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6/8/2026
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Assembly approves legislation to provide special license plates for vehicles adapted for those with disabilities
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STATE HOUSE — The General Assembly today passed legislation from Sen. Lori Urso and Rep. Earl A. Read III to create special license plates for disabled individuals whose vehicles are modified to accommodate their disability.
These plates created by this legislation (2026-S 2178A, 2026-H 7308A) will allow these vehicles to park in designated accessible loading zones and parking places and would provide exemptions from certain vehicle dimension restrictions that apply to non-modified vehicles.
“Think for a moment, as a person with full use of your body, of the inconvenience of dropping something between your car seat and console, the process of retrieving it which often involves first trying to reach into the crevice, then getting out of your vehicle and reaching under the seat from the front, often followed by reaching under the back of your seat through the back door,” suggested Senator Urso (D-Dist. 8, Pawtucket). “Now imagine that same burden when faced by a driver with physical mobility issues. It is important that we put ourselves in their shoes, and understand that these mere inconveniences for us can be near impossibilities for them. Temporary placards are inconvenient, easily lost or stolen. For those with a permanent disability who require an adaptive vehicle, there should be a permanent solution.”
An adaptive vehicle is one that has been modified with specialized equipment, such as ramps, lifts, lowered floors, hand controls and restraint systems to accommodate the needs of a person with significant mobility impairment.
“When it comes to accessibility, we should listen to the expertise of the disabled community, who have brought to our attention some shortcomings of our accessible placard system for owners of adaptive vehicles,” said Representative Read (D-Dist. 26, Coventry, West Warwick, Warwick). “First, a placard is one more thing for a permanently disabled individual to have to worry about and keep track of when parking. And for adaptive vehicles, which are often extensively modified to fit the mobility challenges of a specific individual, it makes more sense for the designation to follow the vehicle, not the person, who likely cannot use a stock vehicle. This bill makes a small change that will improve the quality of life of many Rhode Islanders.”
Tina Guenette, founder and CEO of Real Access Motivates Progress (RAMP), knows firsthand the impact this legislation will have for members of the disabled community.
“When you register a truck in Rhode Island, you automatically receive a commercial plate, so why shouldn’t you also receive an adaptive plate when you register an adaptive vehicle?” said Guenette. “The current accessible placards are good for people who move between vehicles, but for someone like me who needs a vehicle with extensive adaptations to my disability, I can only travel in my van. Placards get lost or stolen and sometimes end up in the wrong hands. These plates will provide extra protection and accessibility for those of us in adaptive vehicles.”
The extreme weather and snowfall last winter pointed to another advantage of plates over placards: visibility.
“Plates, unlike placards, are visible from the front and the back, an advantage highlighted by the many large piles of snow across the state this winter that block visibility of the windshield of parked cars,” said Guenette.
The legislation now goes to the governor for his consideration.
For more information, contact:
Tristan Grau, Publicist
State House Room B20
Providence, RI 02903
401.222.4935
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