2026 Regular Session

Establishes the Rhode Island center for employee ownership to facilitate businesses in transitioning to an employee-owned business model.

Sponsor: Frank Ciccone

Provides a series of updates to size, weight, and load regulations for commercial and specialized vehicles.

Sponsor: Mark McKenney

Includes veterans 75 years or older with a combined service connected disability rating of 70% as eligible for disabled veterans license plates.

Sponsor: Valarie Lawson

Authorizes temporary periods for extended service hours under existing liquor licenses for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Tournament, subject to limitations or opt out by a municipality via council resolution.

Sponsor: Matthew LaMountain

Removes the fee for registration and plate transfer for a Distinguished Service Cross registration plate.

Sponsor: Walter Felag

Extends teacher certifications without fee or penalty for three (3) or five (5) years for teachers who hold certifications as of July 1, 2026.

Sponsor: Jonathon Acosta

Allows the dependents of a national guard member, who is in good standing, to be eligible for tuition assistance.

Sponsor: Todd Patalano

Amends the Consumer PFAS Ban Act of 2024 by clarifying enforcement provisions.

Sponsor: Walter Felag

Includes veterans 75 years or older with a combined service connected disability rating of 70% as eligible for disabled veterans license plates.

Sponsor: Jenni Azanero Furtado

Authorizes the use of campaign funds for security related expenses, including home and office security systems and ongoing monitoring, in response to threats arising from their public service or candidacy.

Sponsor: Hanna Gallo

JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $1,000,000 TO 401 TECH BRIDGE TO STUDY AND EXPLORE SEAGLIDERS IN RHODE ISLAND (Makes an appropriation of $1,000,000 to 401 Tech Bridge to study and explore seagliders.)

Sponsor: Alex Finkelman

Establishes the office of inspector general as an independent administrative agency charged with the responsibility to investigate, detect, and prevent fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in the expenditure of public funds.

Sponsor: George Nardone

Authorizes the town of Scituate to issue a total of three (3) Class A liquor licenses.

Sponsor: Gordon Rogers

Establishes the Rhode Island Fire Services Training Fund.

Sponsor: Stephen Casey

Amends how architecture firms and individual architects are registered.

Sponsor: Hanna Gallo

Provides that the legislature would be the body that negotiates on behalf of the state for all activities occurring in, on and over state submerged land extending beyond twenty-five (25) acres.

Sponsor: Susan Sosnowski

Creates rodent integrated pest management pilot programs for municipalities that choose to participate. Reports to be approved by the municipality's mayor or administrator and submitted to the department of environmental management.

Sponsor: Melissa Murray

Establishes an equivalent training certification program at the municipal police academy.

Sponsor: Gordon Rogers

Authorizes temporary periods for extended service hours under existing liquor licenses for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Tournament, subject to limitations or opt out by a municipality via council resolution.

Sponsor: Joshua Giraldo

Updates the state’s public accountancy act for consistency with the 9th edition of the Uniform Accountancy Act, as issued by NASBA and AICPA in July 2025.

Sponsor: Robert Britto

Requires a direct-to-consumer genetic testing company, as defined, to provide a consumer with certain information regarding the company’s policies and procedures regarding use of genetic data.

Sponsor: Samuel Zurier

Updates the description of the early intervention program and the agency responsible for the program under Part C of the federal Individuals with disabilities education act.

Sponsor: Bridget Valverde

Changes tax exemptions to tax credits in the city of Cranston.

Sponsor: Joseph McNamara

Details each of those limited emergency circumstances where a registered nurse and advanced practice registered nurses, may safely administer anesthesia such as critical life-saving or emergency situations where there is imminent threat to life or limb.

Sponsor: Frank Ciccone

Expands the benefit definitions to include a grandchild and care recipient and increases benefits period to 10 weeks for 2027 and 12 weeks for 2028 and provides a TDI/TCI opt-in option for self-employed workers.

Sponsor: Valarie Lawson

Establishes certain presumptions pertaining to early childhood education programs operating in RIDE-certified school buildings.

Sponsor: David Tikoian

Allows for the issuance of a Class BV license for the property located at 1706 Mineral Spring Avenue in the town of North Providence.

Sponsor: Stefano Famiglietti

Permits retired superior court magistrates to be assigned to perform service pursuant to §§ 8-2-11.1, 8-2-39, 8-2-39.1 or 8-2-39.2 and be reemployed by the superior court without any forfeiture or reduction of any retirement benefits.

Sponsor: Joseph Solomon

Allows municipalities participating in the state prekindergarten program to accept students from outside the municipality under certain conditions and establishes a lottery for enrollment in the program.

Sponsor: Jonathon Acosta

Exempts certain urban and small farmers from sales taxes, real, tangible and personal property taxes and income taxes. This act would also define urban and small farmers and urban farmland.

Sponsor: Michelle McGaw

Establishes guidelines, rules and regulations for the implementation and expansion of prekindergarten education programs for children ages 3-4 to increase children’s school readiness statewide.

Sponsor: Hanna Gallo

Exempts from taxation the real and tangible personal property of Amos House, provided it remains a qualified tax-exempt corporation pursuant to § 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code.

Sponsor: Julie Casimiro

Allows customers to directly take single-use plastic straws from single straw dispensers at food service establishments.

Sponsor: Andrew Dimitri

Increases historic tax credit to 30%, and up to 35%, depending on the amount of rental area available for multi-family housing, affordable rental units and units sold as affordable housing.

Sponsor: June Speakman

AUTHORIZING THE TOWN OF JAMESTOWN TO FUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS AND TO ISSUE NOT MORE THAN $3,000,000 BONDS AND NOTES THEREFOR

Sponsor: Alex Finkelman

Permits dealers without a distributor's license to resell cigars, and ultra premium pipe tobacco, excluding pipe tobacco intended for cigarettes, to other dealers.

Sponsor: Thomas Noret

Enables students enrolled in certain career and technical education programs to take firefighter exams upon completion of their program.

Sponsor: Gordon Rogers

Establishes a fund within the department of health to support the operation and expansion of women’s, maternal, and infant health and birthing services at Newport Hospital.

Sponsor: Lauren Carson

Exempts certain cookware that contains perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS that are authorized by the FDA for food contact for consumer goods from the provision of the consumer PFAS ban act of 2024.

Sponsor: Louis Dipalma

Utility relocation costs related to highway construction to be partially or fully paid for by the state.

Sponsor: Michelle McGaw

Allows for the issuance of a Class BV license for the property located at 1706 Mineral Spring Avenue in the town of North Providence.

Sponsor: Arthur Corvese

Allows the holder of a manufacturer’s license to sell one-sixth of a barrel keg or any otherwise permitted vessel containing no more than the amount of malt beverage allowed.

Sponsor: Walter Felag

Limits mortgage prepayment rules to mortgages on owner-occupied properties with one to four dwelling units.

Sponsor: Robert Britto

Prohibits restrictive covenants related to grocery stores.

Sponsor: Melissa Murray

Establishes the Plastic Waste Conversion Facility Act.

Sponsor: Linda Ujifusa

Authorizes municipalities to transfer, apply or provide doe an applicable prorate veteran’s property exemption for the remainder of the tax year when a veteran sells property and purchases another property.

Sponsor: Samuel Azzinaro

Clarifies the role of a corporation electing to be governed as a workers' cooperative to allow it to operate as a hiring hall under certain circumstances.

Sponsor: Jonathon Acosta

Amends the state building code and would require that the state adopt the 2024 International Residential Code and prohibit the state building committee from adopting amendments for one to four residential dwelling units until 2030.

Sponsor: June Speakman

Removes the licensing exemption for a lender that originates less than six (6) loans in twelve (12) consecutive months.

Sponsor: Leonidas Raptakis

Establishes a seven (7) member public-private partnership infrastructure oversight commission to approve all requests for proposals submitted for public-private partnership construction of qualified facilities.

Sponsor: Louis Dipalma

Establishes the state-funded rental subsidy program.

Sponsor: Scott Slater

Permits a nurse who has the appropriate knowledge, credentials and clinical competency, to provide home services foot care, which includes routine foot and nail care, as well as implementing a plan of care that includes hygiene and fingernails.

Sponsor: Lori Urso

Requires the general assembly to cap expenditures based on a five (5) year increase in personal income or the annual rate of inflation based on the consumer price index.

Sponsor: George Nardone

Requires that before any fire fighter or police officer is eligible to receive benefits for illness or injury sustained off duty, they prove they had reasonable grounds to believe that an emergency existed that required immediate need of their assistance.

Sponsor: Earl Read

Establishes the Rhode Island Special Deposits Act to be governed by an account agreement between the bank and the depositor or its beneficiary.

Sponsor: Mark McKenney

Changes the term of drug court to recovery court.

Sponsor: Julie Casimiro

Requires annual inspections of those assisted living residences which contain units licensed to treat residents with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.

Sponsor: Pamela Lauria

Annually allocate thirty thousand dollars to the Rhode Island Holocaust and Genocide Education commission.

Sponsor: Katherine Kazarian

Provides that no train or light engine would be used in connection with the movement of freight could be operated unless it had a crew consisting of at least 2 persons, would also include the imposition of fines upon a company for violation of the act.

Sponsor: Matthew Dawson

Raises the percentage from eighty percent (80%) to eighty-five percent (85%) regarding declaring a vehicle a total loss.

Sponsor: Jacquelyn Baginski

Establishes a statewide "healthy school meals for all" universal school breakfast and lunch program in Rhode Island public schools phased in over 3 years.

Sponsor: Justine Caldwell

AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF CENTRAL FALLS TO FINANCE THE CONSTRUCTION, RENOVATION, IMPROVEMENT, ALTERATION, REPAIR, FURNISHING AND EQUIPPING OF SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL FACILITIES IN THE CITY BY THE ISSUANCE OF NOT MORE THAN $25,000,000 BONDS, NOTES AND/OR OTHER EVIDENCES OF INDEBTEDNESS THEREFOR

Sponsor: Joshua Giraldo

Allows a lender to charge an origination fee, increase interest rates and collect a monthly service fee, on loans up to three hundred dollars ($300) but not exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000).

Sponsor: Robert Britto

JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $991,000 FOR THE TOWN OF MIDDLETOWN (Authorizes the appropriation of the sum of $991,000 for the town of Middletown to upgrade the gymnasium at the new Middletown middle high school to serve a regional emergency shelter.)

Sponsor: Alex Finkelman

Authorizes the town of Jamestown to authorize, by ordinance, the expansion of the local tax exemption ordinance for seniors.

Sponsor: Alex Finkelman

Requires public auctions by any city or town of real estate or an interest therein to only be done in person and not by electronic or remote procedures unless authorized by court order.

Sponsor: Jacquelyn Baginski

Establishes the Super Speeder Accountability Act to be used as a sentencing option or enhancement for drivers charged with certain driving violations.

Sponsor: Julie Casimiro

JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF STATE EDUCATION AID TO THE TOWN OF RICHMOND IN THE AMOUNT OF $331,064 (Authorizes the appropriation of the sum of $331,064 to the Town of Richmond, for education aid.)

Sponsor: Megan Cotter

Applies to electric generating facilities generating electricity on/after 1/1/25 regarding sale/transmission of electricity/facility restructing/last-resort service.

Sponsor: Patricia Serpa

Extends certain protocols applicable to motor vehicle manufacturers to their distributors and factory branches, as well as updates warranty reimbursement and recall obligation policies.

Sponsor: Patricia Serpa

Requires any person in the business of selling, assigning or buying an equitable interest in real estate without taking legal title to such property, to be licensed as a real estate broker or salesperson and to comply with the disclosure requirements.

Sponsor: Anthony DeSimone

JOINT RESOLUTION AMENDING THE JOINT RESOLUTION CREATING A PERMANENT LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION ON CHILD CARE IN RHODE ISLAND (Amends the membership of the permanent legislative commission on child care with twenty-seven (27) members to ensure that the state has high quality and affordable childcare and early learning services network.)

Sponsor: Grace Diaz

Provides for a single, increased range of penalties for all driving offenses which result in serious bodily injury or death.

Sponsor: Patricia Serpa

Enables the town of Portsmouth to adopt, repeal, or modify their tax classification plan for any tax year on and after December 31, 2026.

Sponsor: Michelle McGaw

Restores law enforcement discretion, allowing officers to issue a verbal warning when appropriate or pursue misdemeanor or felony charges in more egregious cases where a child is left unattended in a motor vehicle.

Sponsor: Matthew Dawson

Provides amendments to the assessment of filing fees required to appeal from certain matters adjudicated by the district court.

Sponsor: Susan Donovan

Allows for sending of the notice under power of sale and rights of active military servicemembers by USPS First Class Mail and/or an overnight delivery service, instead of by USPS certified mail return receipt requested.

Sponsor: Matthew Dawson

Removes funding requirement from department of elementary and secondary education.

Sponsor: Stephen Casey

Enables the town of Portsmouth to adopt, repeal, or modify their tax classification plan for any tax year on and after December 31, 2026.

Sponsor: Linda Ujifusa

Authorizes the town of Middletown to adopt by ordinance, a veterans’ property tax exemption to any veteran, who was honorably discharged, or discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, regardless of dates or periods of service.

Sponsor: Terri-Denise Cortvriend

Authorizes the town of Middletown to adopt by ordinance, a veterans’ property tax exemption to any veteran, who was honorably discharged, or discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, regardless of dates or periods of service.

Sponsor: Louis Dipalma

Defines "military-connected student" and permits military-connected students to enroll by remote registration upon presentation of military orders confirming the parent or guardian be stationed in this state during the current or following school year.

Sponsor: Samuel Azzinaro

Increases the time that mortgage foreclosure notices are required to be provided to active military service members, from nine (9) months to one year, after completion of their active duty.

Sponsor: Matthew Dawson

Provides that every gas distribution company that charges for the distribution of would need to include certain information on any bill or statement provided to the consumer.

Sponsor: Raymond Hull

Creates an exemption from property taxes in the amount of $5,000 for any veteran of the military or naval service of the United States who is to be totally disabled through a service-connected disability in the town of Exeter.

