 |
|
5/8/2025
|
Senate passes Sen. Gu bill to waive fees for Bronze Star license plates
|
STATE HOUSE — The Senate today approved a bill from Sen. Victoria Gu to allow Rhode Island Bronze Star Medal recipients to apply for a special license plate without paying a registration fee or service charge.
“These license plates are a simple way for us to honor the heroes in our community,” said Senator Gu (D-Dist. 38, Westerly, Charlestown, South Kingstown). “Yet, as a constituent who is himself a Bronze Star Medal recipient brought to my attention, we can go further in honoring those who have served our country heroically by waiving the fees for these plates. This is a small token of our appreciation for their service that means a lot more than the monetary cost to the state.”
Under current law, Bronze Star Medal holders in Rhode Island can apply for a special license plate that honors them as a recipient of the medal. Upon their death, the plate is transferred to their surviving spouse. Senator Gu’s bill (2025-S 0076A) would remove all registration and transfer fees for these plates.
Massachusetts already waives these fees, and Rhode Island waives the same fees for Purple Heart plates.
The Bronze Star Medal is awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity in or with the military of the United States after December 6, 1941, distinguished himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States.
The bill now heads to the House for consideration, where Rep. Samuel A. Azzinaro (D-Dist. 37, Westerly), who chairs the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, has introduced companion legislation (2025-H 5049).
For more information, contact:
Tristan Grau, Publicist
State House Room B20
Providence, RI 02903
401.222.4935
|
|