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

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Mike Chippendale and 5 co-sponsors

Authorize a no-charge special plate for Frank M. Brown, Jr. as “Fire Chief Emeritus” for his private vehicle, with one plate and no extra registration fee.

07/05/2025 Effective without Governor's signature

Bill Summary — HB 6137 / LC002604

Title: AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES — REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES
Primary subject: Special registration plate for a former fire chief

Note on source material
- The provided filing includes text from an unrelated Michigan bill concerning public-employee collective bargaining. This summary focuses only on the motor-vehicle registration measure (Rhode Island act LC002604 / HB 6137 as titled here), which creates a single special registration plate.

Purpose and intent
- To authorize and direct the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to issue a special, no‑charge registration plate for the private passenger vehicle of Frank M. Brown, Jr., former fire chief of the Hopkins Hill Fire District, bearing the designation “Fire Chief Emeritus.”

Key provisions
- Adds R.I. Gen. Laws chapter 31-3 a new section 31-3-61.1.
- The DMV administrator is authorized and directed to issue a special registration plate for Frank M. Brown, Jr.’s private passenger motor vehicle.
- The plate shall display the identification “Fire Chief Emeritus” and an appropriate identifying number.
- The plate shall be furnished without any additional registration charge for as long as Frank M. Brown, Jr. desires to retain it.
- Effective date: the act takes effect upon passage.

Who is affected
- Directly affected: Frank M. Brown, Jr., who is authorized to receive the specially designated plate.
- Administrative impact: the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles, which must produce and issue the plate and manage its records.
- No broad change to eligibility or rules for special plates generally; this is a single-individual, honorary authorization.

Procedural/timeline aspects
- Introduced March 26, 2025 (House Special Legislation, by request).
- According to the record provided, the measure was enacted and takes effect upon passage; the file lists an effective date of July 5, 2025 (“Effective without Governor’s signature”).

Fiscal and policy impact
- Fiscal impact is minimal: DMV will incur the routine cost of producing and issuing one plate; the statute waives any additional registration fee for the plate. No ongoing program expansion or policy change is created.
- Substantively the bill is honorary/commemorative and does not alter broader vehicle-registration policy or eligibility for other special plates.

Limitations/clarifications
- The text specifies issuance for the former chief’s private passenger vehicle; it does not address transferability, replacement on sale, or whether similar plates may be issued to others. Any such matters would be governed by existing DMV rules or would require additional legislation.