John Burke

This act would promote transparency and accountability in the use of artificial intelligence by health insurers to manage coverage and claims. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would provide that an insurer furnish written notice of nonrenewal of automobile or homeowner's insurance coverage at least sixty (60) days prior to nonrenewal, and written notice of any coverage reductions, elimination, or increased deductibles for this insurance not made to the request of the insured would be furnished at least thirty (30) days prior to renewal. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

This act would remove the licensing exemption for a lender that originates less than six (6) loans in twelve (12) consecutive months. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would establish the Rhode Island fire services training fund, a restricted, non- lapsing fund within the department of public safety to support the Rhode Island Fire Academy and statewide fire service training. An annual assessment equal to twenty-five hundredths percent (0.25%) of all written premiums for the prior calendar year would be used to fund the program. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would repeal the corporation minimum tax. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would change the gross pay amount a retired teacher or state employee certified to teach drivers education could earn as a part-time income by the department of education or by the board of governors of higher education for the purpose of providing classroom instruction in driver education courses to $25,000 from $15,000. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would raise the amount of life insurance the state would provide at no charge to Rhode Island National Guard members called up for federal duty to five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000). This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require that all maintenance of all sidewalks along state highways, with the exception of snow and ice removal, be the responsibility of the state. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require every school district to render assistance and cooperation within its jurisdictional power to further the objectives of this chapter, to wit, providing the courts with any information concerning a child as the court may require. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would change the community service requirements of a sentence related to the violation of § 11-44-21.1 relating to defacing private residences, offices, businesses or commercial property. Every person convicted of a first and second offense under this section would be required to perform not less than forty (40) hours and not more than one hundred (100) hours cleaning and remediating graffiti vandalism on state or local properties. Every person convicted of a third or subsequent offense under this section would be required to perform not less than forty (40) hours and not more than three hundred (300) hours of community service cleaning and remediating graffiti vandalism on state or local properties. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require 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. This act would take effect upon passage.

Senate Resolution Expressing Deepest Condolences On The Passing Of The Honorable Scott Bill Hirst

Senate Resolution Honoring Kathy Nadeau On The Occasion Of Her Retirement From The State Of Rhode Island After Many Years Of Dedicated And Exemplary Public Service

This act would require that a conspicuous display be a visual illustration showing each component of the utility bill and the cost associated with each component of said bill, subject to the approval of the division of public utilities (DPUC). This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would direct the commissioner of elementary and secondary education to ensure that every public school has a school library in a permanent and dedicated space. This act would also direct the commissioner to ensure that every public school has a certified school librarian to manage and maintain the library. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would increase the personal needs allowance of nursing facility residents from $75.00 to $100 per month. This act would take effect on July 1, 2026.

This act would provide that the department of elementary and secondary education, in consultation with a workgroup composed of various stakeholders, would develop a funding formula for school districts sending students to career and technical programs outside their district. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would exempt individual retirement accounts as a countable resource for public assistance. This act would prohibit the state as a creditor against an ABLE account in the event of death of a beneficiary. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require any remaining funds in the enacted budget from the Rhode Island promise scholarship program or the Rhode Island hope scholarship program, after Rhode Island college has satisfied all eligible scholarships pursuant to those programs, to be reimbursed to onward we learn for any scholarships that onward we learn has paid on behalf of its students who have attended Rhode Island college in that fiscal year. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would allow a landlord that did not obtain a lead certificate pursuant to the lead mitigation laws of chapter 128.1 of title 42 due to the fact that the state lacks the adequate resources to conduct inspections. The act also would provide that if the landlord certifies that the landlord followed all lead mitigation law requirements as of September 1, 2024, the landlord would not be fined for the lack of a lead certificate. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require individuals seeking a judicial nomination to reapply to the judicial nomination commission every five (5) years and make those individuals selected as finalists, eligible only for the court in which they applied and were chosen during the five (5) years following their selection. The five (5) year eligibility provision would sunset and expire on July 1, 2028 unless extended by the general assembly. This act would take effect on July 1, 2026.

This act would classify research, intent and interest in healthcare services as protected healthcare data. The act sets forth additional responsibilities for regulated entities that seek to collect and share consumer data including a requirement for specific and conspicuous consumer consent. It requires separate conspicuous consent from the consumer to sell this data. The act further stipulates acceptable uses for the data and what rights the consumer has regarding their data. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would add early voting to the fifty (50) feet buffer prohibitions against politicking during election day voting. This act would take effect upon passage.

Joint Resolution To Approve And Publish And Submit To The Electors A Proposition Of Amendment To The Constitution -- Of Suffrage (proposes To The Voters Of The State A Constitutional Amendment Regarding Eligibility To Vote And To Be A Candidate.)

This act would amend several statutes relating to elections and the dates for primaries and dates within which to file nomination papers and object to nomination papers. This act would take effect on January 1, 2028.