Sponsor: Megan Cotter

Applies to electric generating facilities generating electricity on/after 1/1/25 regarding sale/transmission of electricity/facility restructing/last-resort service.

Sponsor: David Tikoian

Exempts from taxation the property of the nonprofit Mount St. Rita Health Centre located in Cumberland, RI. The exemption would be effective as of December 31, 2025.

Sponsor: Alex Marszalkowski

Authorizes judges to issue electronic warrants for DUI offenses under certain conditions.

Sponsor: Thomas Noret

Requires condominium associations to conduct structural surveys and reserve studies, fund reserves at 15%, and plan for repairs.

Sponsor: Mark McKenney

SENATE RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING APRIL 28, 2026, TO BE "ARTS DAY IN RHODE ISLAND"

Sponsor: Hanna Gallo

Amends existing expungement laws to be consistent with the new 10-year lookback period required for DUI charges.

Sponsor: Patricia Serpa

HOUSE RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE VITAL ROLE OF INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY PHARMACIES IN RHODE ISLAND

Sponsor: Rebecca Kislak

SENATE RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING THE CAROLINA VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT ON RECEIVING THE RICHMOND GRANGE'S COMMUNITY SERVICE GROUP OF THE YEAR AWARD

Sponsor: Susan Sosnowski

Imposes a moratorium on the issuance of new home care provider, home nursing care provider and hospice provider licenses prior to 7/1/2031, and provides for health systems planning specific to these provider licenses during the moratorium by the DOH.

Sponsor: Mark McKenney

SENATE RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING APRIL OF 2026, TO BE "PARKINSON'S AWARENESS MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Sponsor: Jessica de la Cruz

Submits the state's 2026 capital development program relating to green bonds requesting the issuance of general obligation bonds totaling $60,000,000 for approval of the electorate at the general election to be held in November, 2026.

Sponsor: Louis Dipalma

JOINT RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY SAFE STAFFING RATIOS IN HOSPITALS (Creates a 15-member joint commission to study and provide recommendations regarding safe staffing ratios in hospitals, and who would report back to the General Assembly by September 1, 2027, and expire on January 30, 2028.)

Sponsor: Melissa Murray

Establishes the Property Equity Protection Act to protect property owners from losing their equity when their property is seized to pay a debt to the government by allowing ample time to pay off the debt and adequate notice of due process.

Sponsor: Jessica de la Cruz

Establishes the Permanent Joint Study Commission on Aging and Multi-Sector Plan on Aging.

Sponsor: Lauren Carson

Allows a tenant with a disability who needs a service animal or an emotional support animal to house the animal on the rented premises.

Sponsor: Hanna Gallo

Proposes a bond measure authorizing the State of Rhode Island to issue up to $100,000,000 in general obligation bonds, subject to voter approval, to fund coastal preparedness and resilience projects.

Sponsor: Louis Dipalma

Clarifies that a magistrate or sentencing judge sitting in a court with jurisdiction over alcohol-related offenses shall, upon request, immediately grant a conditional hardship license after imposing a ninety (90) day hardship loss of license.

Sponsor: Brandon Potter

Provides an update to certain insurance sections of law to update or eliminate outdated sections of the insurance law.

Sponsor: Brian Kennedy

Extends the sunsetting of the "Don't Block the Box" automated traffic detection systems from January 15, 2027, to January 15, 2030.

Sponsor: Scott Slater

Establishes the Rhode Island orange heart medal to formally recognize Rhode Island veterans whose service exposed them to toxic herbicides, burn pits, or other hazardous agents.

Sponsor: Samuel Azzinaro

Authorizes an increase in resource eligibility limits for persons with long-term-care needs who reside at home and requires semi-annual reports from Medicaid certified assisted living facilities and adult day service providers to the EOHHS.

Sponsor: Lammis Vargas

Creates an enhanced penalty defined as "road rage" to be applied in addition to penalties for convictions of certain motor vehicle offenses.

Sponsor: Arthur Corvese

Increases the state’s regionalization bonus to six percent (6.0%) of the state’s fiscal year share of foundation education aid. This bonus would be ongoing and continuing so long as the district remains a regional school district.

Sponsor: Megan Cotter

Directs the manage existing workforce development and compensation programs for the early educators workforce.

Sponsor: Susan Donovan

Updates the state’s public accountancy act for consistency with the 9th edition of the Uniform Accountancy Act, as issued by NASBA and AICPA in July 2025.

Sponsor: Stephen Casey

Requires persons convicted of driving under influence or refusal to submit to chemical test, have an ignition interlock system installed in vehicle as part of sentence and to pay an assessment to pay for the interlock systems.

Sponsor: Thomas Noret

Provides an update to certain insurance sections of law to update or eliminate outdated sections of the insurance law.

Sponsor: Mark McKenney

Allows sealing of eviction records for defective complaint or lack of jurisdiction for individuals between the ages of eighteen (18) and twenty-one (21) who didn't sign the lease.

Sponsor: Tiara Mack

Establishes a new high-cost special education fund to pool resources and generates income to support excess costs associated with providing services to special education students.

Sponsor: Terri-Denise Cortvriend

Amends State funding calculations for special education, revising extraordinary cost calculations for FY 2028-2029, and providing additional funds for excess costs when special education students move into a district after the budget is approved.

Sponsor: Susan Donovan

JOINT RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE STATE TO ENTER INTO A FINANCING AGREEMENT RELATING TO SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION IN THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET TO FINANCE RENOVATIONS AND REPAIRS TO SAMUEL SLATER MIDDLE SCHOOL FACILITIES, OR THE ACQUISITION, CONSTRUCTION, IMPROVEMENT, FURNISHING AND EQUIPPING OF A NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL AND SCHOOL FACILITIES AND ALL EXPENSES INCIDENT THERETO INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, COSTS OF DESIGN, DEMOLITION, ATHLETIC FIELDS, LANDSCAPING AND PARKING BY THE ISSUANCE OF NOT MORE THAN $22,500,000 CITY BONDS, CITY NOTES AND/OR OTHER EVIDENCES OF INDEBTEDNESS THEREFOR (Authorizes bonds to finance school construction in the city of Pawtucket.)

Sponsor: Mary Messier

JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE RHODE ISLAND AUDITORY ORAL PROGRAM (Authorizes the appropriation of the sum of $1,167,100 to the Rhode Island Auditory Oral Program, to support it’s mission.)

Sponsor: Joseph McNamara

Provides that licensed assisted living community is not required to hold a residential unit for a Medicare-eligible resident absent from the facility for a period exceeding 10 days unless EOHHS provides payment to the facility to hold the bed.

Sponsor: Andrew Dimitri

Provides that a portion of state income taxes from employees working at not-for-profit healthcare institutions, health service institutions, and educational institutions be allocated to the city of Providence.

Sponsor: Rebecca Kislak

Directs the general assembly to fund ten full time equivalent positions in FY 2027 to support DEM's efforts in the areas of forestry and forestry projects.

Sponsor: Linda Ujifusa

Requires homeowner’s insurance providers to provide two months’ notice before increasing any policy renewal premium more than 20% and a violation constitutes a deceptive trade practice punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,000.

Sponsor: Victoria Gu

Requires the PUC to produce report on comprehensive study by April 30, 2027.

Sponsor: Todd Patalano

Repeals the section of law relating to suspension of operator licenses for failure to pay fines.

Sponsor: Brandon Potter

Terminates the requirement that the public utilities commission allocate five million dollars ($5,000,000) annually to the Rhode Island infrastructure bank for use with energy efficient programs.

Sponsor: Todd Patalano

Requires the disclosure of the transfer of certain assets of healthcare facilities and provides penalties for failing to file healthcare facility ownership information.

Sponsor: Melissa Murray

Authorizes a property owner to pursue reasonable actions to protect their property from coastal hazards that affect life, infrastructure, or essential land uses without prior approval.

Sponsor: Ana Quezada

Permits on and after July 1, 2027, for an insurer to consider the zip code in which the vehicle is garaged provided that the calculation of the zip code is segmented by the municipality where the vehicle is garaged.

Sponsor: Stefano Famiglietti

Establishes Compost Fund to award grants related to reducing the amount of solid waste generated in the state.

Sponsor: Bridget Valverde

Makes a series of amendments and adds new provisions of law to address business identity theft and deceptive solicitations sent to businesses and the unauthorized formation of entities.

Sponsor: Maryann Shallcross-Smith

Adds a provision that allows a tenant to pay the last month's rent or any other prepaid rent. It also increases the amount that a security deposit can be requested from one to two (2) months of rent.

Sponsor: John Burke

Amends the heading of § 11-47-60.1 to include the words "Dillon's Law."

Sponsor: Deborah Fellela

Permits those individuals convicted of multiple felonies and misdemeanors to have their records expunged and provides criteria for the court to consider in determining whether the person is of good character.

Sponsor: Robert Craven

Substitutes "housing resources commission" with "department of health" for lead hazard mitigation purposes. It also makes it easier for a property owner to release funds put into an escrow account, if needed to make required repairs or improvements.

Sponsor: Frank Ciccone

AUTHORIZING THE TOWN OF JAMESTOWN TO FUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS AND TO ISSUE NOT MORE THAN $3,000,000 BONDS AND NOTES THEREFOR

Sponsor: Dawn Euer

Exempts property that consists of the lake bed and Wilson’s Reservoir in the town of Burrillville from taxes.

Sponsor: Jessica de la Cruz

Requires renovation projects of pre-1978 buildings to comply with provisions of chapter 24.6 of title 23 and chapter 21 of title 28, and require presence of lead inspector and supervisor and require lead training. DLT would ensure compliance.

Sponsor: Melissa Murray

Extends certain protocols applicable to motor vehicle manufacturers to their distributors and factory branches, as well as updates warranty reimbursement and recall obligation policies.

Sponsor: Robert Britto

Creates a new chapter to provide for non-charitable bingo by the state lottery division.

Sponsor: William O'Brien

Gradually phases in modifications to federal adjusted gross income over a four (4) year period for social security income, from twenty-five percent (25%) up to one hundred percent (100%), beginning on or after January 1, 2027.

Sponsor: Mark McKenney

Provides that adjunct faculty members at any state college or university who teach at least 50% of the hours regularly worked by full-time faculty in a semester would be eligible for the same medical benefits as other state employees.

Sponsor: Raymond Hull

Allows animal control officers in the cities and towns to lawfully take charge of and provide adequate care to any animal found abandoned or neglected or hazardously accumulated and includes them as agents authorized to enforce the provisions of this law.

Sponsor: Matthew Dawson

Exempts certain vehicles that are not manufactured with the proper front registration plate bracket from the requirement that motor vehicles display a front facing registration plate.

Sponsor: Jacquelyn Baginski

Proposes an amendment to the State Constitution, Article IV, Section 1, that would allow a non-partisan election of the secretary of state, commencing with the 2030 election.

Sponsor: Brian Newberry

Creates an additional tax rate of 3% on taxable income over $640,000 in 2026 dollars. Applies to tax years 2027 and thereafter and not retroactively.

Sponsor: Melissa Murray

Expands the deinstitutionalization subsidy aid program in the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals to include adoptive parent(s) or siblings(s).

Sponsor: Leonidas Raptakis

Makes the bridge over Smith Street and Route 95, the George Nee Bridge.

Sponsor: Christopher Blazejewski

Establishes the medical primary care scholarship program to be administered by the commissioner of postsecondary education.

Sponsor: Kathleen Fogarty

Provides for sentencing enhancements for any person using prohibited firearms, being a prohibited person or engaging in certain other firearm related offenses resulting in death and constituting first or second degree murder.

Sponsor: William O'Brien

Makes assault on a railroad worker resulting in personal injury a felony.

Sponsor: Matthew Dawson

Amends what is considered sexual abuse for purposes of limitations on actions based on sexual abuse or exploitation of a child and would amend the provisions for when a cause of action may be brought.

Sponsor: Mark McKenney

Adds staff of day camps and residential camps for youth to the definition of "person responsible for a child's welfare" within the chapter on abused and neglected children.

Sponsor: David Tikoian

JOINT RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY CURRENT CONDOMINIUM LAW AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND ONGOING AFFORDABILITY OF CONDOMINIUMS IN RHODE ISLAND (Creates a 16-member commission to study current condominium law and provide recommendations for improvements, and who would report back to the General Assembly by December 31, 2027, and would expire on March 15, 2028.)

Sponsor: June Speakman

Establishes the Higher Education Opportunities for Students with Disabilities Act.

Sponsor: Terri-Denise Cortvriend

Eliminates fingerprinting fees for licensed childcare hires, require background checks for youth activity instructors, and allow active TS/SCI clearance to satisfy criminal background check requirements.

Sponsor: Brian Thompson

Establishes the framework to create a medical school at the University of Rhode Island and provides an initial appropriation of five million dollars ($5,000,000) as the first phase of a multi-year investment for the development of a medical school.

Sponsor: Kathleen Fogarty

JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $300,000 TO THE RHODE ISLAND OFFICE OF THE POSTSECONDARY COMMISSIONER FOR THE RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL FOR PROGRESSIVE EDUCATION (Authorizes the appropriation of the sum of $300,000 to the Rhode Island Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner for the Rhode Island School for Progressive Education for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027.)

Sponsor: Scott Slater

Authorizes municipalities to make an emergency declaration under limited circumstances to allow for the construction and use of SAFE Units on a temporary basis which have specialized requirements and exemptions from the state fire and building codes.

Sponsor: Joseph Shekarchi

Makes it unlawful for a person in the custody of the department of corrections to use any force or weapon to resist a lawful request or directive.

Sponsor: Earl Read

Amends various provisions relative to adaptive reuse projects on state-owned property and certain conditions applied thereto.

Sponsor: Thomas Noret

Amends the audit compliance requirements for municipalities' contributions to pension plans under the budget of accounts and installation of systems chapter.

Sponsor: Leonela Felix

Imposes a tax equal to four percent (4%) on net investment income, such as interest, dividends, annuities, royalties, capital gains and rental income, of high-income households, estates and trusts, based upon federal guidelines.

