Rhode Island legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Rhode Island H7869: AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- SIZE, WEIGHT, AND LOAD LIMITS (Provides a series of updates to size, weight, and load regulations for commercial and specialized vehicles.)
Status: Signed into law, June 23, 2026
What the bill says
From the introduced text, February 27, 2026:
2026 -- H 7869 ======== LC005789 ======== STATEOFRHODEISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ ANACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- SIZE, WEIGHT, AND LOAD LIMITS Introduced By: Representative Megan L. Cotter Date Introduced: February 27, 2026 Referred To: House State Government & Elections (Dept. of Transportation) It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. Sections 31-25-2, 31-25-5, 31-25-13, 31-25-14, 31-25-16 and 31-25-21 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-25 entitled "Size, Weight, and Load Limits" are hereby amended to read as follows: 31-25-2. Vehicles exempt from limitations. (a) The provisions of this chapter governing size, weight, and load shall not apply to: (1) Road machinery when actively participating in work in an active work zone or crossing a highway within a work zone. This does not include travelling down a highway under their own power; (2) Farm vehicles, including and farm tractors, temporarily moved machinery, incidentally, operated upon a highway as defined in § 31-3-2(3), are exempt from § 31-25-3 maximum width, § 31-25-5 maximum length of single vehicle and load, and § 31-25-7 front and rear extensions of load up to fifteen feet (15'). Farm machinery and farm vehicles hauling non-divisible farm machinery, incidentally operated upon a highway as defined in § 31-3-2(3), are exempt from § 3125-13 axle load limit and …
Sponsors
- Megan Cotter (D, HD-039) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : Signed by Governor
- : Transmitted to Governor
- : Senate passed Sub A in concurrence
- : Placed on Senate Calendar
- : House passed Sub A
- : Placed on House Calendar
- : Committee recommends passage of Sub A
- : Proposed Substitute
- : Scheduled for consideration
- : Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Votes
- Senate Seq #556: (June 10, 2026): 34 yea, 4 nay, passed
- House Seq #347: PASSAGE (June 8, 2026): 68 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House Committee on State Government & Elections: Passage of Sub A (June 4, 2026): 10 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES
Common questions
- What is H7869?
- H7869 is a bill in the Rhode Island Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- SIZE, WEIGHT, AND LOAD LIMITS (Provides a series of updates to size, weight, and load regulations for commercial and specialized vehicles.).
- What is the status of H7869?
- Signed into law as of June 23, 2026. Latest action: Signed by Governor (June 23, 2026).
- Who sponsored H7869?
- Megan Cotter (D, HD-039).
- Where is the official record for H7869?
- On the Rhode Island Legislature website: http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7869A.pdf
Source: official Rhode Island record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.