Transportation (Public Transit)

HB 7869 amends vehicle size, weight, and load regulations in Rhode Island, primarily updating exemptions for specific vehicle types. It adds exemptions for Rhode Island public transit articulated buses (allowing greater length/weight on designated routes), clarifies natural gas vehicle weight allowances (accounting for fuel system differences), and refines exemptions for farm vehicles, emergency vehicles, and covered tow trucks. The bill directly affects commercial truck operators, transit authorities, farmers, and emergency services by modifying which vehicles are exempt from standard weight and size limits. These changes clarify existing rules without creating new restrictions, focusing on practical operational allowances for designated vehicle classes.

HB 7671 amends Rhode Island's vehicle size, weight, and load regulations to update existing rules for commercial and specialized vehicles. It increases the maximum length for most vehicles from 40 feet to 45 feet, adds specific exemptions for natural gas vehicles (accounting for fuel system weight differences), and clarifies exemptions for articulated public transit buses, farm equipment, and emergency vehicles. The bill also updates penalty structures, including $200 per foot for overlength violations and $125 per 100 pounds overweight for axle or bridge weight limits. These changes directly affect commercial truck drivers, farmers transporting equipment, public transit operators, and emergency services. The amendments maintain existing safety standards while adjusting technical parameters for modern vehicle types.

SB 2392 requires school departments to make GPS data about the real-time location and speed of school buses available electronically to parents or guardians of students transported by those buses. This directly affects families whose children ride school buses, allowing them to track bus movements during transportation. The bill mandates that all new school buses (starting July 1, 2027) and all school buses (by July 1, 2032) must include this GPS data capability alongside video monitoring systems. The law ensures this data access complies with privacy laws and does not interfere with law enforcement.

SB 2028 imposes a tiered sales tax on digital advertising services sold within Rhode Island, affecting large digital advertising companies based on their global revenue (2.5% for $100M-$1B revenue, 5% for $1B-$5B, 7.5% for $5B-$15B). The tax revenue will be distributed annually to specific state funds: 10% to public transit (RIPTA), 15% to climate resiliency, 5% to university research, 20% to housing, 10% to school lunches, 20% to municipal resilience, and 20% to the general fund. The tax applies to purchases of digital ads within Rhode Island and takes effect on July 1, 2026. It does not allow companies to add the tax as a separate fee on customer invoices but requires clear disclosure of the amount.

Enables the Rhode Island public transit authority (RIPTA) to work with the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) to allow commuter rail passes to be used as dual passes for both RIPTA and MBTA.