This act would repeal the provisions of § 34-7-4 which provides that no right of footway, except claimed in connection with a right to pass with carriages, could be acquired by prescription or adverse use for any length of time. This act would effectively eliminate the statutory prohibition against acquiring a right of footway by adverse possession. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would prohibit participation in the federal school voucher tax credit for contributions to scholarship-granting organizations unless both the general assembly and the governor approve such participation. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would increase fees paid to jurors to fifty dollars ($50.00) per day. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would create a peer-to-peer car sharing program, which will prescribe insurance coverage and other related details while using a car sharing application. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

This act would require that the primary election date, statutorily the eighth Tuesday preceding the biennial state elections, shall be held on the Wednesday immediately following Labor Day if the eighth Tuesday immediately follows Labor Day. This provision would not change any other deadlines established in Title 17. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require that notice of a judgment lien be sent within ten (10) business days of the recording of the lien. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

This act would require law enforcement agencies to obtain search warrants for electronic information, data, location information and other identifying information of subscribers and customers, except in specified circumstances. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would provide the review and appeal process for individuals applying for a permit or license to carry a handgun with the licensing authority or attorney general. This act would provide that an applicant denied a concealed carry handgun permit, could request a meeting with the licensing authority to reconsider the application. If the licensing authority fails to approve the application after the meeting, then an appeal for a trial de nova may be taken to the superior court. The act would further provide that the documents, records and proceedings before the licensing authority and before the superior court shall not be open to the public unless the applicant requests in writing that that hearing be open to the public. This act would take effect upon passage.

Under current law, employers are not obligated to pay overtime to their executive, administrative, and professional employees who are compensated through salary rather than hourly wages, unless the salary of such employees would, if calculated according to a 40-hour work week, fall below the state’s current minimum wage. This act would raise that cut-off and make additional salaried employees non-exempt and therefore eligible for overtime pay, by requiring small employers with one to fifty (1-50) employees and large employers with fifty (50) or more employees, to pay overtime wages to currently exempt workers, if their salary falls below a threshold based upon multipliers of minimum hourly wage, for a forty (40) hour workweek. For example, for the year 2027, the multiplier would be one and one-half (1½) times the minimum hourly wage for a forty (40) hour workweek for small employers with less than fifty (50) employees and two (2) times the minimum hourly wage for a forty (40) hour workweek for large employers with more than fifty (50) employees, resulting in overtime entitlement for more employees. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would increase the number of days a retired municipal employee could work in a calendar year without interruption of their pension benefits from seventy-five (75) to ninety (90) days. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would allow unemployment benefits for workers who are on strike or are locked out of their workplaces by their employer due to a labor dispute. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would amend the OPA desk audit classification rules to eliminate supervising other employees as a factor for position upgrade eligibility. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would provide 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. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would repeal 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. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would raise the gross weight of a vehicle eligible for reserve forces plates from eight thousand five hundred pounds (8,500 lbs.) to twelve thousand pounds (12,000 lbs.) and have the United States flag on the plates. The act would also spell out the requirements for proof of honorable discharge to be furnished to the division of motor vehicles and the renewal month for the passenger and commercial vehicles. This act would take effect upon passage.

This would establish 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. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would create a program through which fire departments and fire districts are notified of locations of registrants of electric and hybrid motor vehicles by the division of motor vehicles. This act would take effect six (6) months after passage.

This act would eliminate the registration and service charge fees for National Guard plates. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would remove the fee for registration and plate transfer for a Distinguished Service Cross registration plate. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

Senate Resolution Commemorating The 83rd Anniversary Of The "four Chaplains", The Four Men Of God Who Sacrificed Their Lives During World War Ii So That Others Might Live

This act would, with limited exception, prohibit the compelled production of a private key as it relates to a digital asset, digital identity or other interest or right. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would establish regulations regarding the use of artificial intelligence in mental healthcare treatments. This act would take effect upon passage.

Senate Resolution Creating A Special Legislative Commission To Study Blockchain And Cryptocurrency (creates A Ten Member Commission To Recommend Legislative Proposals For Blockchain And Cryptocurrency, And Submits An Interim Progress Report By January 5, 2027, And A Final Report By January 5, 2028, And Expires On February 5, 2028.)

This act would declare that any change in producer compensation would be a contract modification. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would strengthen consumer protections by including definitions related directly to deceptive trade practices inherent in the insurance claim process. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would amend the composition of the Rhode Island school safety committee by adding an additional member who is a representative from the Rhode Island School Resource Officer Association. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would allow a modification to federal adjusted gross income for all social security income for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2027. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would exempt from sales tax the trade-in values of motorcycles as well the proceeds received as a result of an unrecovered stolen or total loss of a motorcycle. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would exempt the trade-in value of pickup trucks weighing fourteen thousand pounds (14,000 lbs.) or less from sales and use tax. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would create an additional Rhode Island personal income tax of three percent (3.00%) on taxable income over approximately six-hundred and forty thousand dollars ($640,000) in 2026 dollars, impacting only the top one percent (1%) in income of personal income tax filers. This tax would apply to taxable income after all appropriate exemptions and deductions and not to total income. The existing three-bracket personal income tax structure would remain in place. Each year, Rhode Island’s division of taxation would apply an inflation adjustment to revise the top one percent (1%) cut-off for the following tax year. This act would not apply retroactively to prior tax years or to taxable income from prior tax years. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

This act would authorize an annual two and one-half percent (2.5%) escalation for all active and retired police and firefighter's retirement pension allowance, compounded each year on January 1 following the year of retirement and continuing yearly, on that date. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would eliminate the estate tax in Rhode Island. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would include 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. This act would take effect upon passage.