Sponsor: Meghan Kallman

Creates three (3) new awards for Rhode Island National Guard members and would provide eligibility for the Rhode Island star for certain civilian government employees and military and civilian leaders of foreign governments.

Sponsor: Samuel Azzinaro

Amends the standards and limitations on permitted parking requirements for dwelling units.

Sponsor: Joshua Giraldo

Allows parents or guardians to have access to GPS data of the bus or other motor vehicle used to transport students to and from school.

Sponsor: Robert Britto

Changes how voter are notified of elections and vote registration deadlines, and local board questions.

Sponsor: Jacquelyn Baginski

Provides that the statute of limitations for second-degree sexual assault shall be 10 years from the date of the offense, or, in the case of a victim who is under the age of 18, ten years from the victim’s eighteenth birthday, whichever is later.

Sponsor: Frank Ciccone

Makes it a felony for any person to remove or attempt to remove any firearm or other weapon or any communication device from any peace officer or investigator of the department of attorney general.

Sponsor: Earl Read

Makes sexual contact or penetration between any law enforcement officer that is on duty and a person that is a detainee, arrestee, in custody or a suspect a felony.

Sponsor: Samuel Bell

Provides for a 10 year statute of limitations for the violation of second degree sexual assault.

Sponsor: Gordon Rogers

Requires all peace officers to carry epinephrine autoinjectors in their vehicles or on their person police departments to budget sufficient funds to purchase the epinephrine and autoinjectors and for training of every peace officer.

Sponsor: Megan Cotter

Makes students in workforce-ready certificate programs at the community college of Rhode Island eligible to receive the Rhode Island Promise Scholarship.

Sponsor: Samuel Azzinaro

Directs the state department of education to establish an anti-hazing policy in student athletics.

Sponsor: Matthew LaMountain

Increase the net taxable estate exemption to $3,600,000 on January 1, 2027. This act would also increase the exemption by $1,000,000 on January 1, 2028 and every year thereafter until this section and the tax would sunset and expire on January 1, 2033

Sponsor: Thomas Paolino

Provides that Rhode Island state employees be eligible for temporary disability insurance effective January 1, 2027.

Sponsor: Lammis Vargas

Sets conditions for pharmacists to prescribe tobacco cessation drug therapies, including education approved by the state board of pharmacy.

Sponsor: Bridget Valverde

Appropriates two million seven hundred thousand dollars ($2,700,000) to fund the primary care training sites program to provide training for physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants within the department of health.

Sponsor: Kathleen Fogarty

Increases the federal adjusted gross income threshold for modification for taxable social security income. Amends references to federal adjusted gross income as pertains to modification of taxable retirement income from certain pension plans or annuities.

Sponsor: Walter Felag

Includes routine, scheduled or recommended immunizations to individuals between the ages of three (3) and eighteen (18) years, under the consent and reporting provisions required for pharmacy administered immunizations.

Sponsor: Pamela Lauria

Directs the department of education to develop and adopt regulations for energy capable school buildings.

Sponsor: Terri-Denise Cortvriend

Requires courts to presume release for most probation violations, set reasonable bail or non-monetary conditions, limit detention to cases of risk or danger, require prompt hearings, and mandate written reasons for detention.

Sponsor: Jose Batista

Prohibits the distribution, transfer, or possession of any material that depicts a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct and is obscene and lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.

Sponsor: Jessica de la Cruz

Reorganizes the coastal resources management council under the department of environmental management and create the bureau of coastal resources management.

Sponsor: John Edwards

Decriminalizes certain commercial sexual activity. It would also include human trafficking as a racketeering activity and would allow expungements of certain convictions in § 11-34.1 after one year.

Sponsor: Tiara Mack

Amends the refiling process for rules and regulations under the administrative procedures act by implementing a confirmation and attestation system to confirm agency rules and regulations are active and effective.

Sponsor: Earl Read

Establishes phased reduction of personal income tax rates.

Sponsor: Jessica de la Cruz

Creates the Rhode Island Student Loan repayment program which would allow eligible individuals who have unpaid student loans, provided said individuals meet specified criteria.

Sponsor: Maryann Shallcross-Smith

Requires state agency cited in reports of the child fatality review panel to provide child advocate, speaker, senate president and governor with written response within 180 days addressing implementation of report recommendations.

Sponsor: Jessica de la Cruz

Appropriates the sum of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) to fund the Thundermist family medicine residency program during fiscal year 2027 and every fiscal year thereafter.

Sponsor: Kathleen Fogarty

Increases minimum sentence for first degree sexual assault and provides first 10 years of a sentence for first degree sexual assault not be subject to a suspension or deferment of sentence.

Sponsor: Jessica de la Cruz

Sets the zoning statewide for “family child care homes” to no fewer than twelve (12) children maximum.

Sponsor: Maryann Shallcross-Smith

Increases the fines for dog ordinance violations in the town of Barrington.

Sponsor: Pamela Lauria

Permits the town of Barrington to assess an annual dog licensing fee of seven dollars ($7.00).

Sponsor: Pamela Lauria

Requires that the primary election date, statutorily the eighth Tuesday preceding the biennial state elections, shall be held on the Wednesday when Labor Day is the day before said Tuesday. No other filing deadlines would be affected.

Sponsor: John Burke

Provides that a portion of state income taxes from employees working at not-for-profit healthcare institutions, health service institutions, and educational institutions be allocated to the city of Providence.

Sponsor: John Burke

Renames the University of Rhode Island football practice field, located at 5E West Alumni Avenue, Kingston, RI 02881, to the "Mark S. Cruise '81 '84 Football Practice Field."

Sponsor: Susan Sosnowski

Permits Coventry to require two parking space for each studio, one-bedroom, or two-bedroom low- or moderate-income housing units upon the determination that limited or no local public transportation or off-street parking availability near these units.

Sponsor: George Nardone

Permits the city of Cranston a one-year levy cap exemption for fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, not to exceed seven and forty-five hundredths percent (7.45%).

Sponsor: Michael Chippendale

Extends provisions of an existing collective bargaining agreement for municipal police arbitration purposes until a successor agreement is reached or an interest arbitration award is rendered.

Sponsor: David Tikoian

Provides that all contractual provisions in a firefighters collective bargaining agreement continue until a successor agreement has been reached or an interest arbitration award has been rendered.

Sponsor: John Burke

Requires transition planning for high school students with disabilities, who have a “504” plan, like the transition planning required for high school students with disabilities, who have an individualized education program (IEP).

Sponsor: Terri-Denise Cortvriend

Allows the town of Coventry to receive a one-half (1/2) credit for affordable housing units for manufactured homes in age restricted communities in conformance with all zoning laws and/or ordinances of the town.

Sponsor: George Nardone

Provides a specific cause of action for violations of the rights of nursing home patients chapter.

Sponsor: Andrew Dimitri

Allows faith-based organizations to develop affordable and mixed-use housing on land they own as a by-right use, set statewide development standards, limit local barriers, and streamline approvals to expand housing supply.

Sponsor: Meghan Kallman

Establishes a program for the energy and water benchmarking of large buildings in Rhode Island and a standard for their energy performance.

Sponsor: Meghan Kallman

Allows teachers, state and municipal employees to retire upon the earlier of reaching age sixty (60) with thirty (30) years of service or the employee's retirement eligibility date under present state statutes.

Sponsor: Deborah Fellela

Creates the Crook Point Bridge Authority for the purpose of maintain the Crook Point Bascule Bridge and any property related thereto.

Sponsor: Rebecca Kislak

Requires healthcare providers and healthcare facilities to inform patients of the use of artificial intelligence to memorialize patient visits.

Sponsor: Teresa Tanzi

Expands the existing law regarding collaborative practice agreements between pharmacists and physicians to allow other healthcare providers to enter into such agreements and removes the definition of “collaborative practice committee.”

Sponsor: Joseph Solomon

Allows for the issuance of a Class BV liquor license for the property located at 819 Westminster Street in the city of Providence.

Sponsor: John Lombardi

SENATE RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING APRIL TO BE "HOLOCAUST & GENOCIDE AWARENESS MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Sponsor: Meghan Kallman

HOUSE RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING APRIL 23, 2026, TO BE "WORLD TABLE TENNIS DAY" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Sponsor: Marie Hopkins

HOUSE RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE 78TH ANNIVERSARY OF ISRAEL'S DAY OF INDEPENDENCE ON APRIL 21ST THROUGH APRIL 22ND, 2026, AND REAFFIRMING THE BONDS OF FRIENDSHIP AND COOPERATION BETWEEN RHODE ISLAND, THE UNITED STATES, AND THE STATE OF ISRAEL

Sponsor: John Edwards

HOUSE RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING "NATIONAL INFERTILITY AWARENESS WEEK" ON APRIL 19-25, 2026, IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Sponsor: Joseph McNamara

HOUSE RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING AND HONORING THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF RHODE ISLAND WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING SUCCESS DURING THE 2025-2026 SEASON

Sponsor: Leonela Felix

HOUSE RESOLUTION HONORING FAMILY MEDICINE PHYSICIANS FOR THEIR SERVICE AND ADVOCACY

Sponsor: Susan Donovan

SENATE RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING APRIL 16, 2026, AS "RHODE ISLAND MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION RECOGNITION DAY" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Sponsor: Brian Thompson

Adds the doctrine of assumption of risk to the current comparative negligence statute.

Sponsor: Stefano Famiglietti

Repeals the collateral source rule in medical malpractice actions.

Sponsor: Stefano Famiglietti

Provides for mandatory uninsured motorist coverage.

Sponsor: Matthew LaMountain

Changes the definition of owner to exclude the state and municipalities for the purposes of liability limitations relating to public use of private lands.

Sponsor: Stefano Famiglietti

Prohibits an employer, employment agency, labor organization, or employee, to commit any act declared to be an unlawful employment practice; individuals would be held personally liable for such conduct.

Sponsor: Mark McKenney

Provides that for purposes of all civil actions, the fair and reasonable charge for certain medical and dental services is the amount billed by the licensed healthcare provider.

Sponsor: Stefano Famiglietti

Changes the teacher and state employees' retirement benefit calculations' cutoff date from July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2009, for all retirement members eligible to and who retire on or after the new July 1, 2009, cutoff date.

Sponsor: Evan Shanley

JOINT RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION ON CITY AND TOWN AFFAIRS (Establishes a joint legislative commission on city and town affairs.)

Sponsor: Jacob Bissaillon

Car rental company not subject to registration penalties resulting from out-of-state toll violations from operators using their rental vehicles but are responsible for any outstanding toll amounts due.

Sponsor: Frank Ciccone

Requires mail ballots applications to include the RI driving license or state identification number, if unexpired or expired no more than 6 months prior to the election, or the last four digits of the voter’s Soc Sec number.

Sponsor: Jon Brien

Clarifies that the three-year final average compensation provision for retiring members of the state police applies to the superintendent and all members eligible and who retire on or after July 1, 2024.

Sponsor: Raymond Hull

Addresses any single-family construction, townhouse construction, and multi-family construction complying with the Standards for Visitable Units of the ANSI' Standards for Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities.

Sponsor: Samuel Bell

Prohibits any questioning of a juvenile who is suspected of delinquent or criminal behavior, unless the parent of guardian of the juvenile is present, or unless an attorney is present or the juvenile and their parents have waived their presence.

Sponsor: Rebecca Kislak

Creates the Rhode Island voting rights act to establish procedures to prevent discrimination in the voting process.

Sponsor: Katherine Kazarian

Allows a modification to federal adjusted gross income for all public pension benefits administered by the Employees Retirement System of Rhode Island.

Sponsor: Julie Casimiro

Increases monthly minimum benefit for a spouse, domestic partner, former spouse.

Sponsor: Hagan McEntee

Includes the deputy chief of inspection and inspector within the provision of law related to retirement on service allowance relating to correctional officers.

Sponsor: Matthew Dawson

Prohibits insurance companies from paying a rate that is less than the approved Medicaid rate set by the executive office of health and human services.

Sponsor: Jacob Bissaillon

Gives statewide juvenile hearing boards the authority to refer a juvenile offender to a rehabilitative driving course, as part of a disposition of an offense before the board. The order may be enforced by the traffic tribunal.

Sponsor: Justine Caldwell

Prohibits the imposition of a sentence of life without parole upon any person twenty-one (21) years of age or younger.

Sponsor: Julie Casimiro

Establishes a universal, comprehensive, affordable single-payer health care insurance program and help control health care costs, which would be referred to as, "the Rhode Island Comprehensive Health Insurance Program" (RICHIP).

Sponsor: Samuel Bell

Requires insurers to develop plans for coverage and access to nonnarcotic, nonopioid and nonmedication pain management for moderate to severe pain. It further restricts utilization review for nonopioid drugs.

Sponsor: Jacob Bissaillon

Prohibits handcuffing children twelve (12) or under at initial police contact unless needed for public safety or if the child is using or threatening physical force against an officer.

Sponsor: Julie Casimiro

Prohibits family court from detaining or committing any youth, 12 years or younger, to training school, for any offense other than murder, first degree sexual assault, or an attempt to commit such offenses there is no other reasonable placement.

Sponsor: Jennifer Stewart

Precludes a legal entity from owning property whose value is over $25,000,000. If the property value exceeds $25,000,000, then the entity must divest a graduated yearly amount over the next 10 years, until value is less than $25,000,000.

Sponsor: Meghan Kallman

Restore the rights of school administrators and staff members, who have retired to exceed the ninety-day (90) cap on post-retirement employment and work up to one hundred eighty (180) days during a school year.

Sponsor: William O'Brien

Provides that retirees in the state pension system receive cost of living adjustments compounded into the retiree’s total retirement benefits each year beginning January 1, 2026. This act would be prospective only.

Sponsor: Patricia Serpa

Prohibits a peace officer, as defined in § 12-7-21, from employing threats, physical harm, deprivation, deception, coercion, or psychologically manipulative interrogation tactics during the custodial interrogation of a juvenile.

Sponsor: Cherie Cruz

Allows a minor between the ages of 14 -17 without a permanent residence/in custody of the DCYF to get state identification card without a signature from parent, guardian or foster parent as well as a certified copy of minor's birth certificate at no cost.

