2025 -- H 5458

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LC001402

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION AND

TITLING

     Introduced By: Representatives Craven, Corvese, and Shanley

     Date Introduced: February 12, 2025

     Referred To: House State Government & Elections

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Title 31 of the General Laws entitled "MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES"

is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 3.4

ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION AND TITLING

     31-3.4-1. Short title.

     This chapter shall be known and may be cited as "Electronic Registration and Titling".

     31-3.4-2. Implementation.

     (a) On or before July 1, 2026, the division of motor vehicles ("division") shall implement

electronic lien, electronic titling and electronic registration systems that enable the ability to

transact through a completely electronic process for:

     (1) All business entities and their service providers applying for automotive titles and

registrations, for themselves or their customers,

     (2) Electronic submission of liens and lien satisfactions by financial institutions and their

service providers.

     (b)(1) Any application for registration certificate or certificate of title, as described in § 31-

3.1-1, may be electronically transmitted to the division. All registration certificates or certificates

of title, as described in § 31-3.1-1, shall be applied for electronically, unless the applications are

submitted by a business entity who submits fewer than twenty-five (25) transactions annually.

     (2) Any lien or security interest as described in § 31-3.1-16.1 may be electronically

transmitted to the division:

     (i) Notwithstanding any other requirements in this title that a lien on a motor vehicle shall

be noted on the face of the certificate of the title, if there are one or more liens or encumbrances on

the motor vehicle, the division shall electronically transmit the lien to the first lienholder and notify

the first lienholder of any additional liens.

     (ii) Subsequent lien satisfactions shall be electronically transmitted to the division and shall

include the name and address of the person satisfying the lien.

     (iii) When electronic transmission of liens and lien satisfactions are used, a certificate of

title need not be issued until the last lien is satisfied and a clear certificate of title is issued to the

owner of the vehicle.

     (iv) When a vehicle is subject to an electronic lien, the certificate of title for the vehicle

shall be considered to be physically held by the lienholder for purposes of compliance with state or

federal odometer disclosure requirements.

     (v) A duly certified copy of the division’s electronic record of the lien shall be admissible

in any civil, criminal or administrative proceeding in this state as evidence of the existence of the

lien.

     (c) On and after July 1, 2027, all business entities shall participate pursuant to the

provisions of subsection (b) of this section unless otherwise exempt pursuant to the provisions of

this chapter or the rules and regulations promulgated by the division.

     31-3.4-3. Secure digital vehicle titles.

     (a) On or before July 1, 2026, the division shall implement a system that offers vehicle title

holders a fully paperless, secure digital vehicle title as opposed to a secure paper vehicle title.

     (b) Once implemented, the secure digital title and the secure digital title system shall:

     (1) Include all functions related to title re-assignments.

     (2) Meet or exceed applicable security requirements as set forth in regulations promulgated

by the division.

     (3) Provide title holders with online, real-time access to motor vehicle titles and status of

titles in process.

     (c) A secure digital vehicle title produced under this statute shall be regarded as an official

vehicle title from the State of Rhode Island and be fully transactable within the State of Rhode

Island and all other U.S. jurisdictions.

     (d) A duly certified copy of the division's secure digital vehicle title shall be admissible in

any civil, criminal, or administrative proceeding in this state as evidence of the existence of the

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title.

     31-3.4-4. Fees.

     (a) Notwithstanding any general law to the contrary, the division may authorize a per-

transaction fee to be assessed for the use of electronic lien, electronic titling, electronic registration

and secure digital vehicle titling systems as described in this chapter.

     (b) The per-transaction fee:

     (1) Shall be consistent with market pricing for costs associated with the development and

ongoing management, maintenance and enhancement of the systems outlined in this chapter.

     (2) Shall integrate with current division payment service provider(s)

     31-3.4-5. Rules and regulations.

     The administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall promulgate rules and regulations

to implement the provisions of this chapter.

     SECTION 2. Section 31-23.2-6 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-23.2 entitled

"Tampering with Odometers" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     31-23.2-6. Transfer of vehicle.

     (a) Any sales agreement for the transfer of a motor vehicle between persons as defined in

this chapter shall contain the words “both buyer and seller have examined the title certificate of this

motor vehicle and it correctly reflects the mileage as it appears on the odometer” which shall be

placed conspicuously and prominently on the agreement.

     (b) It shall be unlawful for any person to transfer ownership of a motor vehicle previously

registered in this state or a motor vehicle used by a dealer as a demonstrator unless the person:

     (1) Enters on a written or electronic form prescribed by the department of revenue, as

prescribed by state law, the mileage the motor vehicle has been operated. The form shall be signed

by both the seller and buyer and contain a statement that both parties have viewed the odometer of

the motor vehicle. The form as completed shall then be attached to the instrument evidencing

transfer of ownership; or

     (2) Enters upon the form “not actual mileage” in the event that the odometer mileage is

known to the person to be less than the motor vehicle has actually traveled; or

     (3) Enters the total cumulative mileage on the form in the event that it is known that the

mileage indicated on the odometer is beyond its designated mechanical limits;

     (4) Enters the same information as set forth in subdivisions subsections (1) through (3) of

this subsection section on the owner’s title certificate; and

     (5) The owner of a motor vehicle shall supply its mileage upon the annual renewal

registration form supplied by the division of motor vehicles.

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     (c) It shall be a violation of this chapter for any person to give a false statement to a

transferee under the provisions of this section; provided, however, that no person shall be in

violation of this chapter where a vehicle has been resold in reliance on the required statement of

the prior owner made pursuant to this section.

     (d) No motor vehicle, previously registered in another state, shall be registered for use in

this state unless the application for a certificate of title in Rhode Island is accompanied by the prior

owner’s certificate of title and a form as set forth in subdivision subsection (b)(1) of this section.

     (e) The certificate of title of the motor vehicle issued to the new owner by the state of

Rhode Island shall:

     (1) Be provided electronically, or printed using a process determined by the director to be

the most efficient and effective means of avoiding unauthorized duplication;

     (2) Indicate on its face the mileage required to be disclosed by the transferor under

subsections (b)(1) and (d) of this section; and

     (3) Contains a space for the transferee to disclose the mileage at the time of any future

transfer and to sign and date the disclosure.

     (f) No registration card may be issued in this state for any motor vehicle unless:

     (1) The application for the registration card contains the prior owner’s most recent

registration card and the prior owner’s title; and

     (2) The new registration card contains such information as provided on the application.

     (g) Pursuant to the provisions of § 42-127.1-7, any form required pursuant to the provisions

of this section may be signed electronically and shall not require notarization.

     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION AND

TITLING

***

     This act would establish a system of electronic registration and titling of motor vehicles.

Rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this chapter would be promulgated by the

administrator of the division of motor vehicles.

     This act would take effect on July 1, 2026.

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