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.)

This act would prohibit any city, town, quasi-municipal corporation or public corporation from assessing any existing agricultural operation or agricultural land for the extension of any water utilities past the property and from imposing any connection fee. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would set the zoning statewide for “family child care homes” to no fewer than twelve (12) children maximum. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would restore the requirement that a local review board issue findings for denial in reviewing a comprehensive permit request. The act also clarifies that affordable housing units shall be included in each town and city when the building permits for said units are granted. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would repeal the provisions of chapter 45.1 of title 11, regarding unreasonable noise levels. This act would also provide that cities and towns would have the power to establish, by ordinance, standards for the control of noise originating within the municipality. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would permit non-sworn public safety officers and security guards at private colleges and universities, to detain individuals within the campus jurisdiction, when the officer or guard has reasonable grounds to believe that the person has committed a criminal offense. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require all schools and educational institutions to develop and implement a school safety plan that would provide for immediate access to school facilities by first responders in an emergency. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would make it a felony for any person required to register as a sex offender to live within three hundred feet (300’) of a school as defined in § 11-37.1-2. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would increase the sentences for carrying a stolen firearm when committing a crime of violence and for possessing a stolen firearm and would require that a person convicted of these offenses serve a period of time in which they would not be eligible for parole or probation. Penalties would increase for second and subsequent offenses. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would prohibit defendants who are serving probation for driving under the influence death resulting from earning good time off their probationary period. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would make 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. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would criminalize and set mandatory minimum sentences for the unlawful interference with traffic upon the federal and state highways of this state. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would increase the penalty for cruelty to animals, first offense, from eleven months to twelve months incarceration. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would make it a misdemeanor to knowingly file a false report of misconduct of any law enforcement official, public safety official, or hospital staff. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would reduce the number of signatures needed on nomination papers for a candidate to be a delegate to a national presidential convention to 50 voters. This act would also amend and reduce the number of days before an election for which nomination papers must be submitted before a presidential preference primary to 54 days, and would reduce the number of days by which the local board of canvassers would need to certify the signatures to the secretary of state to 50 days before the presidential preference primary. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would increase the penalties for a first offense of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death to a minimum ten (10) years in incarceration, a minimum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) and a minimum license revocation of ten (10) years. It would also increase other penalties in this section from a minimum of five (5) years to ten (10) years in prison for violation. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would make a first offense of possessing a large capacity feeding device a misdemeanor and subsequent offenses felonies. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would make an assault upon a sports official during and in the course of their official duties a felony. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would clarify 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. This act would also designate that workers furnished by a workers’ cooperative corporation would be considered independent contractors, and the workers’ cooperative with the respect to those workers would be exempt from the requirements that to the extent that a workers’ cooperative has stakeholders (owners) who are employees (members), the workers’ cooperative would be subject to the provisions of title 28 related to employees including, but not limited to: department of labor and training payroll taxes, temporary disability insurance, state unemployment insurance, and workers’ compensation insurance. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would establish 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. This act would also establish a new scheme outlining the request for proposal process for the construction of public-private qualified facilities and would further provide for the state to exercise the power of eminent domain relating to the construction of such qualified facilities. This act would take effect upon passage.

Effective January 1, 2028, this act would increase the hourly minimum wage in accordance with the Consumer Price Index for the Northeast Region for the previous four (4) fiscal years. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require that before any fire fighter or police officer is eligible to receive benefits for an illness or injury sustained while off duty, that they prove they had reasonable grounds to believe that an emergency existed that required immediate need of their assistance. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would permit 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 division of motor vehicles. This act would take effect on July 1, 2026.

This act would authorize the use of campaign funds for security related expenses, including home or office security systems and ongoing monitoring services. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would expand the duties of the small business ombudsman, by also having the ombudsman serve as the Rhode Island commerce corporation's small business advocate. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would prohibit the charging of interchange fees on taxes and gratuities. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

This act would extend certain protocols applicable to motor vehicle manufacturers to their distributors and factory branches, as well as update warranty reimbursement and recall obligation policies. This act would take effect on October 1, 2026.

