2026 -- S 2413

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LC004664

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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 -- REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES

     Introduced By: Senators Lauria, Felag, Lawson, Valverde, Gallo, Tikoian, DiPalma,
Ciccone, Quezada, and Raptakis

     Date Introduced: January 30, 2026

     Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     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 Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island.

     (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 Partnership to Reduce Cancer

in Rhode Island, a qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. The plates shall be designed to

reference the Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island and Maryellen Goodwin to specifically

increase awareness of colon cancer. The plate shall be referred to as the Partnership to Reduce

Cancer in Rhode Island -- Maryellen Goodwin motor vehicle plate.

     (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) The Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island -- Maryellen Goodwin motor vehicle

plates shall be the same size as regular motor vehicle plates and shall be designed by the Partnership

to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island in conjunction with the division of motor vehicles, with the

design approved by the Rhode Island state police.

     (d) The Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island -- Maryellen Goodwin plates shall

be subject to compliance with § 31-3-117 relating to the number of minimum prepaid orders of

plates per plate type (i.e., passenger, commercial, etc.) and any required payment. The Partnership

to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island -- Maryellen Goodwin plates shall not be issued unless the

minimum order requirements are met. The initial order will be handled by the Partnership to Reduce

Cancer in Rhode Island 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, the Partnership to

Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island 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 the Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island to assist in the

fiscal needs and in furtherance of its mission to raise colon cancer awareness.

     (h) A ten-dollar ($10.00) surcharge for subsequent registration renewals shall be allocated

to the Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island.

     (i) In consideration of the receipt of funds from the registration of Partnership to Reduce

Cancer in Rhode Island -- Maryellen Goodwin motor vehicle license plates, Partnership to Reduce

Cancer in Rhode Island shall use any Rhode Island-sourced funds in and for the benefit of Rhode

Island-based charitable organizations to raise colon cancer awareness.

     (j) Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island will be required to submit an annual

accounting report to the administrator of the division before such monies are distributed.

     (k) There shall be no refunds for early cancellation of the Partnership to Reduce Cancer in

Rhode Island -- Maryellen Goodwin plates.

     SECTION 2. 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 OF VEHICLES

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     This act would allow for a special Rhode Island license plate to raise awareness for colon

cancer. The plate would be designed by the Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island in honor

of the late Maryellen Goodwin. The fees for the plate would be divided equally between the general

fund and the not-for-profit Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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