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

2025 Regular Session Introduced by David Bennett and 9 co-sponsors

The bill creates a Rhode Island Real Access Motivates Progress (RAMP) special plate with a $40 surcharge, $20 to the General Fund, $20 to RAMP, funding accessibility programs.

05/15/2025 Committee recommended measure be held for further study

Purpose

HB 6307 would create a not-for-profit-specific motor vehicle registration plate in Rhode Island for Real Access Motivates Progress (RAMP), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The bill directs the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to issue a special plate that promotes the charity and directs a portion of plate-related surcharges to support accessibility programs.

Key Provisions

New special plate (41-3-130): The DMV may make available a Real Access Motivates Progress (RAMP) special motor vehicle registration plate.

Use and display: The plate would be displayed in place of the vehicle’s regular plates; the original plates would be returned to the DMV; the registration certificate remains in effect and must be carried in the vehicle as required.

Design and approval: Plate design would be created by RAMP in conjunction with the DMV and approved by the Rhode Island State Police.

Minimum prepaid orders: Issuance is contingent on meeting minimum prepaid orders per plate type (e.g., passenger, commercial). The initial order would be processed by RAMP and only submitted to the DMV for production after minimum orders are met and paperwork is completed.

Prepayment procedures: The DMV would develop prepayment and related procedures to implement the program.

Fees and surcharges:

An issuance surcharge of $40 in addition to the regular registration fee.
Of the $40 surcharge, $20 goes to the General Fund and $20 is distributed annually to RAMP to support accessibility programs.
A renewal surcharge of $10 per subsequent registration renewal goes to RAMP.

Use of funds: RAMP must use Rhode Island-sourced funds for the benefit of Rhode Island-based charitable organizations, and must submit an annual accounting report before distributions.

No refunds for early cancellation: If the plate program is canceled early, there are no refunds.

Compliance and administration: The issuance and administration are subject to relevant portions of existing law (e.g., minimum orders and payment requirements).

Affected Parties

Vehicle owners who opt to obtain the RAMP special plate (in addition to regular plates, subject to the minimum order requirement).

Real Access Motivates Progress (RAMP), the nonprofit responsible for design and management of the plate-related funds.

Rhode Island General Fund (via the $20 per plate issuance surcharge).

Rhode Island-based charitable organizations that may benefit from the annual distributions to RAMP.

Implementation and Timeline

Effective date: Six months after passage.

Status and actions:

Introduced May 7, 2025; referred to House Special Legislation.
Committee action on May 15, 2025: “Committee recommended measure be held for further study.”
Earlier actions show referral (January 23, 2025) to Finance, Revenue and Bonding, and scheduled hearings in May 2025.

Notes

The bill adds a targeted fundraising mechanism for accessibility-related initiatives through a dedicated specialty plate.

It includes safeguards (minimum order requirements, annual reporting, and Rhode Island focus) and maintains standard plate requirements (ownership, design approval, and compliance).

Bill