This act would prohibit force-feeding to create a force-fed poultry product or the hiring of another to engage in force-feeding of a poultry product. The act would prohibit the sale of a force- fed poultry product or food containing a force-fed poultry product. Any violations would be subject to a civil penalty of five hundred dollars ($500) per violation. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

This act would allow retired state employees to be reemployed by a municipality with no restrictions and with no loss of their existing retirement benefits. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would direct the department of environmental management to administer and manage the land and natural resources of the Big River Reservoir. This act would also extend several tax credits and incentives that are set to expire on December 31, 2026, to December 31, 2028. This act would also authorize the state energy benchmarking and performance standards program. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would provide that funds or monies collected by designated quasi-public corporations or agencies not be subject to transfer or reallocation by order of the governor or general assembly. This act would also mandate that quasi-public corporations limit the use of all funds and property to perform the function or service for which the quasi-public corporation was created and would prohibit the transfer or reallocation of funds held by a quasi-public corporation. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would raise the earned-income tax credit to thirty percent (30%) for the tax years 2027 and beyond. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would eliminate the age requirement for modification on Social Security income. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would allow a modification to federal adjusted gross income of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) of social security income for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would add probation officers and parole officers to the definition of "police officer" for purposes of salary payments during line of duty illness or injury. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would authorize the tax administrator to waive interest and penalties on delinquent taxes paid in full during a one week amnesty period. This act would reinstate a suspended driver’s license upon payment in full. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would eliminate the sales tax on taxi services and pet care services. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would, change the teacher and state employees' retirement benefit calculations' cutoff date from July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2012, for all retirement members eligible to and who retire on or after the new July 1, 2012, cutoff date. The average compensation would be reduced from the highest five (5) years to the average of the highest three (3) consecutive years, of compensation, within the total service, when the average compensation was the highest. This act would take effect upon passage.

Joint Resolution Making An Appropriation Of $15,200,000 To Be Used To Purchase Pfas-free Firefighting Gear (authorizes The Appropriation Of The Sum Of $15,200,000 To Cities And Towns To Purchase Firefighter And Rescue Personnel Protective Gear Which Is Pfas Free.)

This act would make numerous changes to the access to public records act, including clarifying various provisions, increasing the sanctions for knowing and willful violations of the law, and making certain traffic accident data and preferred license plate information public. Additionally, this act would include a police report of an incident that does not lead to an arrest as accessible to public records request. Any final reports of investigations conducted by internal affairs would be accessible to public records request. All police worn body camera footage would be accessible to public records request and would be made available within thirty (30) days. Arrest logs made within thirty (30) days of arrest, changed from five (5) days previously, would be accessible to public records request. A civil fine for public officials who knowingly violate this chapter would increase from two thousand dollars ($2,000) to four thousand dollars ($4,000), and if a public official recklessly violates this chapter a fine of two thousand dollars ($2,000) is a change from one thousand dollars ($1,000) previously. There would also be relief in the case of a person filing frivolous request with the intent to disrupt government operations. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would make offenses against gift card holders subject to the penalties for larceny. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require all requests for public records to sufficiently identify information to permit verification of the requester’s identity and would allow the public body to communicate regarding the request. This act would not allow for anonymous public records requests. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would provide that a person over the age of eighteen (18) years can purchase and possess a stun gun or electronic dart gun and also prohibits the sale of a stun gun or electronic dart gun to any person under the age of eighteen (18) years. It would also criminalize the use of a stun gun or electronic dart gun in any criminal offense or the use of a stun gun or electronic dart gun against any police officer engaged in the execution of their duty. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would provide that effective January 1, 2027 contract provisions relative to arbitration would not apply to agreements covered by 9 U.S.C. §§ 1 through 16 and extend the time for a party to apply for a stay of arbitration to one hundred-eighty (180) days. The act would also invalidate any provision of an agreement that penalizes a party for seeking legal representation in an arbitration; and require the arbitrator to provide notice of default to a party for failure to pay fees and afford the party in default to challenge any notice of default. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

This act would make it a felony to file a false police report of a crime carrying a sentence of imprisonment of not less than five (5) years nor more than twenty (20) years, and would carry a sentence of imprisonment of not less than one year nor more than five (5) years for filing such false report. This act would further make it a felony to file a false police report of a crime carrying a sentence of imprisonment of twenty (20) years or more, and would carry a sentence of imprisonment of not less than five (5) years nor more than twenty (20) years for filing such false report. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would increase the sentences, fines or both for § 31-27-1 ("driving so as to endanger, resulting in death") and § 31-27-1.1 ("driving so as to endanger, resulting in personal injury"). This act would also repeal the enhancement of the punishments for subsequent offenses of § 31-27-2.2 ("driving under the influence, resulting in death") and § 31-27-2.6 ("driving under the influence, resulting in serious bodily injury") and would replace the enhancement of punishments with an amended single range of sentences, fines or both. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require that the license plates of a vehicle be impounded by a law enforcement 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 a motor vehicle under the influence of a narcotic drug or intoxicating liquor and would allow temporary substitute plates if the court determines such impoundment of license plates would cause undue hardship to dependents of offender. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would enlarge the definitions of prohibited acts that constitute hazing, make principals, coaches, athletic directors and others responsible for knowingly failing to take reasonable measures to prevent hazing and would punish serious injury by up to ten (10) years of imprisonment. This act would also increase the civil and criminal penalties for hazing and permitting hazing. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would recognize that municipal employees have the opportunity to utilize binding arbitration and would establish new factors for the arbitrators to consider. These factors would include comparisons of wages and hourly conditions of employment in similarly skilled jobs. This act would also grant the arbitrators power to render an award over all negotiated matters, including the expenditure of money. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would establish a maximum hourly workday for all peace officers as defined in § 12-7-21 and would establish a violation rate of pay of double time and a half. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would authorize the department of transportation to issue a blanket permit to and collect a fee from operators to allow the movement of self-propelled cranes on state roads and highways, which cranes are in excess of size and weight load requirements. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would permit upon certification that the veteran is no longer able to operate a vehicle, the transfer of the plate to the veteran's spouse. Additionally, a disabled veteran license plate may be issued to an eligible veteran or their spouse. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would define "military-connected student", "advance enrollment" and "open enrollment" to give the military connected student flexibility in choosing a school district. This act would take effect upon passage.

