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HB 7308

AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- PARKING FACILITIES AND PRIVILEGES

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Julie Casimiro and 7 co-sponsors

Creates an adaptive vehicle license plate to recognize mobility-impaired individuals and grant designated parking and access privileges for modified vehicles.

06/19/2026 Signed by Governor
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Bill Summary · HB 7308

Summary of HB 7308 (Rhode Island, 2026)

Purpose and intent

  • The bill would create a new registration option in Rhode Island for individuals with significant mobility impairments: an adaptive vehicle license plate.
  • Its central goal is to improve access and ease of use for adaptive or mobility-modified vehicles by recognizing them with a dedicated plate and extending specific parking and access privileges.

Key provisions and changes

  • Establishes a new section (31-28-7.4) in Rhode Island’s Parking Facilities and Privileges chapter to govern adaptive vehicle license plates.
  • Definitions:
    • Adaptive vehicle: A motor vehicle that has been structurally modified or equipped with specialized equipment (e.g., ramps, lifts, lowered floors, specialized hand controls, restraint systems) to accommodate a person with a significant mobility impairment.
    • Adaptive vehicle license plate: A special registration plate identifying a vehicle as an adaptive or mobility-modified vehicle.
    • Qualified individual: A person with a permanent mobility impairment certifiable by a licensed physician or physical therapist, requiring an adaptive vehicle for transport.
  • Eligibility requirements to obtain the plate:
    • Completed application form from the Rhode Island Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
    • Medical certification of disability/need for vehicle modification.
    • Proof of vehicle modification.
    • Payment of standard vehicle registration fees.
  • Privileges and access granted to vehicles bearing the adaptive vehicle license plate:
    • Parking in designated accessible loading/unloading zones to assist the qualified individual.
    • Exemption from certain height, width, or bumper restrictions that apply to non-modified vehicles, as allowed by state law.
    • Use of designated areas at public facilities where adaptive vehicles require extra space for ramp deployment or passenger transfer.
  • DMV authority to issue additional plates:
    • The DMV may issue plates displaying the International Symbol of Access for a pleasure passenger vehicle or a pickup truck used exclusively for noncommercial purposes by a qualified individual, in addition to existing provisions (i.e., separate from the standard adaptive plate provisions).
  • Effective date:
    • The act takes effect upon passage.

Who would be affected

  • Qualified individuals with permanent mobility impairments who rely on adaptive vehicles.
  • Families or caregivers involved in the process of modifying vehicles and applying for the plate.
  • Public facilities and parking authorities that designate accessible loading zones and spaces.
  • DMV and related state agencies responsible for vehicle registration and enforcement of parking privileges.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduced January 23, 2026; referred to House State Government & Elections.
  • The bill’s action history shows committee consideration, potential substitute proposals, and scheduled hearings/consideration in June 2026.
  • Effective date is immediate upon enactment (no delayed effective date).

Practical impact and considerations

  • Provides formal recognition and parking/access privileges for adaptive vehicles, potentially reducing barriers to transportation for mobility-impaired individuals.
  • Requires medical certification and proof of modifications, ensuring legitimacy and preventing abuse.
  • Aligns with broader accessibility goals by enabling use of ramps/deployable equipment in designated spaces.
  • Administrative workload will shift to the DMV for processing applications and renewal, as well as enforcement of privileges.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary for a specific audience (e.g., policymakers, advocacy groups, or the general public) or add a comparison to existing accessibility plate programs in Rhode Island.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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