2026 -- S 3120

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LC004935

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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 Felag, LaMountain, and Dimitri

     Date Introduced: March 13, 2026

     Referred To: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Sections 31-3-32 and 31-3-64 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-3 entitled

"Registration of Vehicles" are hereby amended to read as follows:

     31-3-32. Expiration of registration.

     Every vehicle registration under chapters 3 — 9 of this title and every registration card and

registration plate issued under this chapter shall expire at midnight on the thirty-first (31st) day of

March of each year, except that the director of the department of revenue, division of motor vehicles

shall implement a staggered registration system and a staggered distribution system for fully

reflective plates required to be on all vehicles pursuant to § 31-3-10 and a biennial registration

system for fully reflective plates required to be on all commercial vehicles. Implementation of the

staggered registration system, biennial registration system for commercial vehicles, and

distribution system shall be by rules and regulations promulgated by the director of revenue,

division of motor vehicles. Every registration card and registration plate issued to apportioned

vehicles shall expire on the thirty-first (31st) day of May of each year. A fee for the initial issuance

of fully reflective plates and each reissuance thereafter shall be charged in accordance with § 31-

6-1(a). However, the requirements for the reissue of fully reflective plates shall apply only to those

standard plates described in § 31-3-11 and not to plates authorized by any other section of the

general or public laws. Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in § 31-41.1-4.

     31-3-64. Combination plates.

     (a) The administrator of the division of motor vehicles shall issue:

     (1) For any motor vehicle eligible for registration as a commercial vehicle having a gross

weight of eight thousand eight hundred pounds (8,800 lbs.) or less, plates designated as

“combination” upon application and proper form furnished by the administrator of the division of

motor vehicles to applicants. The combination plates will allow those vehicles to drive for both

commercial and pleasure purposes; or

     (2) For any motor vehicle eligible for registration as a commercial vehicle having a gross

weight over eight thousand eight hundred pounds (8,800 lbs.) up to eleven thousand eight hundred

pounds (11,800 lbs.) plates designated as “combination” upon application, proof of ownership of a

camping trailer, fifth-wheel camper trailer, travel trailer, or truck camper as defined in § 31-1-3,

and proper form furnished by the administrator of the division of motor vehicles to applicants. The

combination plates will allow those vehicles to drive for pleasure purposes only.

     (b) The fees for commercial vehicles registering for a combination plate shall be identical

to those established for other commercial vehicles of the same weight. A combination registration

transaction shall be considered a change to a new registration classification and not a plate change

transaction. A combination registration shall be renewable on a biennial basis during the month of

March each year.

     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 modify the annual registration of commercial vehicles to a biennial

registration.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC004935

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