Includes veterans 75 years or older with a combined service connected disability rating of 70% as eligible for disabled veterans license plates.

## Summary of the Bill

This bill would expand who qualifies for disabled veterans license plates in Rhode Island. Under current law, certain veterans with service-connected disabilities can get special license plates recognizing their status. This bill would add a new group to that list: veterans who are 75 years old or older and have a combined service-connected disability rating of 70% or higher.

A "service-connected disability rating" is a percentage assigned by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs that reflects how much a veteran's military service has affected their health or physical ability. Currently, the threshold for these special plates may require a higher disability rating. This bill would lower that bar specifically for older veterans, recognizing that aging combined with significant service-related disabilities creates additional challenges.

The bill would affect older Rhode Island veterans who have substantial but not necessarily total service-connected disabilities. Disabled veterans license plates can carry practical benefits, such as exemptions from certain fees or parking privileges, depending on state and local rules. The bill has been introduced in the Rhode Island House of Representatives and referred to the House Finance Committee for further review.