Sponsor: Brian Newberry

Permits the family court to retain jurisdiction over juveniles and allow the family court to order juveniles detained in the training school until the age of twenty-one if the court finds that it is in the best interest of the child.

Sponsor: Jennifer Stewart

Prohibits the use of ranked choice voting in all local, state and federal public office elections.

Sponsor: Jon Brien

Establishes employer tax credits for establishing a retirement plan for employee participation with auto-enrollment.

Sponsor: Alex Finkelman

Establishes the criminal offense of real estate title fraud. Allows municipalities to refuse to record “suspicious documents” from persons who are not trusted submitters. Also creates penalties for real estate title fraud.

Sponsor: Valarie Lawson

Provides that all contractual provisions in a firefighters collective bargaining agreement continue until a successor agreement has been reached or an interest arbitration award has been rendered.

Sponsor: David Bennett

Provides for the right to strike for public sector workers in Rhode Island, including teachers, with exceptions for police officers, firefighters, 911 employees, and correctional officers.

Sponsor: David Bennett

Allows for the issuance of a Class BV liquor license for the property located at 819 Westminster Street in the city of Providence.

Sponsor: Samuel Bell

Allows the town of Johnston to receive a one-half (1/2) credit for affordable housing units for manufactured homes in age restricted communities in conformance with all zoning laws and/or ordinances of the town.

Sponsor: Deborah Fellela

Changes the definition of employee to include individuals employed in the domestic service of any person.

Sponsor: Melissa Murray

Authorized the town of Tiverton to require that fifty percent (50%) of new construction be affordable housing units if there is less than ten percent (10%) of affordable housing in the town.

Sponsor: John Edwards

Requires all municipal zoning ordinances be amended to provide that any lot with access to public water/sewer services, not establish or enforce a minimum lot area that exceeds 5,000 sq.ft. for a residential building with between one and 4 dwelling units.

Sponsor: Cherie Cruz

Authorizes the town of Smithfield, if an aggregate of two hundred fifty (250) or more units should be proposed in comprehensive permit project(s), to enact an emergency moratorium until the permit requirement of § 45-53-4 are amended.

Sponsor: Gregory Costantino

Allows the town of Smithfield to determine its density bonuses based upon its underlying zoning.

Sponsor: Gregory Costantino

Allows the town of Johnston to determine its density bonuses based upon its underlying zoning.

Sponsor: Deborah Fellela

Permits Tiverton to require two parking space for each studio, one-bedroom, or two-bedroom low- or moderate-income housing units upon the determination that limited or no local public transportation or off-street parking availability near these units.

Sponsor: John Edwards

Provides technical amendments relating to comprehensive planning and land use, subdivision of land, zoning ordinances and moderate-income housing.

Sponsor: Robert Craven

Prohibits an employer, employment agency, labor organization, or employee, to commit any act declared to be an unlawful employment practice; individuals would be held personally liable for such conduct.

Sponsor: John Edwards

Authorizes the school administration to issue an out-of-school suspension to students if they are a threat to the safety of others.

Sponsor: Ana Quezada

Prohibits the use of heating systems utilizing fossil fuels as well as air or water heating systems in any state or municipal building open to the public constructed, altered or renovated on or after January 1, 2028.

Sponsor: Lori Urso

Implements statewide parking standards.

Sponsor: Meghan Kallman

Allows for the electronic filing of domestic violence/sexual assault reporting forms by law enforcement agencies, enhances the information to be included on the reporting forms, and clarifies that the reporting forms should be submitted monthly.

Sponsor: Ana Quezada

Allows the town of Tiverton to determine its density bonuses based upon its underlying zoning.

Sponsor: John Edwards

Allows persons with disabilities to receive up to two (2) motor vehicle disability parking privilege placards.

Sponsor: Alana DiMario

SENATE RESOLUTION FORMALLY REQUESTING THAT THE RHODE ISLAND PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION TO CONSIDER THE CREATION AND ADOPTION OF A SEASONAL HEAT PUMP RATE AS PART OF DOCKET 25-45-GE

Sponsor: Alana DiMario

Requires transition planning for high school students with disabilities, who have a “504” plan, like the transition planning required for high school students with disabilities, who have an individualized education program (IEP).

Sponsor: Ana Quezada

Allows employees, not represented by a union, to create a group to collectively bargain with employers.

Sponsor: Stephen Casey

Mandates any contract for capital improvements at any healthcare facility adhere to the requirements of chapter 13 of title 37.

Sponsor: Jenni Azanero Furtado

Strengthens school security measures/established 8 member school emergency response committee/rapid response teams/SWAT teams/requires annual appropriation of $1,000,000 to achieve these goals.

Sponsor: Andrew Dimitri

Provides that comprehensive permit projects in Tiverton, involving property not connected to either public water or sewer or both, and for which the property is considered hydric said land be excluded from the building land calculation.

Sponsor: John Edwards

Amends the low and moderate income housing act.

Sponsor: Terri-Denise Cortvriend

Permits continuation of instructor-led virtual instruction for drivers’ education for two-year period. Board of education required to provide report comparing test scores of virtual versus in-person instruction to house speaker and senate president.

Sponsor: Louis Dipalma

Eliminates prescribed timelines for hearing and determination in certain enforcement actions before the department labor and training to align with reasonable practice.

Sponsor: Andrew Dimitri

Allows the town of Tiverton, with an aggregate of 500 or more units proposed in a comprehensive permit project, to enact a short-term emergency moratorium until the permit laws are amended.

Sponsor: John Edwards

Repeals the law that prevents a collective bargaining agreement covering state employees, public school teachers and municipal employees from specifying a particular healthcare provider in it.

Sponsor: Jon Brien

Prohibits applications filed in the town of Tiverton, for comprehensive permit projects, for low- and moderate-income housing, to include accessory dwelling units.

Sponsor: John Edwards

Permits the town of Tiverton to require additional testing, to be performed by and at the expense of the developer, to ensure that there is no dewatering or loss of effective recharge to surrounding wells within close proximity of the new construction.

Sponsor: John Edwards

Moves North Kingstown from the third division of the district court to the fourth division to better balance case workloads among the divisions.

Sponsor: Robert Craven

Defines suitable person for purposes of concealed carry pistol permit establishes reasons and information needed for applying for the permit, an appeal process and provides that records are not public records.

Sponsor: Gordon Rogers

Increases continuing education requirements for physician assistants, removes restrictions of PAs to render charitable care and aid for school and youth programs or cardiac arrest and removes restrictive covenants as to ownership by a PA.

Sponsor: David Bennett

Amends the timelines related to healthcare provider credentialing.

Sponsor: David Place

Permits possession or use of device that muffles sound on any firearm longer than 17” in length and permits the use of such a device by any person while hunting provided that they have a valid hunting license.

Sponsor: Gordon Rogers

Establishes a universal and unified healthcare system and reform the current payment system for healthcare coverage in this state.

Sponsor: Jennifer Stewart

Requires that every insurer providing health coverage insurance provide every physician or physician group with a complete fee schedule seeing for the maximum allowable reimbursement for each covered service.

Sponsor: David Place

Provides that certain actions taken by pharmacy benefits managers are deceptive or unfair trade practices.

Sponsor: Mia Ackerman

Permits reimbursement for dental hygienists from "other insurance" or a third-party payor such as Medicare.

Sponsor: Justine Caldwell

Prohibits dental insurers from refusing to honor directions to pay from insured, modifying benefits to be paid. Requires providers to accept payment by virtual credit card as unfair claims practices.

Sponsor: Joseph McNamara

JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $5,000,000 TO THE RHODE ISLAND PUBLIC TRANSIT AUTHORITY (Authorizes the appropriation of the sum of five million dollars ($5,000,000) to the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority to continue services, fills the budget deficit and restore service cuts, and implements the State's Act on Climate.)

Sponsor: Karen Alzate

Expands the definition of operator to anyone who enables customers to purchase virtual currency. Expands the definition of a transaction to include a digital product or application where payment is made in person or through a third party intermediary.

Sponsor: Victoria Gu

Provides that the department of environmental management would maintain and repair state owned or operated boat ramps and docks.

Sponsor: Terri-Denise Cortvriend

JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF TWENTY MILLION DOLLARS ($20,000,000) TO SUPPORT GREEN ECONOMY AND CLEAN ENERGY BOND INITIATIVES (Authorizes the appropriation of the sum of $20,000,000 to support the green economy and clean energy bond initiatives.)

Sponsor: Terri-Denise Cortvriend

Allows attorney general to enter into agreements with other states to recognize a concealed handgun permit as valid and authorizes RI to recognize and honor a concealed weapon permit from out of state with certain requirements.

Sponsor: Gordon Rogers

Provides a licensed liquor retailer/cannabis retailer/or hemp consumable retailer that received an infused-beverage endorsement from the cannabis control commission the authorization to sell at retail THC infused beverages in accordance with this chapter.

Sponsor: Louis Dipalma

Creates a publicly funded program for uninsured individuals requiring on an appropriation of $53,200,000 for fiscal year 2027 and an appropriation of 109,600,000 for fiscal year 2028 and every fiscal year thereafter.

Sponsor: Susan Donovan

2026 Bond Referenda for Capital Development.

Sponsor: Teresa Tanzi

Provides a tax credit for food donations by qualified taxpayers to nonprofit organizations up to five thousand dollars ($5,000) per year.

Sponsor: Hagan McEntee

Creates and establishes the Health Care and Social Services Transaction Review and Significant Equity Investor Disclosure Act designed to enhance disclosure for material changes involving significant equity investors.

Sponsor: Julie Casimiro

SENATE RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING APRIL 2026, AS "SCHOOL LIBRARY MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Sponsor: Mark McKenney

Exempts trucks engaged in waste management collection at the central landfill from tolls operated by the R.I. Turnpike and Bridge authority.

Sponsor: John Edwards

Establishes the Residential and Commercial Property Acquisition Program Act to implement residential or commercial property acquisitions, paired with funding for relocation costs within or proximate to the current community.

Sponsor: Terri-Denise Cortvriend

Authorizes the State of Rhode Island to issue up to eighteen million dollars ($18,000,000) in general obligation bonds, subject to voter approval, to support the Roger Williams Park Zoo.

Sponsor: Lammis Vargas

Increases penalties for a second or subsequent offense with a fine of not less than $500 or no more than $2,500 and up to 2 years imprisonment, for violating the law on the care of dogs.

Sponsor: Lori Urso

Increases the penalty for cruelty to animals, first offense, from eleven months to twelve months incarceration.

Sponsor: Andrew Dimitri

Allows a person over 18 to purchase a stun gun or electronic dart gun and prohibits the sale of a stun gun or electronic dart gun to a person under 18 and criminalizes using a stun gun or electronic dart gun in a crime or against a police officer.

Sponsor: Brian Thompson

Prohibits the use of genetic information for purposes of determining eligibility, setting premium rates, or imposing preexisting condition exclusions for life insurance, disability insurance, or long-term care insurance.

Sponsor: Melissa Murray

Provides for greater oversight and regulation by the department of business regulation on medical-malpractice insurance among self-insured entities.

Sponsor: Tina Spears

Provides the review and appeal process for individuals applying for a permit or license to carry a handgun with the licensing authority or attorney general.

Sponsor: Jessica de la Cruz

HOUSE RESOLUTION EXTENDING CONDOLENCES

Sponsor: Christopher Blazejewski

Provides that the statute of limitations for second-degree sexual assault shall be 10 years from the date of the offense, or, in the case of a victim who is under the age of 18, ten years from the victim’s eighteenth birthday, whichever is later.

Sponsor: Hagan McEntee

Provides that a defendant's third and subsequent violation of domestic violence offenses, including both prior felony and misdemeanor convictions, would be punishable as a felony.

Sponsor: Kathleen Fogarty

HOUSE RESOLUTION HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF BASEBALL ICON DAVEY LOPES AND EXPRESSING SYMPATHY ON HIS PASSING

Sponsor: Joseph Shekarchi

Establishes a universal, comprehensive, affordable single-payer health care insurance program and help control health care costs, which would be referred to as, "the Rhode Island Comprehensive Health Insurance Program" (RICHIP).

Sponsor: David Morales

Requires the electronic filing of domestic violence/sexual assault forms by law enforcement agencies, and enhances the information to be included on the reporting forms.

Sponsor: Hagan McEntee

Allows for the electronic filing of domestic violence/sexual assault reporting forms by law enforcement agencies, enhances the information to be included on the reporting forms, and clarifies that the reporting forms should be submitted monthly.

Sponsor: Leonela Felix

HOUSE RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING APRIL 19-25 OF 2026 TO BE "MEDICAL LABORATORY PROFESSIONALS WEEK" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Sponsor: Maryann Shallcross-Smith

HOUSE RESOLUTION EXPRESSING CONGRATULATIONS

Sponsor: Christopher Blazejewski

Permits the family court to award possession of household pets to the plaintiff in a domestic abuse complaint, including the enforcement remedy of a restraining order or other injunctive relief.

Sponsor: John Lombardi

HOUSE RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING APRIL 19-25, 2026, TO BE "NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Sponsor: Christopher Paplauskas

Includes animal cruelty offenses to the domestic violence crimes committed by a family or household members against another.

Sponsor: Andrew Dimitri

Mandates insurance coverage for scalp cooling treatments for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy to prevent hair loss during chemotherapy treatments.

Sponsor: Matthew LaMountain

Requires health insurance providers to provide insurance coverage for pharmacists’ services.

Sponsor: Louis Dipalma

Redefines dyslexia to mean a specific learning disability characterized by difficulties in word reading and/or spelling that involve accuracy, speed, or both and vary depending on the orthography.

Sponsor: William O'Brien

Updates the Rhode Island Cannabis Act to remove the current requirement to express cannabinoids as the dry-weight percentages.

Sponsor: Scott Slater

Directs middle and high schools which issue student identification cards to include on those cards on or before September 8, 2026, contact crisis telephone numbers for suicide prevention and substance use disorder prevention.

Sponsor: Earl Read

Directs the state department of education to establish an anti-hazing policy in student athletics.

