The bill amends Chapter 17-9.1 of the General Laws regarding the registration of voters by introducing a new section that allows automatic voter registration for individuals applying for hunting or fishing licenses in Rhode Island. Under this provision, every person applying for a hunting or fishing license or a renewal of either license, who is or may be qualified to vote by the next general election, shall be registered to vote or given the opportunity to change their voting address simultaneously with their license application.

The Department of Environmental Management is responsible for providing assistance and instruction regarding the voter registration application, ensuring that the necessary forms are available, and transmitting completed voter registration applications to the central voter registration system within one business day of acceptance. The application will include the registrant's name, residence address, mailing address, date of birth, and signature, along with information about the penalties for submitting false voter registration and confidentiality regarding the decision to decline voter registration.

Individuals who complete the voter registration application while applying for a hunting or fishing license will be presumed registered as of the date of acceptance, pending verification by local boards. The bill also allows other state agencies that collect eligibility documents to implement similar automatic voter registration procedures. The provisions of this section will take effect 90 days after the Department of Environmental Management certifies that its computer system can meet the requirements outlined in the bill.