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SB 2418

AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- REGISTRATION FEES

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Bob Britto and 4 co-sponsors

Expands eligibility for waived vehicle and driver’s license fees to veterans 75+ with 70% disability and allows surviving spouses to keep Disabled Veteran plates.

06/19/2026 Signed by Governor
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 2418

Summary of Bill: SB 2418 (Rhode Island, 2026) – Registration Fees

Overview

  • Official Title: AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- REGISTRATION FEES
  • Jurisdiction: Rhode Island
  • Session/Introduced: 2026
  • Introduced By: Senators Lawson, LaMountain, Gallo, Lauria, and Britto
  • Sponsor/Co-sponsors: Co-sponsors include Senators Bob Britto, Matt LaMountain, Hanna Gallo, Val Lawson, and Pam Lauria
  • Committee: Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs
  • Effective Date: Upon passage

Purpose and Intent

The bill expands eligibility for disabled veteran license plates and related registration fee exemptions. Specifically, it broadens the pool of veterans who qualify for a waiver of annual vehicle registration fees and driver’s license fees by recognizing certain age and disability criteria.

Key Provisions

1) Expanded Eligibility for Disabled Veteran Registration Fee Exemption

  • Current law already provides an exemption from the annual registration fee for certain disabled veterans.
  • The bill adds a new eligibility criterion:
    • A veteran who is seventy-five (75) years of age or older and has a combined service-connected disability rating of seventy percent (70%) qualifies for the registration and license fee exemption.
  • The exemption applies to both:
    • The annual registration of and license to operate a motor vehicle.

2) Documentation and Verification

  • Veterans must present certification of eligibility from either:
    • The U.S. Veterans Administration (VA) or
    • Other satisfactory documentation establishing eligibility as described in the bill.

3) Disabled Veteran Plates

  • Eligible veterans receive "Disabled Veteran" plates for use on an automobile or on a commercial vehicle up to 12,000 pounds gross weight.
  • Upon the veteran’s death, these plates may be transferred to the veteran’s surviving spouse for the spouse’s lifetime or until remarriage.
  • Only one set of Disabled Veteran plates may be issued to an eligible veteran.

4) Continuity and Transferability

  • The policy allows for the transferred plates to continue serving the surviving spouse (lifelong or until remarriage), ensuring ongoing recognition of the veteran’s status.

Who Is Affected

  • Eligibility Expansion: Veterans who are 75+ years old with a 70% combined service-connected disability rating.
  • Current Disabled Veterans: Veterans who meet existing criteria remain eligible for the fee exemption.
  • Surviving Spouses: Spouses may retain the “Disabled Veteran” plates after the veteran’s death, for the spouse’s lifetime or until remarriage.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Advancement: The bill has moved through committee and was placed on the Senate calendar. As of the latest action, it is moving toward final consideration.
  • Implementation: The act takes effect upon passage (no delayed or phased-in implementation stated).

Impact Assessment (Summary)

  • Fiscal/Operational Impact: The bill reduces annual registration-related costs for a subset of veterans (75+ with 70%+ disability), potentially lowering state revenue from registration fees for those individuals.
  • Administrative: DMV will issue “Disabled Veteran” plates and verify eligibility via VA documentation or acceptable alternatives.
  • Equity and Recognition: Enhances recognition and support for veterans who have substantial service-connected disabilities and are advanced in age.

Note

  • The core change is both a broadened age-disability criterion for fee exemption and clarified plate transferability to spouses, aligning benefits with veteran status and long-term eligibility.

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

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