This would allow the dependents of a national guard member, who is in good standing, to be eligible for tuition assistance. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require all public utilities to maintain a customer service facility within the state to perform services such as addressing customer inquiries and accepting bill payments. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require any person or business engaged in the sale of goods or services, and who offers a discount to its customers for utilizing automatic payment systems, via ACH or EFT or similar payment systems, provide the same discount to any person who is sixty-five (65) years of age or older who makes a payment using paper checks. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would permit, 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. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would amend the statute establishing Rhode Island's voluntary quality rating system for early care and education and school-age child care by requiring that, for school-age child care programs operating in RIDE-certified school buildings, facility-based elements of observational tools or environment rating scales (including SACERS or successor tools) be deemed met or treated neutrally in order that such facility-based elements do not reduce a program's quality rating level. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would add probation and parole officers to the list of state law enforcement professionals, for purpose of retirement on service allowance. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

This act would allow the waiver of interest on overdue taxes for commercial properties. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would provide that adjunct faculty members at any state college or university who teach at least fifty percent (50%) of the hours regularly worked by full-time faculty in an academic semester would be eligible for the same state hospital care and surgical-medical service benefit as other full-time state employees. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would mandate insurance coverage for scalp cooling treatments for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy to prevent hair loss during chemotherapy treatments. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would make it an unfair claim practice whenever a dental insurer refuses to honor a “direction to pay” after a request by the claimant or the insured. This act would allow the insurer to review the records of the service provider to verify that the services were received, but prohibits the insurer from modifying the amount of benefits to be paid. This act would not allow a contract between the insurer and a dental service provider requiring the provider to accept payment for services only by virtual credit card. This act would take effect upon passage.

This bill would require landlords of residential properties built before 1978, to register lead hazard mitigation information with the department of health and the information would remain private and only accessible by specific entities. The act also would make revisions to prohibited retaliatory conduct and the statewide mandatory rental registry. The act further would allow landlords to register free of charge, restrict DOH from creating any additional burdens, and promptly issue lead documentation. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would substitute "housing resources commission" with the "department of health" for lead hazard mitigation purposes. It would also make it easier for a property owner to release funds placed into an escrow account, as long as the money is needed to make required repairs or improvements. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would define squatter as a person occupying a dwelling unit who is not a party to a rental agreement, not a periodic tenant or is not authorized by the property owner, landlord or tenant to occupy the dwelling unit or structure. A person found guilty of squatting would be guilty of a misdemeanor and punished by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, or both. The act would also provide certain remedies for a property owner or landlord including seeking police assistance to remove and arrest a squatter. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would amend the section of law relative to violations for driving after denial, revocation or suspension of a license and would expand the list of offenses for which an unlicensed motorist would be in violation. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would establish a digital electronics right to repair, which would allow for digital electronic equipment and parts that are sold in this state on or after January 1, 2027, to be repaired at an independent repair provider. Additionally, this act would require an original equipment manufacturer to make available to any independent repair facility any documentation, parts, and tools required for diagnosis, maintenance, or other repairs. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would change the date for the election of delegates to the conventions from the fourth Tuesday in April to the first Tuesday in March 2028. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would increase 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). This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would direct the department of elementary and secondary education, in conjunction with the Rhode Island interscholastic league, to promulgate rules and regulations to address, minimize, and establish an anti-hazing policy for acts of hazing in student athletics. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would greatly expand the obligations of employers to create, maintain and retain their employees' personnel records. It would also require that records be retained for at least three (3) years after the employee's termination. It also significantly increases the financial penalties for each violation, from fifteen hundred dollars ($1,500) to three thousand dollars ($3,000). This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

This act would create a comprehensive statutory framework to address and regulate the use of artificial intelligence in the workplace, considering the interests of employers and employees. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act, beginning on July 1, 2026, would allow state union employees to negotiate longevity payments in their collective bargaining agreements. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would establish the workplace psychological safety act to provide protection for employees from workplace psychological abuse (bullying) by requiring employers and representative employees to take all reasonable steps to prevent workplace bullying and respond appropriately thereto. This act would also provide a cause of action for employees to pursue injunctive relief and/or actual and punitive damages. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would establish a maximum hourly workday for all peace officers as defined in § 12-7-21 and would establish a violation rate of pay of double time and a half. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require employers to provide each employee, defined as a nonexempt employee who works at a warehouse distribution center, upon hire, with a written description of each quota to which the employee is subject, including the quantified number of tasks to be performed or materials to be produced or handled, within the defined time period and any potential adverse employment action that could result from failure to meet the quota. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

