay the appropriate automobile registration fee for 5 the plates. The owner of a motor vehicle eligible for registration as a commercial vehicle that is 6 issued manufacturing industry plates shall continue to pay the appropriate commercial registration 7 fee for the plates pursuant to § 31-3-11. 8 SECTION 2. This act shall take effect six (6) months after passage. ======== LC005459 ======== LC005459 - Page 2 of 3 EXPLANATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF A N A C T RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES *** 1 This act would direct the division of motor vehicles to create a special plate for individuals 2 in the manufacturing industry. 3 This act would take effect six (6) months after passage. ======== LC005459 ======== LC005459 - Page 3 of 3