# Rhode Island S3002: AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- SIZE, WEIGHT, AND LOAD LIMITS . Rhode Island S3002, AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- SIZE, WEIGHT, AND LOAD LIMITS ., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Mark P. McKenney (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-06-23 (Signed by Governor — Chapter 297); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3002-2026 - As of: 2026-11-01 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Rhode Island S3002 - State: Rhode Island - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- SIZE, WEIGHT, AND LOAD LIMITS . - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-03-04 - Last action: 2026-06-23, Signed by Governor — Chapter 297 - Sponsor: Mark P. McKenney (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 4 (169 yes, 3 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 7 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Extra weight for natural gas trucks: benefit, low. Natural gas trucks may go over 82,000 pounds by the extra weight of the natural gas tank and fueling system compared with a similar diesel setup. The allowed extra is the difference between the two systems’ weights. - More roadway exemptions for farms: benefit, low. Farm machinery and farm vehicles used incidentally on a highway are exempt from many size and weight rules. This includes width, length, front and rear extensions up to 15 feet, axle loads, and some weight caps. Vehicles hauling fodder or forage for farming do not have to cover the load under the u… - Transit buses get route exemptions: benefit, low. The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority may run articulated buses on designated routes that are exempt from some length and axle‑weight rules. DOT can review these vehicles and routes to keep travel safe. - Higher overweight fines and axle rule: cost, high. DMV prints your vehicle’s registered gross weight on the registration card, and it is unlawful to exceed the registered, permitted, manufacturer, or bridge‑formula limits. Overweight fines are $100 per 1,000 pounds overweight for vehicles up to 10,000 pounds GVW, and $125 per 500 pounds overweight… - Truck size and weight limits set: cost, medium. The law sets a 45‑foot maximum length for any single vehicle, including bumpers. The fine is $200 for each foot, or part, over 45 feet. A single axle may not carry more than 22,400 pounds or the axle’s rated GAWR, whichever is lower. Tandem axles spaced 8 feet or less are capped at 36,000 pounds. O… - Work-zone machinery exemptions narrowed: cost, low. Road machinery keeps size and weight exemptions only while working inside an active work zone or crossing a highway within that zone. The exemption does not apply when the machinery is just traveling on the road under its own power. - Oversize permits, fees, and travel rules: mixed, medium. DOT issues special permits for non‑divisible loads; each single‑trip permit costs $40, and milk products count as non‑divisible. A $400 annual blanket permit covers intrastate non‑divisible construction equipment, boats, or marine assets under 130,000 pounds and avoids single‑trip fees. Blanket per… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Mark P. McKenney (Democratic), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-06-08 | House | MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES PASSAGE AS AMENDED IN CONCURRENCE | pass | 68 | 0 | | | 2026-05-14 | Senate | RELATING MOTOR & OTHER VEHICLES -- SIZE, WEIGHT, AND LOAD LIMITS Approval of Amendment | pass | 34 | 0 | | | 2026-05-14 | Senate | RELATING MOTOR & OTHER VEHICLES -- SIZE, WEIGHT, AND LOAD LIMITS Approval of Amendment | pass | 34 | 0 | | | 2026-05-14 | Senate | RELATING MOTOR & OTHER VEHICLES -- SIZE, WEIGHT, AND LOAD LIMITS Passage as Amended | pass | 33 | 3 | | ## Actions (14) - 2026-06-23: Signed by Governor — Chapter 297 (Governor) - 2026-06-18: Transmitted to Governor (Governor) - 2026-06-08: House passed as amended in concurrence (House) - 2026-06-05: Placed on House Calendar (06/08/2026) (House) - 2026-06-04: Committee recommends passage as amended in concurrence - 2026-05-29: Scheduled for consideration (06/04/2026) - 2026-05-15: Referred to House State Government & Elections (House) - 2026-05-14: Senate passed as amended (floor amendment) (Senate) - 2026-04-30: Placed on Senate Calendar (05/14/2026) (Senate) - 2026-04-29: Committee recommends passage - 2026-04-24: Scheduled for consideration (04/29/2026) - 2026-03-25: Committee recommended measure be held for further study - 2026-03-20: Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/25/2026) - 2026-03-04: Introduced, referred to Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs (Senate) ## Bill text - S3002 - As Amended, 2026-03-04: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S3002aa.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S3002aa.pdf) - S3002 - As Introduced, 2026-03-04: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S3002.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S3002.pdf) ## Related bills - S3047: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- DISTRICT COURT PRACTICE . (became law) - H8605: JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO PAY CERTAIN CLAIMS . (became law) - H8580: AN ACT RELATING TO THE NORTH TIVERTON FIRE DISTRICT . (became law) - H8586: AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHWAYS -- RHODE ISLAND TURNPIKE AND BRIDGE AUTHORITY . (became law) - H8525: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES . (became law) - H8506: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- RELATING TO CENTRAL FALLS PENSION PLAN . (became law) ## Sources - [S3002 - As Amended (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S3002aa.htm) - [S3002 - As Amended (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S3002aa.pdf) - [S3002 - As Introduced (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S3002.htm) - [S3002 - As Introduced (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S3002.pdf) ## Related - [S3047: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- DISTRIC…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3047-2026) - [H8605: JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO PAY CERTAIN CLAIMS .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8605-2026) - [H8580: AN ACT RELATING TO THE NORTH TIVERTON FIRE DISTRICT .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8580-2026) - [H8586: AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHWAYS -- RHODE ISLAND TURNPIKE AND BRIDGE AUTHORITY .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8586-2026) - [H8525: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8525-2026) - [H8506: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- RELATING TO CENTRAL FALLS PENSION PLAN .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8506-2026) - [Rhode Island bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/rhode-island/bills) - [Rhode Island state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/rhode-island) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3002-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).