Sponsor: Joseph McNamara

Allows RI to opt out of the provisions of DIDMCA exempting out of state lenders from interest rate limits which apply to RI lenders. Prevents evasion of statutory interest rate limits and lending rules for loans made in RI.

Sponsor: Samuel Bell

Includes the governor's commission on disabilities in the decision making process for the disability parking enforcement enhancement program and requires an annual report be submitted to the governor's commission.

Sponsor: Arthur Corvese

Prohibits an educational institution or school district from accessing or using location data for tracking a student's institutional device or personal device, except in limited circumstances.

Sponsor: June Speakman

Amends certain provisions relative to school waste recycling and refuse disposal and requires reports of waste audits by educational entities and reports of program participation by vendors.

Sponsor: Lauren Carson

Requires that automated teller machines disclose the account balance prior to any cash withdrawal.

Sponsor: Lammis Vargas

Makes several technical amendments to the Rhode Island secure choice retirement savings program act necessary for continued administration and inter-state partnership.

Sponsor: Evan Shanley

Requires insurers to cover buprenorphine without a copayment or deductible.

Sponsor: Gordon Rogers

Prohibits an insurance company from imposing any cost-sharing requirements for any diagnostic or supplemental breast examinations.

Sponsor: Samuel Zurier

HOUSE RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING APRIL OF 2026, TO BE "PARKINSON'S AWARENESS MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Sponsor: Brian Newberry

HOUSE RESOLUTION HONORING LEANNE BARRETT FOR HER EXTRAORDINARY SERVICE TO RHODE ISLAND'S CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND WISHING HER CONTINUED SUCCESS IN HER NEW ROLE AT THE RHODE ISLAND ASSOCIATION FOR INFANT MENTAL HEALTH

Sponsor: Grace Diaz

HOUSE RESOLUTION EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF RAYMOND A. CHOINIERE

Sponsor: Joseph Shekarchi

Clarifies the manner in which certain dental insurance benefits are paid directly to the provider.

Sponsor: Joseph McNamara

Requires shooting ranges to post signs in any area in which shooting occurs that contain the following language: “WARNING: If you or a loved one is experiencing distress and/or depression, call the 988 Suicide and Crisis hotline or text “HOME” to 741741.

Sponsor: Louis Dipalma

Amends chapter 80 of the public laws of 1965 with respect to the composition of the regional district school building committee, apportionment of construction and operating costs and amendments to the agreement.

Sponsor: Megan Cotter

Authorizes pharmacists to order, perform and interpret CLIA-waived tests authorized by statewide protocol and prescribe medications, and permits coverage by all health insurance carriers.

Sponsor: Michelle McGaw

Establishes a state-run prescription drug purchasing pool, available for participation by nonstate public employers, private employers, and health insurance carriers, to maximize the value of drug discounts available to participants.

Sponsor: Tina Spears

Strengthens enforcement of the state's pharmacy audit law by clarifying and tightening audit procedures to ensure pharmacy audits are conducted fairly and transparently.

Sponsor: Rebecca Kislak

JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $500,000 TO ONWARD WE LEARN IN SUPPORT OF RHODE ISLAND GEAR UP (Appropriates the sum of $500,000 to Onward We Learn in support of Rhode Island GEAR UP.)

Sponsor: Hanna Gallo

Permits physician assistants to practice without a physician's direct supervision and receives direct payments from Medicaid.

Sponsor: Marie Hopkins

Authorizes the town of Bristol to apply the owner-occupied tax rate for mixed-used properties where the residential portion is owner-occupied.

Sponsor: Linda Ujifusa

Includes shared services as one of the considerations in determining whether to authorize the creation of a regional school district.

Sponsor: Terri-Denise Cortvriend

Authorizes the town of Barrington to provide a tax dollar credit reduction for legally blind persons by ordinance.

Sponsor: Jennifer Boylan

Authorizes the town of Bristol to apply the owner-occupied tax rate for mixed-used properties where the residential portion is owner-occupied.

Sponsor: Susan Donovan

Prohibits the construction, expansion or operation of a pyrolysis facility within one mile of a school.

Sponsor: Alex Finkelman

Authorizes the town of Barrington to provide a tax dollar credit reduction for legally blind persons by ordinance.

Sponsor: Pamela Lauria

Exempts from sales tax energy storage systems, as defined in § 39-33-1.

Sponsor: Jennifer Boylan

Prohibits defendants who are serving probation for driving under the influence death resulting from earning good time off their probationary period.

Sponsor: Leonidas Raptakis

Requires individuals seeking a judicial nomination to reapply to JNC every 3 years and make those individuals selected as finalists, eligible only for the court in which they applied and were chosen during the five years following their selection.

Sponsor: Matthew Dawson

Increases the penalties for a first offense of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death to a minimum 10 years in incarceration, a minimum of $10,000 and a minimum license revocation of 10 years.

Sponsor: David Tikoian

Makes it unlawful for anyone under the age of 21 to operate a motor vehicle while knowingly having liquor in any part of the vehicle, except when accompanied by another adult who is 21 years of age or older and related to the operator.

Sponsor: Andrew Dimitri

Creates the home-fit dwelling units act to apply to all new construction of covered dwelling units to incorporate design features that provide safe and convenient use of to the greatest extent feasible, regardless of age or physical ability.

Sponsor: Jacob Bissaillon

Requires that an independent efficiency and performance audit of the department of transportation be commissioned by the department of administration.

Sponsor: Samuel Zurier

Permits all Rhode Island courts to conduct hearings remotely and allow any party or attorney to appear by telephone or video conference, with remote appearances having the same legal effect as in-person appearances.

Sponsor: Grace Diaz

Bans street takeovers and violators would be guilty of a felony and punishable by imprisonment for more than one year and be subject to a fine of not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) nor more than five thousand dollars ($5,000).

Sponsor: Todd Patalano

Establishes the commercial sex buyer’s accountability program which consists of an instructional program on prostitution and human trafficking schemes.

Sponsor: Hagan McEntee

Authorizes the State of Rhode Island to issue up to eighteen million dollars ($18,000,000) in general obligation bonds, subject to voter approval, to support the Roger Williams Park Zoo.

Sponsor: Scott Slater

Increases the penalties for reckless driving from a misdemeanor first offense to a felony, with a penalty of up to five years in prison and a fine of between one thousand dollars ($1,000) and five thousand dollars ($5,000).

Sponsor: Leonidas Raptakis

Expands foster care academic youth reports to include information regarding 504 eligibility, graduation progress and surrogate parents. The act would require implementation of additional strategies to improve performance and additional progress reports.

Sponsor: Julie Casimiro

Amends unfair discrimination statutes to encompass more protected categories and protect against additional forms of discrimination.

Sponsor: Rebecca Kislak

JOINT RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY SAFE STAFFING RATIOS IN HOSPITALS (Creates a 15-member joint commission to study and provide recommendations regarding safe staffing ratios in hospitals, and who would report back to the General Assembly by September 1, 2027, and expire on January 30, 2028.)

Sponsor: Deborah Fellela

Makes persons who were convicted of crimes forty or more years ago eligible to have their records expunged, with certain exceptions.

Sponsor: Charlene Lima

Amends the jury list and jury qualification statutes to add individuals receiving public assistance benefits.

Sponsor: Brandon Potter

Authorizes the Superior Court to place a hospital into receivership upon action by the attorney general or department of health when a hospital is mismanaged, financially distressed, acting illegally, or endangering patient health and safety.

Sponsor: Susan Donovan

Authorizes the department of health to participate in international public-health collaboration networks.

Sponsor: Kathleen Fogarty

Permits RI Supreme Court Committee on Racial and Ethnic Fairness, in consultation with RI Bar Association and its Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, to appoint members of JNC and requires judicial candidates to disclose political donations.

Sponsor: Rebecca Kislak

Establishes the Residential and Commercial Property Acquisition Program Act to implement residential or commercial property acquisitions, paired with funding for relocation costs within or proximate to the current community.

Sponsor: Victoria Gu

Creates an enhanced penalty defined as "road rage" to be applied in addition to penalties for convictions of certain motor vehicle offenses.

Sponsor: David Tikoian

Allows any city, town, state and/or agency of a municipality or the state to report unpaid fines of two hundred dollars ($200) or more to the division of motor vehicles as grounds for refusal of registration.

Sponsor: Frank Ciccone

Makes assault with intent to commit murder punishable by no less than ten years and not more than forty years and the person would not be afforded the benefit of suspension or deferment of sentence or probation.

Sponsor: Joseph Solomon

Requires the JNC to establish standardized merit-based selection process and that applications be evaluated according to uniform, job-related criteria adopted in advance and published on the commission's website.

Sponsor: Rebecca Kislak

Exempts from the sales tax behind-the-meter batteries interconnected with a solar photovoltaic system.

Sponsor: Jennifer Boylan

HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THAT A CONDITION PRECEDENT BE PLACED ON ALL FUTURE STATE FUNDING OR GRANT ASSISTANCE TO BROWN UNIVERSITY HEALTH AND AFFILIATED ENTITIES TO ENSURE MAINTENANCE OF THE NEWPORT HOSPITAL BIRTHING CENTER (This resolution would condition the distribution of any state funds to Brown University Health on the continued operation of a birthing center in the city of Newport.)

Sponsor: Lauren Carson

Requires notice to E-ZPass users before DMV reporting, and set rules and regulations for transponder failures, requires outreach and free replacements, and allow mitigation or forgiveness of tolls and penalties from equipment failures.

Sponsor: Dawn Euer

Provides that energy storage systems located on abandoned or contaminated property be permitted by right as a permitted use and not considered to have negative environmental impacts.

Sponsor: Jacob Bissaillon

Creates The Rhode Island Veterans Home Staffing Support Act of 2026.

Sponsor: Susan Donovan

Repeals the certificate of need process statutes which are used by the department of health to determine the need for new health care equipment and new institutional health services.

Sponsor: Jessica de la Cruz

Imposes a moratorium on the issuance of new home care provider, home nursing care provider and hospice provider licenses prior to 7/1/2031, and provides for health systems planning specific to these provider licenses during the moratorium by the DOH.

Sponsor: Patricia Serpa

Advances the interests of older Rhode Islanders by adding a representative of an aging adult organization to the state planning council and a permanent committee on aging to the state planning council.

Sponsor: Victoria Gu

Requires a review by the department of elementary and secondary education of the formula components used to compute the aid needed to support high need students.

Sponsor: Stephen Casey

HOUSE RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING THE WINNERS OF THE 2026 14TH ANNUAL PROSTART® HIGH SCHOOL COMPETITION AND WISHING THEM SUCCESS AT THE NATIONAL PROSTART® INVITATIONAL

Sponsor: Joseph Solomon

HOUSE RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING APRIL 9, 2026, AS "ARMENIAN GENOCIDE REMEMBRANCE DAY" TO COMMEMORATE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE OF 1915 TO 1923, AND IN HONOR OF ARMENIAN-AMERICANS

Sponsor: Katherine Kazarian

HOUSE RESOLUTION HONORING THRIVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, INC. ON THE OCCASION OF ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY AND RECOGNIZING ITS ENDURING IMPACT ON THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF RHODE ISLANDERS

Sponsor: David Bennett

HOUSE RESOLUTION EXPRESSING DEEPEST CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF THE HONORABLE JOSEPH A. ABBATE

Sponsor: Joseph Shekarchi

SENATE RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING THE WINNERS OF THE 2026 14TH ANNUAL PROSTART® HIGH SCHOOL COMPETITION AND WISHING THEM SUCCESS AT THE NATIONAL PROSTART® INVITATIONAL

Sponsor: Matthew LaMountain

Creates a cause of action for the replacement cost of a child restraint system that is in a motor vehicle at the time of a motor vehicle accident.

Sponsor: Lammis Vargas

Increases fines for speeding in residential or school zones.

Sponsor: Stefano Famiglietti

Requires certain health care facilities to allow a terminally ill patient’s use of medicinal cannabis within the health care facility, subject to certain restrictions.

Sponsor: Pamela Lauria

JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $75,000 FOR THE JEWISH COLLABORATIVE SERVICES (Appropriates the sum of $75,000 to Jewish Collaborative Services.)

Sponsor: David Bennett

Amends the current law on low-income housing to include moderate-income housing and eliminates the income percentages used to determine qualifications for low or moderate income housing.

Sponsor: Victoria Gu

Removes the forfeiture provision for a first offense eluding law enforcement in a high speed pursuit. It would also require that forfeiture of a motor vehicle for a violation of § 31-27-4.1(2) be allowed only after conviction of that offense.

Sponsor: Matthew LaMountain

Requires that the license plates of a vehicle be confiscated by a police officer if the owner was arrested for driving while their license was suspended, revoked or cancelled for refusing to submit to a chemical test or for operating under the influence.

Sponsor: Leonidas Raptakis

Restates the UTGR Master Contract and the Twin River-Tiverton Master Contract and consolidates the marketing program of each into the Consolidated Marketing Program.

Sponsor: Scott Slater

Requires veterinarians to provide consultations to animal owners when a drug is prescribed and dispensed for that annual patient.

Sponsor: Patricia Serpa

Requires hospitals to have a notary on staff all hours of the day and week.

Sponsor: Matthew LaMountain

Nullifies the department of elementary and secondary education recommendation that the turnaround plan for Providence public schools be continued.

Sponsor: Scott Slater

Establishes the Rhode Island Ban on the Corporate Practice of Medicine Act.

Sponsor: Kathleen Fogarty

Prohibits health benefit plans reviewing prescriptions for opioid addiction treatment.

Sponsor: Lori Urso

Requires a healthcare entity to submit written notice to the attorney general and the department of health of any material change transaction at least 180 days prior to that transaction.

Sponsor: Kathleen Fogarty

Requires that before any fire fighter or police officer is eligible to receive benefits for illness or injury sustained off duty, they prove they had reasonable grounds to believe that an emergency existed that required immediate need of their assistance.

Sponsor: Peter Appollonio

Sunsets/discontinues the Jobs Development Act rate reduction as of July 1, 2026.

