2026 -- H 7988

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LC005783

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- INSPECTION OF MOTOR VEHICLES

     Introduced By: Representatives Boylan, McGaw, Cortvriend, Knight, Handy, Speakman,
Spears, Dawson, Carson, and Caldwell

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2026

     Referred To: House State Government & Elections

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 31-38 of the General Laws entitled "Inspection of Motor Vehicles"

is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     31-38-3.1. Electric vehicle inspection and fees.

     Beginning in fiscal year 2027, a fee of fifteen dollars ($15.00) is to be charged for each

battery electric motor vehicle safety inspection. The amount of fees collected shall provide for the

cost of the inspection and other costs provided by law. The fee must be paid for each motor vehicle

inspected at an 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

authorized inspection repair station (AIRS) that conducted the initial inspection. Of the fifteen

dollar ($15.00) fee, ten dollars ($10.00) shall be retained by the inspection station owner to cover

the costs of performing the inspection. The remaining five dollars ($5.00) shall be remitted to the

program manager.

     SECTION 2. Section 31-47.1-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-47.1 entitled "Motor

Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     31-47.1-3. Inspection requirement.

     (a) Each motor vehicle subject to the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to a motor

vehicle emissions inspection, conducted no more frequently than annually. Different classes of

motor vehicles or model years may be subject to different inspection frequencies.

     (b) Motor vehicles subject to this chapter shall be determined by regulations, and shall

include, but not necessarily be limited to, all 1975 and later model year light duty vehicles and light

duty years trucks up to and including eight thousand five hundred pounds (8,500 lbs.) regardless of

the gross vehicle weight rating.

     (c) Any motor vehicle which is inspected and found not to comply with the standards and

criteria for motor vehicle emissions inspections must, within thirty (30) days of the inspection, be

re-inspected and found to comply with the standards and criteria for motor vehicle emissions

inspections, or have received a waiver certificate, or not be operated on the highways of the state.

     (d) Any certificate issued under this chapter shall always be carried in an easily accessible

place in or about the vehicle for which the certificate was issued.

     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- INSPECTION OF MOTOR VEHICLES

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     This act would charge a fee of fifteen dollars ($15.00) for each battery powered electric

motor vehicle safety inspection. It would also require any vehicle, regardless of gross vehicle

weight rating, to be subject to emissions inspection.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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