Mr. Potato Head, a toy first released in 1952 by Hasbro, made its mark on the Rhode Island license plate over 20 years ago. But a new proposal presented by Rep. Brian Newberry (R-Burrillville, North Smithfield) and Rep. Thomas Noret (D-Coventry, West Warwick) seeks to stop the sale of the specially-designed license plate.
The Jan. 14 proposal follows Hasbro’s September announcement to move their Pawtucket headquarters to the Seaport District in Boston.
The plate — which was first created to celebrate the toy’s 50th anniversary — costs Rhode Islanders $40 to purchase and half of the proceeds go to the Rhode Island Food Bank. According to the Associated Press, the food bank has received nearly $60,000 from the plate.
“There is no reason we should be advertising (Hasbro’s) products on our license plates,” Newberry wrote in an email to The Herald.
Newberry added that Hasbro’s departure will have a long-term economic impact on the state. The company “abandoned” Rhode Island and, in doing so, will cause the state “untold economic harm and loss of tax revenue,” he wrote.
“It may seem trivial compared to many other things, but it’s a matter of self-respect,” Newberry said. “‘Honoring’ a company that just abandoned the state is sort of like honoring a philandering partner.”
Hasbro did not respond to a request for comment.
As of Dec. 2025, the specialty license plate had 765 active registrations, according to Paul Grimaldi, a spokesperson for the Department of Revenue.
Rep. Karen Alzate (D-Pawtucket, Central Falls) wrote in an email to the Herald that she does not support the legislation. The plates hold “historic value,” Alzate wrote. Hasbro has “given so much to R.I. in their 100-year history here,” she wrote, noting that the company has stated it will continue to support Providence’s Hasbro Children’s Hospital.
She also pointed to the benefit the license plate provides to the food bank.
“We are grateful for the funds that the Mr. Potato Head license plate initiative has generated,” wrote Melissa Cherney, CEO of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, in a statement to the Herald.
According to Cherney, Rhode Island saw “historic highs” in requests for emergency food assistance in 2025 due to the federal government shutdown and federal budget cuts. The need for assistance will be “greater than ever moving forward,” she wrote.
More than 102,000 Rhode Islanders were food-insecure in November 2025, the organization’s highest-recorded number.
“Every source of support for the Rhode Island Community Food Bank … matters,” Cherney wrote. She added that the food bank will continue conversations with “key stakeholders” to pursue new opportunities to “maintain (the license plate as a) source of revenue.”
Newberry wrote that he would be willing to work with the food bank on a replacement plate that will “generate the same and likely more revenue.”
“There are plenty of other worthwhile things we can honor instead” of Hasbro, Newberry wrote.
The House Special Legislation Committee recommended the bill be held for further study on Jan. 20.
Laila Posner is a senior staff writer covering business and development.
