Committee hears bill to authorize electronic vehicle titling and registration; vendor advocates pay-for-performance model

The House Committee on State Government and Elections heard testimony on House Bill 5458, which would establish a system for electronic registration and titling of motor vehicles and authorize rules to implement the new system to be promulgated by the state Division of Motor Vehicles.

Landon Lopez introduced the bill on behalf of Chairman Craven. Thomas Slater, head of strategic partnerships for Champ Titles, testified in favor of the measure and described Champ Titles as a software-as-a-service vendor that supports electronic lien and title systems in other states. Slater said the company has a pay-for-performance, transaction-fee funding model and that the proposal would come at “0 cost to the state of Rhode Island.” He said the system would reduce costs at dealerships and the DMV, speed transactions, reduce opportunities for fraud and improve customer service.

Slater also noted Champ Titles’ partnership with Tyler Technologies and thanked the DMV administrator for agency cooperation. Written testimony from the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles was submitted and is available on the committee website. During questioning, Speaker Pro Tem Kennedy said the DMV did not appear to oppose the bill apart from a request to make a regulation-authority provision discretionary (changing “shall” to “may”) because the bill is comprehensive; the committee recorded that there was no further opposition from the agency on the record.

The committee completed testimony for HB5458; no committee vote was recorded during the hearing. Committee materials indicate the DMV provided written testimony that was posted online.