This act would add the governor’s commission on disabilities to the list of participants of the disability parking enforcement program. Additionally, beginning January 1, 2027 the disability parking enforcement program shall submit an annual report to the governor’s commission on disabilities. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would allow holders of a Class P license to purchase alcoholic beverages from either a retail or wholesale establishment in the State of Rhode Island and allow wholesalers to refuse to fulfill orders permitted under this section, or set minimum quantities or dollar values per order. It would also permit caterers to serve and leave an event host's alcoholic beverages at their residence so long as it is under the caterer's control for the entirety of the event. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would enact the State of Rhode Island interior design practice act to control and regulate the professional practice of interior designers. This act would establish a board existing of seven (7) members, four (4) of whom would be registered interior designers. The board would have the authority to promulgate rules and regulations to register interior designers, regulate the unlawful practice of interior design, and enforcement of such rules and regulations. This act would take effect on July 1, 2026.

This act would amend the renewable energy standard obligations of entities to sell at retail to Rhode Island customers. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would create the interchange fee restriction act prohibiting interchange fees on sales and use tax or excise tax when payment is made with a credit or debit card. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would allow a modification to federal adjusted gross income of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) of social security income for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2027. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would amend the current law on teacher’s creditable service so that a teacher who takes an unpaid parental or medical leave during the year would be given credit for a year of service for that school year if they served a minimum of one-hundred thirty-five school days. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would suspend the gross earnings tax on electric and gas companies until January 1, 2036. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

This act would require that Medicaid enrollment be maintained or provided to all inmates in the first thirty (30) days of incarceration at the adult correctional institutions within the department of corrections and the last thirty (30) days of incarceration when possible. It would also require that the executive office of health and human services, in accordance with federal law, apply for an § 1115 waiver to offer a program to provide Medicaid benefits to a qualified inmate for up to at least thirty (30) days immediately before the day on which the qualified inmate is released by the department of corrections. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

This act would exempt a single-family, primary residence, owned by a taxpayer, who is at least sixty-five (65) years old, and has been a Rhode Island resident for at least forty (40) years. This act would exclude multi-family and income-producing properties. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require that healthcare professionals provide written informed consent signed by the recipient, or in the case of a minor child, by a parent or guardian prior to administration of a vaccine. It would prohibit discrimination against individuals who refuse or delay vaccines. The act would also provide for civil recovery and fines of up to twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for violations. It would further prohibit DCYF from investigating a parent/guardian for their failure to vaccinate their child This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would prohibit municipalities from restricting certain landscaping equipment based on its power source. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would provide guidelines regarding placing restrictions on residential recovery houses. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would create 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 to the greatest extent feasible, regardless of age or physical ability. This act would take effect upon passage for purposes of rulemaking and implementation and shall apply to covered dwelling units permitted on or after July 1, 2027.

This act would redefine "Political Party" and define and distinguish between "major parties" and "minor parties" based on the total number of votes a party's candidate received in the previous election among other factors. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would establish the rights of adoptive/foster children or those in guardianship, to have post-separation visitation with their sibling(s). This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would provide any police report and all communications between railroad employees involving a railroad fatality not be made public. Additionally, this act would make a violation of this section a misdemeanor. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would incorporate cable, broadband, Internet, and wireless means into the crime of injuring electric and communication lines, authorize municipalities to grant zoning relief for the protection of critical infrastructure that has been or is reasonably at risk of vandalism, trespass, theft, or damage by extreme weather or climate change related disaster, and include wireless communication infrastructure in the definitions of critical infrastructure for disaster response and for obligations related to purchase and sale of regulated metals. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

This act would allow someone convicted of a previous felony or a private complaint to be eligible under § 12-10-12 for a misdemeanor filing. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would add a provision that allows a tenant to pay the last month's rent or any other prepaid rent. It would also increase the amount that a security deposit can be requested from one to two (2) months of rent. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would administratively seal, upon request of the defendant following the conclusion of the matter in district court, individual counts of any criminal complaints dismissed pursuant to Rule 48(a) that were filed on or after October 1, 2026. This act would take effect on October 1, 2026.

This act would provide for paid leave for a state employee who donates an organ. The 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. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would establish a restricted receipt account at the department of labor and training (“DLT”) to be used for hospitality industry workforce training grants, including certified food and alcohol safety training programs to be offered in multiple languages, funded by an annual fee of fifty ($50.00) dollars to be charged by the department of health (“DOH”) to food service establishments. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027

This act would allow, but not require, local licensing authorities to grant temporary periods for extended indoor service hours under existing liquor licenses for certain 2026 FIFA World Cup Tournament matches occurring between June 11, 2026 and July 3, 2026, for operation until up to 4 a.m. with liquor service until up to 3 a.m. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would repeal § 3-7-19 which prohibits retail liquor licenses within two hundred feet (200') of schools and religious institutions. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require the public utility commission (PUC) in conjunction with the division of public utilities and carriers (DPUC) to produce a comprehensive study for the general assembly by April 30, 2027, to be transmitted to the governor, speaker of the house and the senate president. The study would require the PUC and the DPUC to review all energy programs, compare them with other states and formulate a plan to lower energy costs for consumers in this state. This act would take effect upon passage.