Sponsor: Jennifer Stewart

Repeals daylight savings time in the state and follow the “United States Standard Eastern Time” as provided by an exemption from the advancement of time as provide by the federal Uniform Time Ac of 1966, 15 U.S.C. § 260(a).

Sponsor: Thomas Paolino

Provides that credits issued pursuant to § 44-11-2.3 relating to pass through entities would be refundable.

Sponsor: Maryann Shallcross-Smith

Requires that video or photography generated by artificial intelligence or “AI” that is posted on a public platform contain a marking disclosing that it has been generated by AI.

Sponsor: Brandon Voas

Requires that any covered entity that develops/provides online services, products, or features that children are reasonably likely to access shall consider the best interest of children when designing/developing such online service, product, or feature.

Sponsor: Megan Cotter

Provides a tax credit to a taxpayer that makes a qualified investment in a qualified business.

Sponsor: Maryann Shallcross-Smith

Ensures any public school with available seats, after completion of the initial enrollment period for students, shall make all open seats available to other students residing within the same school district.

Sponsor: Stefano Famiglietti

Adds pickles and relish to those foods not requiring refrigeration which are permitted to be manufactured and sold as a farm home food product.

Sponsor: Susan Sosnowski

Prohibits the sale or transfer of ammunition unless the purchaser successfully undergoes a background check.

Sponsor: Justine Caldwell

Nullifies the department of elementary and secondary education recommendation that the turnaround plan for Providence public schools be continued.

Sponsor: Samuel Bell

Allows for trucks with a gross vehicle weight of eight thousand five hundred pounds (8,500 lbs.) or less to have passenger registration license plates.

Sponsor: John Edwards

Deletes the provision permitting out of state residents to obtain concealed carry permits in this state solely based on their rights in other states. It also corrects a minor typographical error.

Sponsor: Kathleen Fogarty

Provides for paid leave for a state employee who donates an organ and duration of the leave is dependent on the type of donation and notice should be provided to the employer at least thirty (30) days prior to the leave.

Sponsor: John Edwards

Creates a comprehensive statutory framework to address and regulate the use of artificial intelligence in the workplace, considering the interests of employers and employees.

Sponsor: Victoria Gu

Authorizes and fund the painting of a portrait of the president of the senate and former presidents of the senate to be hung in the senate lounge or thereabouts.

Sponsor: Matthew LaMountain

Allows access to juvenile criminal records in order to conduct firearm background checks.

Sponsor: Hagan McEntee

Amends the definition of farm and agricultural land to include land on which agricultural operations are being conducted or is suitable for agriculture operations, and further expand the definition of a farmer.

Sponsor: Gordon Rogers

Requires the names of any non-teacher school employee who is terminated for good and just cause, to be furnished to the department of education.

Sponsor: Bridget Valverde

Provides for a comprehensive criminal and employment background check procedure for all school employees.

Sponsor: Jessica de la Cruz

Requires that the state's share to public libraries be fixed at twenty-five percent (25%) of the amount appropriated by the city or town in their budgets for fiscal year 2027.

Sponsor: Jennifer Stewart

Provides proper authority for the division of taxation to provide HSRI with contact information for Rhode Islanders who report they were uninsured on their RI state income tax return.

Sponsor: Joshua Giraldo

Raises the amount of life insurance the state provides at no charge to Rhode Island National Guard members called up for federal duty to five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000).

Sponsor: Samuel Azzinaro

Expands council on elementary and secondary education and board of education and makes teacher of year and student advisory chair voting members on each.

Sponsor: Alana DiMario

Removes the fee for registration and plate transfer for a Distinguished Service Cross registration plate.

Sponsor: Samuel Azzinaro

JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $800,000 TO WATERFIRE PROVIDENCE (This resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of $800,000 to WaterFire Providence.)

Sponsor: Nathan Biah

Creates additional safety features for AI companion technology that include addressing suicidal ideation, potential physical harm or financial harm to others expressed by a user. It also requires notification the AI companion does not have human emotions.

Sponsor: Tina Spears

Provides that any person eighteen (18) years of age who is issued a license or permit may carry a stun gun. It would impose criminal penalties for a person to sell or transfer a stun gun to a person under the age of eighteen (18).

Sponsor: Charlene Lima

Caps delinquent tax interest rate at 12%. Prohibits audits beyond 3 years from date of tax filing, 7 years for fraudulent filings, and in no event beyond 10 years from date of filing or required filing date, whichever is later.

Sponsor: Maryann Shallcross-Smith

Allows a person over 18 to purchase a stun gun or electronic dart gun and prohibits the sale of a stun gun or electronic dart gun to a person under 18 and criminalizes using a stun gun or electronic dart gun in a crime or against a police officer.

Sponsor: Stephen Casey

Creates process for individual to voluntarily be either temporarily or indefinitely added to a list restricting their rights to purchase or possess firearms. Adds civil fines and misdemeanor for violations.

Sponsor: Jennifer Boylan

Restricts the possession of prohibited firearms.

Sponsor: Teresa Tanzi

JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $500,000 TO THRIVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, INC. TO SUPPORT THE HILLSGROVE CLUBHOUSE PROGRAM (Authorizes the appropriation of the sum of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) to Thrive Behavioral Health, Inc. to support the Hillsgrove Clubhouse Program.)

Sponsor: David Bennett

Prohibits the use of black plastic takeout containers for use to take prepared foods and drinks from restaurants, stores, and other retail sales establishments.

Sponsor: David Bennett

Allows any member of a federally recognized Indian tribe located in Rhode Island to receive recreational freshwater and saltwater fishing licenses free of charge.

Sponsor: Robert Britto

Requires shooting ranges to post signs in any area in which shooting occurs that contain the following language: “WARNING: If you or a loved one is experiencing distress and/or depression, call the 988 Suicide and Crisis hotline or text “HOME” to 741741”.

Sponsor: Susan Donovan

Specifies that it is unlawful for any person under the age of eighteen (18) to possess a firearm.

Sponsor: Jennifer Boylan

Directs the division of motor vehicles to create a special plate for individuals in the manufacturing industry.

Sponsor: Leonidas Raptakis

Requires individuals who own firearms to obtain and continuously maintain a policy of liability insurance in an amount of not less than $1,000,000 dollars and exempts active duty law enforcement and military from this requirement.

Sponsor: Justine Caldwell

Allows a police officer to be reemployed by a state agency or department for purposes of working a state-funded detail subject to certain restrictions.

Sponsor: Frank Ciccone

Names the India Point Park Overpass pedestrian bridge as the "Joseph M. Lima Overpass" to honor the former Deputy Majority Leader's legislative achievements and his lifelong dedication to the Portuguese-American community.

Sponsor: Jessica de la Cruz

Eliminates the registration and service charge fees for National Guard plates.

Sponsor: Samuel Azzinaro

Amends various sections of law relating to campaign contributions and expenditures, including prohibitions on self-dealing with committee funds and prohibits donations made in fictitious names.

Sponsor: Alana DiMario

Requires that certain data centers requiring large amounts of electricity be required to fund the cost of necessary infrastructure improvements to supply such electricity.

Sponsor: Brian Kennedy

Allows private employees at nursing homes, developmental disability and home care providers whose salaries are 90% funded with federal or state monies to be eligible to opt into the state healthcare plan.

Sponsor: Evan Shanley

HOUSE RESOLUTION CELEBRATING APRIL OF 2026, AS "ORGAN DONATION MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Sponsor: Joseph Shekarchi

HOUSE RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING APRIL OF 2026, TO BE "LIMB LOSS AND LIMB DIFFERENCE AWARENESS MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Sponsor: Kathleen Fogarty

SENATE RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE VALIANT INTERVENTION EFFORTS OF SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE JOSEPH J. MCBURNEY AND HEAD OF SECURITY, DANA SMITH ON BEHALF OF HIS COURT INTERN WHO WAS WRONGFULLY IDENTIFIED AND TARGETED BY IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT (ICE) AGENTS

Sponsor: Valarie Lawson

Makes several amendments to provide for an online nomination paper portal for election nomination papers.

Sponsor: Matthew LaMountain

Authorizes the city of Cranston to establish a housing division within its municipal court.

Sponsor: Hanna Gallo

Authorizes municipalities, through ordinance, to require private real property owners to obtain a license to operate a dwelling unit as student housing.

Sponsor: Anthony DeSimone

Creates the Rhode Island voting rights act to establish procedures to prevent discrimination in the voting process.

Sponsor: Valarie Lawson

Removes the exemption for tinting of the windshield and imposes fines of $250 for a first and second offense and subsequent offenses are punishable by a $250 fine and up to a one year suspension of the vehicle registration.

Sponsor: Robert Phillips

Charges the office of the health insurance commissioner to incorporate uncompensated care as a formula-driven numeric adjustment in the methodology used to establish any affordability standard or rate cap, applicable to hospital contracts.

Sponsor: Jacob Bissaillon

Allocates the assessment of fines for failure to file reports between the board of elections between the candidate and political action or political party committee.

Sponsor: Matthew LaMountain

Sets an earlier deadline from June to April for filing of declaration of candidacy and nomination papers.

Sponsor: Leonidas Raptakis

Prohibits public utilities, serving greater 100,000 customers from recovering through rates any direct or indirect cost associated with, amongst other costs, advertising, marketing, communications.

Sponsor: Dawn Euer

Provides that effective July 1, 2026, the profit margin of any electric distribution company or distributor of natural gas, would not exceed four percent (4%), in any given calendar year.

Sponsor: Victoria Gu

Establishes a child tax credit in the amount of six hundred fifty dollars ($650) for eligible taxpayers adjusted for inflation annually commencing January 1, 2027.

Sponsor: Lammis Vargas

Creates the Rhode Island Social Media Regulation act, which would not permit a Rhode Island resident who is a minor to be an account holder on a social media's platform unless the minor has the express consent of a parent or guardian.

Sponsor: Louis Dipalma

Prescriptions for testosterone not allowed to be transmitted or reported within the prescription drug monitoring database and removes from the records all existing information concerning prior testosterone prescriptions.

Sponsor: Matthew LaMountain

Recognizes the Seaconke Wampanoag tribe as a Native American Indian tribe for the limited purpose of assisting this tribe in establishing eligibility for federal benefits and privileges.

Sponsor: Scott Slater

Authorizes the Johnston town council to set tax exemption limit to an amount determined by the city council via ordinance or resolution for qualified individuals defined in the act.

Sponsor: Deborah Fellela

Creates an income-sensitive tiered subsidy program to ensure that home energy utility costs are affordable for eligible low-income households.

Sponsor: Scott Slater

Establishes minimum energy and water efficiency standards for appliance and specified equipment purchased or installed after January 1, 2025.

Sponsor: Arthur Handy

Requires quarterly reading of electric and gas meters.

Sponsor: David Morales

Allows for food and food supplies procurement by the state of less than $25,000 in aggregate under the small purchase regulations.

Sponsor: Terri-Denise Cortvriend

Directs the public utilities commission to establish a standardized framework for determining authorized common equity ratios and authorized rates of returns on equity for public utilities.

Sponsor: Megan Cotter

Establishes statewide standards governing electric meter reading and billing practices.

Sponsor: Samuel Zurier

Amends the Rhode Island Transit Authority (RIPTA) board composition by adding the Rhode Island Climate Community to the groups given due consideration for appointment to the board.

Sponsor: Teresa Tanzi

Changes the assessment for residential property where forty percent (40%) of the dwellings are below eighty percent (80%) of statewide median income and thirty percent (30%) are below sixty percent (60%).

Sponsor: David Morales

Establishes a bureau of public protection within the department of attorney general.

Sponsor: David Morales

Defines that a conspicuous display is a visual illustration showing each component of the utility bill and the cost associated with each component of said bill.

Sponsor: Enrique Sanchez

Provides that effective July 1, 2026, the profit margin of any electric distribution company or distributor of natural gas, would not exceed four percent (4%), in any given calendar year.

Sponsor: Megan Cotter

Requires that an independent forensic audit of the department of transportation be commissioned by the attorney general.

Sponsor: Charlene Lima

Extends the forbearance of utility terminations for customers with serious illness certifications and would amend various provisions related to the termination of utility services for persons who are disabled, seriously ill, or in arrears.

Sponsor: Meghan Kallman

Establishes a universal and unified healthcare system and reform the current payment system for healthcare coverage in this state.

Sponsor: Meghan Kallman

Provides that any rate increase with respect to electric distribution companies would be no greater than the increase in the Consumer Price Index or 5.5%, whichever is greater, unless there is approval of a higher rate by the general assembly

Sponsor: John Lombardi

Amends the current law on low-income housing to include moderate-income housing and eliminates the income percentages used to determine qualifications for low or moderate income housing.

Sponsor: Thomas Noret

Enables the Rhode Island public transit authority (RIPTA) to work with the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) to allow commuter rail passes to be used as dual passes for both RIPTA and MBTA.

Sponsor: John Lombardi

Extends the forbearance of utility terminations for customers with serious illness certifications and would amend various provisions related to the termination of utility services for persons who are disabled, seriously ill, or in arrears.

Sponsor: Cherie Cruz

Establishes Compost Fund to award grants related to reducing the amount of solid waste generated in the state.

Sponsor: Terri-Denise Cortvriend

Authorizes the department of environmental management to enter into leases of up to forty (40) years at State Pier #9 in Newport, Chase Marina in Tiverton, and all other ports and marine facilities owned and operated by the department.

Sponsor: Terri-Denise Cortvriend

Requires a report to be produced that focuses on prescription drug prior authorizations by January 1, 2027.

Sponsor: Linda Ujifusa

Allows automatic voter registration for Rhode Islanders applying for hunting and fishing licenses.

Sponsor: Andrew Dimitri

HOUSE RESOLUTION RESPECTFULLY URGING THE GOVERNOR TO SUPPORT AND TAKE ACTION TO EXPAND THE NATURAL GAS PIPELINE CAPACITY INTO NEW ENGLAND

Sponsor: Richard Fascia

Enacts the Rhode Island Broadband Oversight and Accountability Act of 2026.

