Rhode Island Lawmakers Seek to Remove Mr. Potato Head from Specialty Licence Plates
In a move reflecting shifting economic loyalties, Rhode Island legislators are pushing to eliminate Mr. Potato Head from the state's specialty number plates. This initiative comes directly in response to toy manufacturing giant Hasbro's decision to relocate its headquarters from Pawtucket, Rhode Island, to Boston, Massachusetts, by the end of 2026.
Legislative Action Follows Corporate Departure
The proposed legislation, filed earlier this month by Republican Representative Brian Newberry of North Smithfield, would instruct the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles to cease offering the iconic character as an option on its specialty plates. Representative Newberry has framed the bill as a matter of state dignity and economic pragmatism in light of Hasbro's impending exit.
"There is no reason we should be advertising their products on our license plates," Newberry stated via email. "It may seem trivial compared to many other things, but it's a matter of self-respect." He further cited the "untold economic harm and loss of tax revenue" that the company's departure is expected to inflict upon the smallest U.S. state.
Charitable Legacy of the Plates Faces Uncertainty
Currently, the Mr. Potato Head specialty plate costs motorists approximately $40. A significant portion of this fee, roughly half, has been directed to support the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. Since the plates were first issued in 2002 to mark the toy's 50th anniversary, the initiative has generated nearly $60,000 for the charitable organisation.
The plate design features a small image of Mr. Potato Head holding a sign for the food bank alongside the slogan "help end hunger." Kate MacDonald, a spokesperson for the food bank, acknowledged the programme's evolving impact. "The license plate started at a time when Mr. Potato Head was all over the state and was having a moment," she noted. "And while it has tapered off over the years, it's been a steady way for people to contribute."
End of an Era for Hasbro in Rhode Island
Hasbro's announced relocation concludes nearly seven decades of operation within Rhode Island. The company, which also owns globally recognised brands such as Monopoly and My Little Pony, confirmed the move to Boston last year. The Mr. Potato Head character itself, created in 1952, was originally a set of facial features that children attached to real vegetables before Hasbro acquired the brand and introduced the now-familiar plastic potato body.
The legislative proposal marks a symbolic severing of ties, as the state grapples with the practical and sentimental repercussions of losing a major corporate citizen. The future of the charitable revenue stream from the plates now hangs in the balance as lawmakers deliberate the bill's passage.
