2025 -- S 0072

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LC000236

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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 - REGISTRATION FEES

     Introduced By: Senators Felag, Raptakis, Ciccone, Tikoian, and Britto

     Date Introduced: January 23, 2025

     Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 31-6-8 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-6 entitled "Registration

Fees" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     31-6-8. Disabled veterans.

     (a) Any veteran who has been honorably discharged from the service of the armed forces

or the Merchant Marine of the United States in any of the wars or campaigns in which the United

States has been engaged and who, while engaged in these wars or campaigns or as a result of

engagement in these wars or campaigns, by reason of amputation, has lost one or both of the

veteran’s arms, hands, feet, or legs, or who, by reason of other permanent injury, has lost the use

of one or both of the veteran’s arms, hands, feet, or legs, or to whom has been granted a motor

vehicle under chapter 870-2D, United States Public Laws 663, enacted 1946, 79th Congress, or has

suitable documentation from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to establish that the veteran:

     (1) Has a combined service connected disability rating of one hundred percent (100%); or

     (2) Is considered “individually unemployable” due to the veteran’s service-connected

disability, shall be exempt from the payment of any fee for the annual registration of and a license

to operate that motor vehicle.

     (b) The administrator for the division of motor vehicles shall issue to an eligible veteran

for use on an automobile, or on a commercial vehicle having a gross weight of twelve thousand

pounds (12,000 lbs.) or less, registration plates designated “Disabled Veteran.” Provided that:

     (1) Upon certification that the veteran is no longer able to operate a vehicle, the "Disabled

Veteran" plates may be transferred, during their lifetime, to the veteran's spouse; and

     (2) Upon the death of the holder initial registrant of the “Disabled Veteran” plates, the

plates may be transferred to the veteran’s surviving spouse for the spouse’s lifetime or until the

spouse remarries. Only one set of

     (3) “Disabled Veteran” plates shall be issued to an eligible veteran and or their spouse as

provided for in subsection (b)(1) of this section only after certification of eligibility from the

Veterans’ Administration or other satisfactory documentation of eligibility is presented.

     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 - REGISTRATION FEES

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     This act would permit upon certification that the veteran is no longer able to operate a

vehicle, the transfer of the plate to the veteran's spouse. Additionally, a disabled veteran license

plate may be issued to an eligible veteran or their spouse.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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