State Government and Elections

Clarifies when mobile equipment can travel on a public highway as an incidentally permitted practice limited to the active participation in an active work zone.

This bill updates size, weight, and load regulations for commercial and specialized vehicles in Rhode Island. It clarifies exemptions for specific vehicle types, including road machinery in work zones, farm vehicles, articulated public transit buses, and emergency vehicles, while maintaining safety restrictions on weight-restricted infrastructure. The legislation also adjusts maximum vehicle lengths and axle load limits, with corresponding fines for violations, and ensures that vehicles registered for specific weights cannot exceed those limits.

Requires the board of elections to establish a secure area for the public observation of mail ballot processing and require the mail ballot voter’s signature be compared to the signature on file within the state central voter registration system.

Clarifies when mobile equipment can travel on a public highway as an incidentally permitted practice limited to the active participation in an active work zone.

Authorizes the department of environmental management to enter into leases of up to forty (40) years at State Pier #9 in Newport, Chase Marina in Tiverton, and all other ports and marine facilities owned and operated by the department.