Rhode Island Bill Seeks Expanded License Plate, Fee Waivers For Disabled Veterans

PROVIDENCE, RI — Legislation has been introduced to expand eligibility for disabled veterans to receive disabled veteran license plates and have their vehicle registration and license fees waived in Rhode Island.

Senate President Valarie J. Lawson and Rep. Jenni A. Furtado sponsored the bill.

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Rhode Island currently waives motor vehicle registration and license fees for veterans meeting specific criteria. These include veterans who have lost or lost the use of a hand, foot, or limb during wartime service, or those with a 100% service-connected disability rating from Veterans Affairs. Eligibility also covers veterans rated “individually unemployable” due to a service-connected disability or those who received a VA grant for a specially adapted vehicle.

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Lawson and Furtado indicate that these current definitions do not cover a sufficient number of veterans. The proposed bill would expand eligibility to veterans who are 75 years of age or older with a combined service-connected disability rating of 70% or higher. A 70% disability rating signifies a severe and substantial impact on a veteran’s daily life due to service-related conditions, often involving multiple issues.

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“The General Assembly has worked over the years to make Rhode Island more welcoming to veterans, including creating a series of special license plates and fee waivers relating to vehicle licensing," Lawson said in a media release.

“This legislative change was requested by the East Providence Veterans Advisory Committee, who rightfully point out that our current eligibility for disabled veterans leaves out many Rhode Islanders whose sacrifice deserves recognition,” Lawson said.

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“Many veterans who do not meet the current criteria for fee waivers and disabled veteran plates still face significant daily service-related hardships, especially as they age," Furtado said in the release.

“This bill will honor the spirit of the law by making sure we extend these benefits to deserving Rhode Island veterans," Furtado said.

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