Senate Resolution Commemorating The 182nd Anniversary Of Dominican Republic Independence On February 27, 2026

This act would amend the Identity Theft Protection Act of 2015. The act would eliminate the definitions for "classified data" and "personal information" and establish a definition for "personally identifiable information". This act would also add division of enterprise technology strategy and services (ETSS) or successor state agency, or successor to the chief digital officer to notification requirement provisions of the chapter. This act would raise the penalty provisions for violations. This act would take effect on July 1, 2027.

This act would apply to electric-generating facilities owned or operated by non-regulated power producers, a domestic electric utility or its affiliates generating electricity on or after January 1, 2025, regarding the sale and transmission of electricity, restructuring of the facility, and provisions of last-resort service. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would ensure that any public school with available seats, after completion of the initial enrollment period for students residing in that school’s designated attendance area, would make such seats available to other students residing within the same school district. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would create a new category of residential solar energy generation for small portable solar generation devices. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would establish phased reduction of personal income tax rates. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would provide modifications for payments of interest on student loans shall be subtracted from federal adjusted gross income to an amount equal to the payments of interest for the satisfaction of outstanding student loans. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would increase the fines for certain traffic offenses to one hundred dollars ($100) and add fines of one hundred dollars ($100) for offenses required by law but omitted from the schedule. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would restate the UTGR Master Contract and the Twin River-Tiverton Master Contract and would consolidate the marketing program of each into the Consolidated Marketing Program. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would exempt from sales tax the amount paid for a parking space by a patron for one hour or less, in or on a parking facility on which a commercial establishment is located. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would amend the current law on low-income housing to include moderate-income housing and would eliminate the income percentages used to determine qualifications for low- or moderate-income housing. The act would also add the executive office of housing to the government office that is required to host a database containing rental or sale of residential units. Additionally, the act would require owners of property qualifying as low- or moderate-income housing, to list the property on the database with certain exceptions. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

This act would eliminate existing mandated housing densities for lands used for drinking water as well as density bonuses for public drinking water supply watersheds and ground water classified as GAA, as defined in ground water regulations. The act would also require that the housing densities not exceed the availability of onsite drinking water supplies, introduce pollution making drinking water unsuitable for use, and stay within the capacity limits of any public water or sewer system. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would amend Rhode Island condominium act to require condominium associations to conduct periodic structural conditions surveys and reserve studies, share the results with unit owners, develop repair and funding plans, and maintain a separate reserve account funded by at least fifteen percent (15%) of monthly assessments. This act would take effect on January 1, 2028.

This act would prohibit the imposition of fees associated with home modifications that are specifically required to accommodate a veteran’s disability. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would allow a municipality to set an additional conveyance tax rate of not more than ten dollars ($10.00) for each five hundred dollars ($500), or fractional part of that amount, of the consideration in excess of nine hundred thousand dollars ($900,000) or such higher amount as adopted by ordinance. This act would also require that the excess conveyance taxes collected alternatively be deposited in a restricted account and distributed within two (2) years, to be used only for affordable housing for individuals or families at or below eighty percent (80%) of the area median income or transferred to state housing agencies for use in the community to develop affordable housing. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would prohibit cities or towns that implement a rent control ordinance from raising property taxes and such prohibition would last for as long as the rent control ordinance is in effect. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would provide a system for cities, towns and state agencies to designate certain roads, paths and trails as special ways subject to restrictions on paving, widening and clearing. Further, this act would provide that prior to a highway being determined abandoned by a city or town council, a vote must be taken on whether to preserve a public easement. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require that the inclusion of affordable housing as part of a development shall provide that the affordable housing will be of comparable size and quality to the market rate housing. If there is a requirement for one or more affordable housing units triggered by the size of a development, the units shall be created. The average cost of developing a single unit of affordable housing would be determined annually based on the average, per unit development cost of affordable homes financed by Rhode Island housing over the previous three (3) years. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would clarify that a magistrate or sentencing judge sitting in a court with jurisdiction over motor vehicle offenses has discretion to grant a conditional hardship license for a first-time offender upon request and would allow a magistrate or sentencing judge discretion in issuing conditional hardship licenses by imposing a sixty (60) day mandatory loss of license prior to any imposition of the hardship license to individuals with prior offenses under this chapter. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require nonprofit entities who receive grants or other funding to provide a detailed list of their ten highest paid directors, officers or employees’ salaries and benefits, including the names of said individuals. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would authorize the state police to enforce municipal ordinances; provided that, the ordinances provide for civil penalties only. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would establish the criminal offense of real estate title fraud. Additionally, this act would allow municipalities to refuse to record “suspicious documents” from persons who are not trusted submitters. The act would also create penalties for real estate title fraud. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would add 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. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would increase the fine for speeding, one to ten miles per hour (1-10 mph) in excess of posted speed limit in a residential or school zone to one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125) and would increase the fine to two hundred fifty dollars ($250) for speed in excess of eleven miles per hour (11 mph) in a residential or school zone. This act would take effect upon passage.

