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6/10/2025
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Assembly passes Azzinaro and Gu’s bill to waive fees for Bronze Star license plates
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STATE HOUSE — The General Assembly today approved legislation from Rep. Samuel A. Azzinaro and 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.
Representative Azzinaro serves as the chair of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee and Senator Gu serves as the chair of the Senate Artificial Intelligence & Emerging Technologies Committee.
“Our state’s heroic veterans should not have to pay to receive the recognition that they rightfully deserve. This bill acknowledges the selfless and brave dedication that our Bronze Star recipients displayed on the battlefield while also keeping more of their hard-earned money in their pockets where it belongs,” said Chairman Azzinaro (D-Dist. 37, Westerly).
“These license plates are a simple way for us to honor the heroes in our community. 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,” said Chairwoman Gu (D-Dist. 38, Westerly, Charlestown, South Kingstown).
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. The bill (2025-H 5049A, 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 governor for consideration.
For more information, contact:
Andrew Caruolo, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401)222-6124
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