Listen to the article
Rhode Island Lawmakers Question Future of Mr. Potato Head License Plates as Hasbro Departs
Rhode Island motorists have proudly displayed Mr. Potato Head on specialty license plates for decades, but the iconic character’s future on state vehicles is now in jeopardy following Hasbro’s decision to relocate its headquarters to Boston.
Two Rhode Island lawmakers have introduced legislation that would end the state’s long-running Mr. Potato Head license plate program. The proposal, put forward earlier this month, would direct the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles to discontinue offering the specialty plate, which currently costs approximately $40, with half of those proceeds supporting the Rhode Island Community Food Bank.
Rep. Brian Newberry, a Republican from North Smithfield and one of the bill’s sponsors, defended the move, citing the economic implications of Hasbro’s departure.
“There is no reason we should be advertising their products on our license plates,” Newberry said in an email. “It may seem trivial compared to many other things but it’s a matter of self-respect.”
Newberry pointed to the “untold economic harm and loss of tax revenue” that Hasbro’s exit will cause the state. The toy manufacturing giant announced last year that it would end its nearly 70-year presence in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, relocating to Boston by the end of 2026.
The specialty plates, which were first issued in 2002 to commemorate Mr. Potato Head’s 50th anniversary, feature a small image of the character holding a sign for the Rhode Island Community Food Bank alongside the phrase “help end hunger” at the bottom of the plate.
For the food bank, the program has provided a steady, if modest, revenue stream over the years.
“The license plate started at a time when Mr. Potato Head was all over the state and was having a moment,” explained Kate MacDonald, spokesperson for the food bank. “And while it has tapered off over the years, it’s been a steady way for people to contribute.”
The organization has received nearly $60,000 through the program since its inception.
The proposal has drawn criticism from those concerned about its potential impact on food assistance programs. Lew Pryeor, who helps collect and distribute food donations to Rhode Islanders facing food insecurity, expressed concern about the bill.
“My concern is, any cuts into the food programs is gonna affect some people,” said Pryeor, who lives just north of Providence and regularly encounters people in need of food assistance. “For him to say that he doesn’t like the plates, well, that’s your prerogative. Don’t buy them. If it’s making money for the state, let it.”
Mr. Potato Head has been a cultural icon since the 1950s, when the original toy didn’t include a plastic potato. Instead, children had to supply their own vegetable to insert the eyes, nose, mustache, and other features. The toy made history as the first product ever advertised on television in 1952.
The following year, Hasbro introduced Mrs. Potato Head, later adding brother Spud, sister Yam, and various pets and accessories to the product line. The company eventually switched to a plastic potato body after new government regulations prohibited toys with sharp edges, and following complaints from parents about children playing with rotting vegetables.
The character gained renewed popularity with younger generations through its appearances in the “Toy Story” film franchise, cementing its place in American pop culture across multiple generations.
Hasbro has not yet publicly commented on the proposed legislation. As the bill works its way through Rhode Island’s legislative process, the future of the beloved spud on the state’s license plates remains uncertain.
Fact Checker
Verify the accuracy of this article using The Disinformation Commission analysis and real-time sources.
10 Comments
Ending the Mr. Potato Head license plate program does seem a bit petty, but I can understand the lawmakers’ desire to distance the state from a company that’s leaving. Still, it’s a shame to lose that quirky piece of Rhode Island culture.
The loss of Hasbro’s economic footprint in Rhode Island is certainly concerning, but discontinuing the Mr. Potato Head license plates feels like an overly simplistic response. Those plates have been a longstanding source of state pride and revenue for the food bank. Lawmakers should be focusing on more substantive ways to mitigate the fallout from Hasbro’s relocation.
This is an interesting development, but I’m not sure discontinuing the Mr. Potato Head license plates is the best way for Rhode Island to respond to Hasbro’s departure. The plates have been a longstanding source of state pride and revenue for the food bank. Lawmakers should be looking for more substantive ways to address the economic fallout.
This feels like a rather short-sighted move. While the Mr. Potato Head plates may not be a huge economic driver, they’ve been a longstanding source of state pride and revenue for the food bank. Discontinuing them won’t do much to address Hasbro’s departure.
I agree. Eliminating the license plates won’t change the fact that Hasbro is leaving Rhode Island. It seems like a symbolic gesture that won’t do much to help the state’s economic situation. Lawmakers should be focusing on more substantive ways to respond to the company’s relocation.
This is an interesting development. It’s understandable that Rhode Island would want to distance itself from Hasbro’s decision to move their headquarters to Boston. The Mr. Potato Head license plates must have been a point of state pride for a long time.
The loss of Hasbro’s economic footprint in Rhode Island is certainly concerning. Discontinuing the license plates may be a symbolic gesture, but it’s not going to offset the broader impact of the company’s relocation. I wonder what else the state is doing to mitigate the fallout.
That’s a good point. The license plate change is likely more about wounded pride than economic recovery. Rhode Island will need to take more substantial measures to address Hasbro’s departure and the associated tax revenue loss.
While I can understand the lawmakers’ desire to distance Rhode Island from Hasbro after their decision to relocate, ending the Mr. Potato Head license plate program seems like a largely symbolic gesture that won’t do much to address the broader economic impact of the company’s departure. It’s a shame to lose that unique piece of state culture.
The Mr. Potato Head license plates have been a quirky part of Rhode Island’s identity for decades. It’s understandable that lawmakers want to distance the state from Hasbro after their decision to move, but this feels like a shortsighted and ultimately petty move.