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HB 8388

AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- REGULATION OF RENTAL OF MOTORIZED BICYCLES, MOTOR SCOOTERS AND MOTORIZED TRICYCLES IN NEW SHOREHAM

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Tina Spears

New Shoreham may license and regulate motorized rental fleets, capping licenses and vehicles per operator, requiring annual inspections and fees up to $40 per vehicle.

04/29/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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Bill Summary · HB 8388

Summary of Bill HB 8388 (Rhode Island, 2026)

Title

AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- REGULATION OF RENTAL OF MOTORIZED BICYCLES, MOTOR SCOOTERS AND MOTORIZED TRICYCLES IN NEW SHOREHAM

Purpose and Intent

  • To authorize the town council of New Shoreham to regulate the rental of motorized bicycles, motor scooters, and motorized tricycles within the town.
  • To establish specific licensing, operational, inspection, and capacity rules for rental operators.
  • To cap the number of licenses and the number of rentable vehicles per license, with a mechanism to reduce licensing capacity as licenses are surrendered, expire, are revoked, or retire.

Key Provisions

Section 31-19.3-5 (Ordinances) – New Shoreham Authorities

  • The New Shoreham town council may enact reasonable ordinances to license, supervise, regulate, and control the rental of motorized bicycles, motor scooters, and motorized tricycles.

License Fees and Capacity

  • Fees: Ordinances may set a license issuance or renewal fee not to exceed $40 per motorized bicycle, motor scooter, or motorized tricycle.
  • Maximum licenses: The council may establish a maximum number of licenses (subject to adjustments under subsection d).
  • Vehicle cap per license: A license may allow renting up to a maximum of 34 motorized bicycles, motor scooters, and/or motorized tricycles.
  • Operator licensing: No rental operation may rent or lease without a valid license under Rhode Island law (§ 31-10-1) or a similar license from another state.

Operating Hours and Vehicle Inspections

  • Operating hours: The ordinance may establish hours during which rentals may occur.
  • Annual inspections: All rental vehicles must pass an annual inspection and receive a certificate from a certified state inspection facility confirming the vehicle passed inspection.
  • Inspection administration: Inspections are to be conducted at agencies created and governed by rules/regulations promulgated by the Rhode Island Department of Revenue.

License Caps and Reduction

  • Initial cap: Not more than five licenses may be granted for the rental of motorized bicycles, motor scooters, and/or motorized tricycles (subject to adjustment under subsection d).
  • Reduction mechanism: When a license is voluntarily surrendered, expires without renewal, is revoked, or otherwise retired, the maximum number of licenses decreases permanently by one.

Effective Date

  • The act takes effect upon passage.

Who Is Affected

  • Operators and license holders engaged in the rental of motorized bicycles, motor scooters, and motorized tricycles in New Shoreham.
  • The New Shoreham town government (as the regulator) and motor vehicle inspection facilities designated by the state.
  • Consumers/renters in New Shoreham who use rental motorized vehicles, subject to the town’s licensing and inspection requirements.

Procedural/Timeline Aspects

  • Introduced: April 1, 2026
  • Referred to: House Municipal Government & Housing
  • Committee action: April 29, 2026 — Committee recommended measure be held for further study
  • Regulatory framework would be enacted through local ordinances, with state-moverned inspection standards for vehicles and a continuing reduction mechanism for licenses as licenses come open through surrender, expiration, revocation, or retirement.

Notes

  • The bill grants New Shoreham explicit authority to set a strict cap on both per-operator fleet size (up to 34 vehicles) and total licenses (initially up to 5), with a built-in mechanism to shrink capacity over time as licenses are surrendered or lapse.
  • Fees are capped at $40 per vehicle for licensing.
  • A critical compliance element is annual vehicle inspections and state-recognized inspection certificates.

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

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