Sponsor: Linda Ujifusa

Allows citizens of a city or town who are at least sixteen (16) years of age to register to vote and to vote in school committee elections in municipalities where school committees are elected entities.

Sponsor: Tiara Mack

Requires every individual or group health insurance contract effective on or after January 1, 2027, to provide coverage to the insured and the insured's spouse and dependents for all FDA-approved contraceptive drugs, devices and other products.

Sponsor: Dawn Euer

Prohibits the compelled production of a private key as it relates to a digital asset, digital identity or other interest or right.

Sponsor: Louis Dipalma

Permits the implementation of a system of electronic registration and titling of motor vehicles, by the DMV and would require that rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this chapter, would be promulgated by the administrator of the DMV.

Sponsor: Robert Craven

Expands Rhode Island Housing’s authority to revise the qualified allocation plan to prioritize cost-efficient affordable housing production and total units, while reducing the scoring weight of non-production-related criteria.

Sponsor: Michael Chippendale

Provides for penalties for tax preparers that purposefully mislead their clients or act as ghost preparers of tax returns.

Sponsor: Alex Marszalkowski

JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $250,000 TO 401 TECH BRIDGE TO STUDY AND EXPLORE SEAGLIDERS IN RHODE ISLAND (This resolution would make an appropriation of $250,000 to 401 Tech Bridge to study and explore seagliders.)

Sponsor: Louis Dipalma

Prohibits the Rhode Island medical assistance program from requiring prior authorization or a step therapy protocol for the coverage of a medication classified as an anticonvulsant or antipsychotic.

Sponsor: Jacob Bissaillon

Expands the definition of “book or other writing” to sales up to one thousand five hundred (1,500) copies and deny the sales tax exemption for third-party sales.

Sponsor: Arthur Corvese

Revises sections of the uniform controlled substances act to remove specific opioid dosage requirements and revise the uniform controlled substances act in accordance with current standards of professional practice.

Sponsor: Matthew Dawson

Limits retired, part-time or adjunct instructors, hired by any state college, university, or state school, to teaching no more than two classes per semester.

Sponsor: Hagan McEntee

Requires the secretary of the executive office of health and human services to monitor and mandate changes to the price-setting practices of pharmacy benefit managers to prohibit the spread pricing payment model.

Sponsor: Linda Ujifusa

Changes the direct client contact hour requirements for applicants for licensure of marriage and family therapist associate and applicants for licensure of marriage and family therapist.

Sponsor: Maryann Shallcross-Smith

Establishes a moratorium on changes to the state energy conservation code from the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code until January 1, 2031, unless approved by the legislature and made effective by the governor.

Sponsor: Terri-Denise Cortvriend

Amends the refiling process for rules and regulations under the administrative procedures act by implementing a confirmation and attestation system to confirm agency rules and regulations are active and effective.

Sponsor: Andrew Dimitri

Expands the existing law regarding collaborative practice agreements between pharmacists and physicians to allow other healthcare providers to enter into such agreements and removes the definition of “collaborative practice committee.”

Sponsor: Bridget Valverde

Mandates arming campus police at public higher educational institutions and would include campus police in the definition of "law enforcement officer" for the purposes of the "law enforcement officers' bill of rights".

Sponsor: Peter Appollonio

Amends the Law Enforcement Officers’ Due Process, Accountability, and Transparency Act" by changing the provision for payment of legal fees.

Sponsor: Todd Patalano

Gives 20% of proceeds in RI Highway Maintenance Account to RIPTA.

Sponsor: Samuel Zurier

Makes persons convicted of petty misdemeanors eligible to have their records expunged one year after imposition of their sentence.

Sponsor: Cherie Cruz

Authorizes judges to issue electronic warrants for DUI offenses under certain conditions.

Sponsor: Todd Patalano

Amends various sections of the condominium law to enhance transparency and establish a condominium ombudsman.

Sponsor: Mark McKenney

Makes assault on a railroad worker resulting in personal injury a felony.

Sponsor: Jacob Bissaillon

Establishes Rhode Island First Step program requiring DOC to assist offenders with reintegration into society, counseling, medical care, education, early sentence termination or pre-release confinement for elderly and terminally ill offenders.

Sponsor: John Lombardi

Prohibits the use of genetic information for purposes of determining eligibility, setting premium rates, or imposing preexisting condition exclusions for life insurance, disability insurance, or long-term care insurance.

Sponsor: Joshua Giraldo

Limits municipal minimum lot sizes for residential use to 2,500 sq ft near transit, 5,000 sq. ft with water/sewer, and 1 acre otherwise, while protecting farmlands, forests, and wetlands, and requiring zoning updates to comply.

Sponsor: Tiara Mack

Restores the requirement that a local review board issue findings for denial in reviewing a comprehensive permit request and clarifies that affordable housing units shall be included in each town and city when the building permits for units are granted.

Sponsor: Gordon Rogers

Prohibits a healthcare provider from requiring patients to provide electronic payment information to be kept on file as a condition to receiving treatment and makes it a violation a deceptive trade practice.

Sponsor: Alana DiMario

Establishes a restricted receipt account for RIPTA to fund it operations from sales tax collected from ride-share companies. Exempts the account from indirect cost recovery provisions.

Sponsor: Robert Britto

HOUSE RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS TO ADDRESS CONCERNS IN THE DELIVERY OF HEALTHCARE TO INMATES AND INDIVIDUALS AWAITING TRIAL IN THE CUSTODY OF THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS (RIDOC) (Creates a 9 member commission to study and make recommendations on the delivery of healthcare services at RIDOC, and who reports back to the House no later than January 5, 2027, and whose life would expire on March 5, 2027.)

Sponsor: Ramon Perez

JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $5,000,000 TO THE RHODE ISLAND PUBLIC TRANSIT AUTHORITY (Authorizes the appropriation of the sum of five million dollars ($5,000,000) to the RI Public Transit Authority to continue services, hire and train more bus operators, and implement the State's Act on Climate goals.)

Sponsor: Mark McKenney

Requires single-family residential zoning in municipalities with populations of over forty-thousand (40,000) to allow middle housing and mandates that those municipalities adopt zoning regulations for middle housing.

Sponsor: Tiara Mack

Amends how architecture firms and individual architects are registered.

Sponsor: Anthony DeSimone

Changes the naming of doctor of naturopathy to naturopathic doctor within this chapter.

Sponsor: Melissa Murray

Bans preferential treatment to a public or private university applicant because of the student's familial relationship to a previous university attendee.

Sponsor: David Morales

Clarifies how condominium insurance deductibles and unpaid losses are divided between associations and unit owners, require owners to insure units if associations do not, and allow boards to manage and use insurance proceeds for repairs.

Sponsor: Mark McKenney

Enacts the State of Rhode Island interior design practice act to control and regulate the professional practice of interior designers.

Sponsor: Lauren Carson

Adds school superintendents, central office officials, school principals, and all other school employees, to the definition of a “public official” for purposes of the criminal prohibition against making threats to public officials.

Sponsor: David Tikoian

Changes the direct client contact hour requirements for applicants for licensure of marriage and family therapist associate and applicants for licensure of marriage and family therapist.

Sponsor: Melissa Murray

HOUSE RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY EXPANDING PATHWAYS INTO THE TEACHING PROFESSION (Creates a special legislative commission of 17 members whose purpose would be to study evaluate and make recommendations regarding educator preparation, licensure, certification and early-career support systems in the state.)

Sponsor: Grace Diaz

Establishes minimum limitations standards for structural property damage claims, and voids any policy provision, endorsement, condition, limitation, agreement, or claim practice that shortens those standards.

Sponsor: Stephen Casey

HOUSE RESOLUTION RESPECTFULLY URGING RHODE ISLAND INSURERS AND THE RHODE ISLAND PROPERTY INSURANCE ASSOCIATION TO REDUCE INSURANCE COSTS ON LOCAL RESIDENTS BY PURSUING SUBROGATION CLAIMS AGAINST POLLUTERS WHO KNOWINGLY ENGAGED IN MISLEADING AND DECEPTIVE PRACTICES REGARDING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THEIR PRODUCTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Sponsor: June Speakman

Changes the residential limit for any substantial multi-family housing project not to exceed forty thousand (40,000) residents according to the United States Census Bureau.

Sponsor: Andrew Dimitri

Reduces funeral home inspections from twice a year to once a year and removes the practical exam requirement for out-of-state funeral directors and embalmers.

Sponsor: Susan Donovan

Creates a homeowner casualty bill of rights.

Sponsor: Raymond Hull

Submits the state's 2026 capital development program requesting the issuance of general obligation bonds totaling one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) for approval of the electorate at the general election to be held in November, 2026.

Sponsor: Lammis Vargas

SENATE RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING APRIL OF 2026, TO BE "FINANCIAL LITERACY MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Sponsor: Hanna Gallo

Allows foreign-trained dentists and dental hygienists to obtain limited licenses if they graduate from reputable dental colleges or universities, work under a supervising dentist, and pass a board-approved exam.

Sponsor: Lammis Vargas

Allows municipalities participating in the state prekindergarten program to accept students from outside the municipality under certain conditions and establishes a lottery for enrollment in the program.

Sponsor: Joshua Giraldo

Prohibits solicitation of money or other donations while an individual is standing or sitting in a crosswalk, intersection or safety zone.

Sponsor: Leonidas Raptakis

HOUSE RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING APRIL OF 2026, AS "AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Sponsor: Michelle McGaw

Establishes an oversight process which would safeguard individuals seeking therapy or psychotherapy services by ensuring that the services are delivered by qualified, licensed, or certified professionals.

Sponsor: Maryann Shallcross-Smith

Requires that retailers retain money received for gift certificates in a separate account, until the gift certificate is used or redeemed.

Sponsor: Robert Phillips

HOUSE RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE USE OF THIRD-PARTY DIGITAL PLATFORMS WITHIN PUBLIC EDUCATION (Creates a special legislative commission to study the use of third-party digital platforms in public education and report its findings and recommendations to the general assembly no later than April 23, 2027, and said commission expires on May 28, 2027.)

Sponsor: Justine Caldwell

Requires that any private short-term disability insurance (STDI) carrier that bids to provide coverage to Rhode Island state employees must cover all eligible employees, regardless of age.

Sponsor: Jenni Azanero Furtado

Prohibits contractors from submitting a single application to a local review board seeking a comprehensive permit for housing projects in certain circumstances.

Sponsor: David Tikoian

HOUSE RESOLUTION DESIGNATING APRIL OF 2026, TO BE "SECOND CHANCE MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Sponsor: Cherie Cruz

Reduces the time for expungements to 3 years for a single misdemeanor and 5 years for felonies and multiple misdemeanors.

Sponsor: Cherie Cruz

RELATED TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- SENTENCING RECONSIDERATION ACT

Sponsor: Julie Casimiro

Requires condominium associations to conduct structural surveys and reserve studies, fund reserves at 15%, and plan for repairs.

Sponsor: Jacob Bissaillon

Allows the state to require utilities to relocate facilities for certain highway projects and to pay the cost of the relocation to the utility as part of the cost of the federally aided highway project.

Sponsor: Robert Britto

SENATE RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING MARCH 31, 2026 AS “ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION OF RHODE ISLAND ADVOCACY AND AWARENESS DAY” IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Sponsor: Louis Dipalma

Prohibits prosecutions for crimes in Rhode Island if the prosecution arises from the same facts or acts for which the defendant was acquitted in another jurisdiction, unless newly discovered evidence substantially warrants prosecution.

Sponsor: David Place

Establishes the restrictive housing oversight committee ("committee") for the purpose of monitoring the use of restrictive housing ("solitary confinement"), as well as disciplinary and administrative confinement at the department of corrections.

Sponsor: Leonela Felix

Creates a 10 member bail task force to study the need of monetary conditions of bail and to consider other methods for ensuring an accused’s appearance in court, enhance public safety and honor the presumption of innocence and to file report by 1/1/2028.

Sponsor: David Place

Provides any student, who meets the requirements of this section, with an exemption from paying nonresident tuition at Rhode Island public universities, colleges, or community colleges.

Sponsor: Frank Ciccone

Prohibits noncompete agreements except for noncompete agreements between a seller and buyer of a business; creates civil action for an employer for the violation of an agreement by employee regarding disclosure or wrongful utilization of trade secrets.

Sponsor: Matthew LaMountain

Requires landlords to provide a receipt upon receiving a cash payment for rent from a tenant.

Sponsor: Cherie Cruz

Increases fees paid to jurors to fifty dollars ($50.00) per day.

Sponsor: Samuel Zurier

Includes any costs paid by an enrollee or on behalf of the enrollee, by a third party when calculating an enrollee’s overall contribution to any out-of-pocket maximum or cost sharing requirement, under a health plan as of January 1, 2027.

Sponsor: Robert Britto

Allows sealing of eviction records for defective complaint or lack of jurisdiction for individuals between the ages of eighteen (18) and twenty-one (21) who didn't sign the lease.

Sponsor: Cherie Cruz

Requires that the tax imposed upon the conveyance of any real property that is located in more than one municipality to be allocated between or among the municipalities in proportions to the assessed value of the property located in each municipality.

Sponsor: Mary Messier

Prohibits lobbyists from making any political contributions to any member of the general assembly from January 1 through July 1 in any year, unless the general assembly adjourns for the year prior to July 1.

Sponsor: John Lombardi

Adds the town of Smithfield to those towns specifically named to tax any person for either a mobile or manufactured home and automatically lien the a mobile or manufactured home.

Sponsor: Gregory Costantino

Allows any member of a federally recognized Indian tribe located in Rhode Island to receive recreational freshwater and saltwater fishing licenses free of charge.

Sponsor: Tina Spears

Requires that the electric distribution company and the commission promulgate tariffs to address interconnection of energy storage systems and to provide compensation for at least 100 mega watts of energy storage systems sited in the state.

Sponsor: June Speakman

Amends various sections of law relating to campaign contributions and expenditures, including prohibitions on self-dealing with committee funds and prohibits donations made in fictitious names.

Sponsor: Kathleen Fogarty

Creates a state program and fund to finance adaptive reuse and mixed-use housing projects, requires affordable units and labor standards, and provides oversight to expand housing until 2035.