Joint Resolution Respectfully Requesting A Convention Of The States Under Article V Of The United States Constitution (petitions Congress To Call A Convention For The Purpose Of Proposing Amendments To The U.s. Constitution To Impose Restraints On The Federal Government.)

This act would increase the fees charged for filings and writs of execution in the district court, superior court and family court. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require owners or landlords who rent shoreline property to provide their tenants, before the start of the tenancy, with a detailed, written disclosure regarding public shoreline access rights. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

This act would create multiple chapters relating to project labor agreements to promote the use of project labor agreements on large-scale state public works projects to promote the supply of reliable and adequate qualified labor. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would ensure 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. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would expand the benefit definitions of temporary care giver leave to include a grandchild and care recipient and would increase a leave benefits period to ten (10) weeks for 2027 and twelve (12) weeks for 2028. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would grant an apprentice a two hundred eighty-eight (288) hour credit upon completion of course of study from a fully accredited trade school towards the required five hundred seventy-six (576) hours needed for a journeyperson's license and increase from two (2) to four (4) years of employment under the supervision of a duly licensed master plumber and completed eight thousand (8,000) hours of on-the-job training. The act would also require an apprentice for several mechanical trades to work under a duly licensed pipefitter for five (5) years upon registration with the department of labor and training (DLT). This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would amend the workers' compensation reimbursement provisions related to the liability of third person for damages. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require all healthcare workers and all medical direct support professionals who are employed in a healthcare facility, as defined in § 27-18-1.1, on any Sunday or holiday, to be compensated at the rate of time and one-half. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would create a new chapter to provide for non-charitable bingo by the state lottery division. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would establish an opportunity for employee ownership and the process whereby, if the owner of a qualified business decides to sell said qualified business, the owner would notify all current full-time and part-time employees and provide them with a thirty (30) day window in which to initiate a process to potentially purchase the business as a workers' cooperative. This act would take effect January 1, 2027.

This act would authorize the administrator of the division of motor vehicles to make available special license plates for the Rhode Island Manufacturers Association. This act would take effect six (6) months after passage.

This act would allow 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. The act would also provide that manufacturers of alcoholic beverages be allowed to hold a wholesaler’s license if they are a party to a labor peace agreement with a bona fide labor organization and meet certain other conditions. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would create the Rhode Island Pedestrian Safety Act which would authorize cities and towns to use automated road safety monitoring systems to enforce stop sign, crosswalk, and pedestrian right-of-way violations in school zones, hospital zones, and other designated safety zones. This act would impose a fifty dollar ($50.00) civil fine on the registered owner. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would define "military-connected student" and permit military-connected students to enroll by remote registration upon presentation of military orders confirming that the parent or guardian shall be stationed in this state during the current or following school year. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would freeze obligated entities’ annual requirements regarding percentages of retail sales of electricity obtained from renewable energy sources for the years 2027, 2028, and 2029. This act would further permit the use of nuclear energy obtained outside the state for use within the state to achieve the state’s renewable energy standard. This act would take effect on July 1, 2026.

This act would create the Rhode Island Delete Act, requiring any entity that knowingly collects, shares or sells to third parties the personal data of a consumer with whom the business does not have a direct relationship, to register with the department of business regulation. Consumers may request that their personal information be deleted through an appropriate deletion mechanism as established by the department of business regulation. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would amend how architecture firms and individual architects are registered. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

This act would require that certain data centers requiring large amounts of electricity be required to fund the cost of necessary infrastructure improvements to supply such electricity. This act would take effect upon passage.

CORPORATIONS, ASSOCIATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS -- UNIFORM PARTNERSHIP ACT -- THE RHODE ISLAND LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY ACT - Replaces the existing limited liability company act with a newer and updated model act.

This act would prohibit unauthorized placement of merchants on advertising platform order interfaces, and would prohibit third-party restaurant reservation services. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027

This act would replace the existing chapter on this subject by requiring school districts to organize concussion oversight teams, develop removal-from-play, return-to-play, and return-to- learn protocols, and develop a concussion brochure. This act would repeal chapter 16-91, the "school and youth programs concussion act." This act would take effect on July 1, 2026.

This act would mandate that interscholastic or intramural athletic teams that are sponsored by a public school or a private school whose teams compete against a public school, be designated as: (1) "males", "men" or "boys"; (2) "females", "women" or "girls"; or (3) "coed" or "mixed". It would prohibit athletic teams designated for "females", "women" or "girls" to be open to male students but would allow any student to participate in any sport designated as being for "males", "men", "boys", "coed" or "mixed". The act would also prohibit a government entity, licensing, accrediting or athletic organization from entertaining a complaint, investigating or taking adverse action against a school for maintaining separate teams for students of the female sex. