This bill authorizes the creation of special license plates for vehicles associated with the Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub, a not-for-profit organization. To obtain these plates, vehicle owners must pay a standard registration fee plus a $40 issuance surcharge and a $10 renewal fee. The collected funds are split between the state's general fund and the organization, which must use its portion to support its mission of transporting WWII and Korean War veterans to Washington, D.C. memorials. The bill also requires the organization to submit annual financial reports and mandates that any Rhode Island-sourced funds be used for local charitable causes.
HB 7675 establishes a $2-per-ton surcharge on solid waste disposal (paid by waste haulers and landfill operators) to fund composting initiatives. The revenue flows into a dedicated "Compost Fund," which supports three grant programs: competitive grants for composting projects, municipal waste diversion grants (available only to towns that opt-in), and infrastructure development. The bill directly affects waste disposal entities and municipalities, aiming to reduce landfill use by incentivizing organic waste diversion. Key provisions include quarterly surcharge collection starting in 2027, annual adjustments tied to inflation or a 20% increase, and requiring funds to stay within the Compost Fund rather than returning to the general state budget.
Authorizes the collection of a small additional fee, in addition to the registration fee paid by motorboat owners, to be deposited in a restricted account, in order to fund the newly established freshwater lake management program.
Establishes a fund and the operations necessary for a hotline for suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis management. Also instates a monthly surcharge on telephone lines to fund the 988 call center.
HB 8133 imposes a new fee of $0.01 for every 10,000 gallons of treated wastewater discharged by facilities. It directly affects municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants that release effluent into waterways. The bill establishes this specific fee structure to generate revenue for fish and wildlife conservation programs. This is a direct financial obligation on wastewater operators, not a regulatory change to discharge standards. The fee applies to all eligible discharges under the bill's definition.
Imposes a seventy-five cent (0.75) surcharge on fares charged by rideshare companies as well as an account to benefit RIPTA from the payment of sales taxes collected from rideshares.
SB 2020 creates the Rhode Island Fire Services Training Fund within the Department of Public Safety to support statewide fire service training. It requires all property and casualty insurance companies in Rhode Island to pay a 0.25% annual assessment on the prior year’s premiums for specific policies (like homeowners, commercial property, and inland marine insurance), starting January 1, 2028. The fund will directly support the Rhode Island Fire Academy, recruit training, hazardous materials programs, equipment, and municipal training grants, with unspent funds remaining in the dedicated fund. The assessment is separate from other fees and cannot be passed to policyholders as a surcharge.
HB 7038 establishes a uniform $70 fee for most routine court documents, including writs, citations, and subpoenas not specifically listed in existing fee schedules. This change directly affects sheriffs, sergeants, and constables who serve these documents, replacing variable fees with a set rate for unspecified cases. The bill standardizes fees to ensure a minimum $70 charge for these services, with all collected fees deposited as general revenue.