Sponsor: June Speakman

Requires any entity that knowingly collects, shares or sells to third parties the personal data of a consumer to register with the department of business regulations and permits for the consumer to request deletion of the personal data.

Sponsor: Victoria Gu

Allows municipalities to request a one-time, state-approved extension to update comprehensive plans if they show active progress, while keeping the existing plan in effect during the extension period.

Sponsor: Joseph Solomon

Requires the director of the Rhode Island emergency management agency and the Rhode Island commerce commission to develop and implement a plan to assist businesses in obtaining flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance program.

Sponsor: Thomas Paolino

Removes the provision not allowing to publicly post or display the personal information of any protected individual or immediate family member without first obtaining permission.

Sponsor: Matthew LaMountain

Clarifies that a magistrate or sentencing judge sitting in a court with jurisdiction over motor vehicle offenses has the discretion to grant a conditional hardship license for a first-time offender upon request.

Sponsor: Jacob Bissaillon

Simplifies the assessment of filing fees required to appeal from small claims and consumer matters adjudicated by the district court.

Sponsor: Mark McKenney

Provides immunity for mediators and staff employed by the family court in the family court mediation program from financial liability for certain claims arising out of their participation in the program.

Sponsor: Andrew Dimitri

Extends time for a party to apply for stay of arbitration to180 days; invalidates any provision that penalizes a party for seeking legal representation; requires arbitrator to provide notice of default to a party for failure to pay fees.

Sponsor: Mark McKenney

Regulates property insurers to limit underwriting and investment in fossil fuel projects, requires climate risk reporting and emissions disclosures, and aligns insurance practices with science-based climate targets.

Sponsor: Dawn Euer

Requires insurance companies to settle claims or request additional information within 30 days of receipt of a notice of claim. Failure to comply results in $250/day payable to the insured party.

Sponsor: Ryan Pearson

Entitles disabled and military voters to utilize electronically transmitted ballots.

Sponsor: William O'Brien

Defines catastrophic loss and requirements for suspension of payments.

Sponsor: Lammis Vargas

Modifies the definition of “intentionally added PFAS” to mean PFAS that are deliberately added during the manufacturing of a covered product to perform a specific function.

Sponsor: Terri-Denise Cortvriend

Increases the maximum penalty for certain violations related to the cutting, removal, damage by injurious liquids or gases to trees, plants and shrubs on any public highway or public land under the jurisdiction of state agencies from $500 to $1,000.

Sponsor: Arthur Handy

Allows eligible disabled and military voters to continue to utilize electronically transmitted ballots as originally enacted in 2022.

Sponsor: Matthew LaMountain

Authorizes the use of campaign funds for security related expenses, including home and office security systems and ongoing monitoring, in response to threats arising from their public service or candidacy.

Sponsor: Jennifer Boylan

Creates a new license for eyelash service technicians, requires permit for eyelash businesses, establishes training and exam standards, authorizes RIDOH enforcement and fines, and imposes a $500 penalty for an unlicensed practice.

Sponsor: Lammis Vargas

Imposes strict identity disclosure requirements for those who incur expenditures for the production of ballot advocacy communications and political advertisements.

Sponsor: Brian Newberry

Adds the town of Tiverton to those towns specifically named to tax any person for either a mobile or manufactured home and automatically lien the a mobile or manufactured home.

Sponsor: John Edwards

Prohibits the holding of multiple drivers licenses or identification cards and would change the term "re-constructed salvage" to "rebuilt salvage" for purposes of the Rhode Island salvage law.

Sponsor: Walter Felag

SENATE RESOLUTION EXPRESSING DEEPEST CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF CHARLES J. LARANJO

Sponsor: Dawn Euer

ROOM) ACT (Expands access to inherently affordable housing by re-legalizing co-living/single-room occupancy (SRO) and shared dwelling models of many types.

Sponsor: June Speakman

Adds criminal penalties for operation of a motor vehicle after a suspension for lack of physical or mental fitness, or as a result of frequency of offenses pursuant to § 31-11-7 (a)(1)(i) or as result of a court ordered suspension.

Sponsor: John Burke

SENATE RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING MARCH 25, 2026, AS THE 205TH ANNIVERSARY OF GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY AND CELEBRATING DEMOCRACY IN GREECE AND THE UNITED STATES

Sponsor: Leonidas Raptakis

Characterizes the failure of a homeowner's insurance policy to use matching principle in its interpretation of replacement cost coverage in its homeowner's insurance policy, as an unfair claim settlement practices.

Sponsor: Ryan Pearson

Creates a Rhode Island specialty license for physician assistants who earn the NCCPA psychiatry CAQ, formally recognizing advanced behavioral health qualifications and supporting appropriate insurance reimbursement.

Sponsor: Alana DiMario

Prohibits the consideration of an applicant's credit history in determining automobile insurance rates.

Sponsor: Melissa Murray

Amends the Consumer PFAS Ban Act of 2024 by clarifying enforcement provisions.

Sponsor: Terri-Denise Cortvriend

HOUSE RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND HONORING THE COURAGE, HEROISM, AND COMPASSION OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO RENDERED AID DURING THE LYNCH ARENA SHOOTING IN PAWTUCKET

Sponsor: Brian Newberry

HOUSE RESOLUTION EXTENDING CONGRATULATIONS

Sponsor: Christopher Blazejewski

HOUSE RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING MARCH 31, 2026 AS “ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION OF RHODE ISLAND ADVOCACY AND AWARENESS DAY” IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Sponsor: Julie Casimiro

HOUSE RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING MARCH 31, 2026 AS "401GIVES DAY" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Sponsor: Joseph Shekarchi

HOUSE RESOLUTION EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES

Sponsor: Christopher Blazejewski

Permits, but not directs, a municipality to allow certain requirements regarding consistent statewide treatment of accessory dwelling units.

Sponsor: Mia Ackerman

Clarifies what a contract modification is, namely any change in producer compensation.

Sponsor: Mark McKenney

Clarifies the means by which attached single-family dwelling units may be created, recorded, and regulated as subdivisions of an existing lot under current zoning ordinance law.

Sponsor: June Speakman

Allows faith-based organizations to develop affordable and mixed-use housing on land they own as a by-right use, set statewide development standards, limit local barriers, and streamline approvals to expand housing supply.

Sponsor: June Speakman

Exempts certain cookware that contains perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS that are authorized by the FDA for food contact for consumer goods from the provision of the consumer PFAS ban act of 2024.

Sponsor: Thomas Noret

Allows that public records stored in a computer system, upon request, be provided at no charge.

Sponsor: Stephen Casey

HOUSE RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR AMENDING RHODE ISLAND GENERAL LAW § 44-3-3 (Creates a 7-member commission to study and provide recommendations for amending RI General Law §44-3-3, and who would report back to the General Assembly by January 5, 2027, and would expire on March 5, 2027.)

Sponsor: Scott Slater

Mandates that all restaurants offering children's meals offer at least two (2) children's meals that complies with certain detailed nutritional standards set forth in the act.

Sponsor: Pamela Lauria

Adds pickles and relish to those foods not requiring refrigeration which are permitted to be manufactured and sold as a farm home food product.

Sponsor: Terri-Denise Cortvriend

Ensures that the State of Rhode Island adopt the protections afforded under the Occupational Safety and Health Act if its scope or enforcement capacity is diminished.

Sponsor: Deborah Fellela

Amends the workers' compensation reimbursement provisions related to the liability of third person for damages.

Sponsor: Brandon Potter

Requires employers to provide full-time employees four (4) hours of paid leave once a year to donate blood through and any approved blood donation program.

Sponsor: Karen Alzate

Permits extended early intervention services for children with developmental disabilities whose third birthday is between May 1 and August 31.

Sponsor: Teresa Tanzi

Prescriptions for testosterone not allowed to be transmitted or reported within the prescription drug monitoring database and removes from the records all existing information concerning prior testosterone prescriptions.

Sponsor: Jason Knight

Requires the state, and private insurers that cover prescription hormone therapy, to dispense twelve (12) months’ worth of the prescription as a single prescription.

Sponsor: Susan Donovan

Eliminates fingerprinting fees for licensed childcare hires, require background checks for youth activity instructors, and allow active TS/SCI clearance to satisfy criminal background check requirements.

Sponsor: Maryann Shallcross-Smith

Increases number of members of state crime laboratory commission to 9, changes makeup of commission to include individuals with expertise in law enforcement, criminal defense, scientific research, makes chair of department of physics executive secretary.

Sponsor: Samuel Bell

Grants hourly credit of 288 hours against 576 hours if graduate of accredited trade school/raises to 4 years of work under master plumber and requires 8,000 hours of on-the-job training plus 5 years of registration with DLT.

Sponsor: Deborah Fellela

Establishes a restricted receipt account for the benefit of the Rhode Island public transit authority, funded by sales taxes collected from ride-share companies, which said sales taxes would be exempt from indirect cost recovery provisions.

Sponsor: Robert Britto

Updates disability parking space signage and enables municipalities to participate in the parking mobility app program where individuals submit photos on the app of vehicles parked in spaces designated for individuals with disabilities.

Sponsor: Evan Shanley

Provides that advanced practice registered nurses have the same immunity from liability as physicians and surgeons.

Sponsor: David Bennett

Creates a tick control program to be implemented by the department of environmental management.

Sponsor: Alana DiMario

Increases historic tax credit to 30%, and up to 35%, depending on the amount of rental area available for multi-family housing, affordable rental units and units sold as affordable housing.

Sponsor: Jacob Bissaillon

Authorizes the secretary of the executive office of health and human services (EOHHS) to increase resource eligibility limits for persons with long-term care needs who reside at home to $12,000 for single persons and $18,000 for couples.

Sponsor: Lammis Vargas

Provides an eight percent (8%) tax rate for those properties that are encumbered by a deed restriction for low-income housing set at eight percent (80%) or sixty percent (60%) of adjusted median income established by HUD.

Sponsor: Jacob Bissaillon

Prohibits healthcare providers and health plans from denying the payment of a medical bill, solely because the bill may have arisen from a third-party claim.

Sponsor: Arthur Corvese

Requires every school district to render assistance and cooperation within its jurisdictional power to further the objects of this chapter, to wit, providing the courts with any information concerning a child as the court may require.

Sponsor: Julie Casimiro

Gives the Rhode Island traffic tribunal jurisdiction to hear first offense refusals to submit to a chemical test pursuant to the Alcohol Boating Safety Act.

Sponsor: Matthew LaMountain

Requires state use actual residences of persons in government custody for redistricting purposes. Information would be collected by the department of corrections and forwarded to the division of statewide planning, to be utilized for redistricting.

Sponsor: Cherie Cruz

Adds the doctrine of assumption of risk to the current comparative negligence statute.

Sponsor: Matthew Dawson

HOUSE RESOLUTION DECLARING MARCH 27, 2026, TO BE "GOOD FOOD POLICY DAY" IN RHODE ISLAND

Sponsor: June Speakman

Establishes oversight of condominium management committees and property management companies by the department of business regulation.

Sponsor: Terri-Denise Cortvriend

Imposes certain duties, transparency, and accountability from pharmacy benefits managers and pharmacy benefits management services.

Sponsor: Robert Britto

Requires every vehicle that operates in intrastate commerce be permanently marked with a US DOT Number effective April 1, 2027.

Sponsor: Robert Britto

Created a peer-to-peer car sharing program, which will prescribe insurance coverage and other related details while using a car sharing application.

Sponsor: Hanna Gallo

HOUSE RESOLUTION CELEBRATING "URI DAY" AT THE RHODE ISLAND STATE HOUSE ON MARCH 26, 2026

Sponsor: Kathleen Fogarty

Created a peer-to-peer car sharing program, which will prescribe insurance coverage and other related details while using a car sharing application.

Sponsor: William O'Brien

Allows early voting ballot application to be completed in person on an electronic poll pad. Voter then issued a ballot to be placed in a state-approved voting device.

Sponsor: Jon Brien

Provides that cities or towns may, by ordinance, designate "special ways" throughout the city or town which would be subject to alternative regulations to preserve its cultural, historic or scenic character.

Sponsor: Victoria Gu

SENATE RESOLUTION EXPRESSING DEEPEST CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF MICHAEL J. MURPHY

Sponsor: John Burke

Requires that accessory dwelling units be allowed by right only if the property is owner-occupied and has been so occupied for at least 5 years.

Sponsor: Brian Thompson

Causes the enactment of the amendment of § 34-36.1-3.22 to be applicable to condominiums created before July 1, 1982.

Sponsor: Deborah Fellela

Creates a civil cause of action for any municipality that incurs extraordinary emergency response costs arising from a mass casualty event may bring a civil action in the superior court to recover such costs from a private property owner.

Sponsor: Charlene Lima

Modifies the real estate sales disclosure form to include the disclosure of “blower door diagnostic air leakage testing” and advises that air leakage testing is recommended prior to purchasing a residential unit.

Sponsor: Victoria Gu

Provides that roads located within the Quonset Business Park be under the control of the Quonset Development Corporation.

Sponsor: Robert Craven

Requires the state building commissioner to implement electronic permitting for any category of state or local permit authorized under state law to significantly impact the expediency of construction and development.

Sponsor: Robert Britto

Prohibits the state, participating ERISA, or any health plan from purchasing referenced drugs for a cost higher than the referenced rate.

Sponsor: Louis Dipalma

Updates, streamlines the law regarding loss or suspension of license by the DMV, and eliminates the provisions that the division may suspend a license for reckless or negligent operation of a motor vehicle or for frequency of offense.

Sponsor: Matthew LaMountain

Requires specific notice of the tax sale to the taxpayer with a copy of this § 44-9-10 attached thereto. Failure to do so would render the tax sale null and void.

Sponsor: Samuel Azzinaro

Increases the role of the DMV in the voter registration and address verification process, by establishing very specific obligations and responsibilities that must be followed before offering an individual an application to register to vote.

Sponsor: Lori Urso

Repeals the section of law relating to suspension of operator licenses for failure to pay fines.

Sponsor: Jacob Bissaillon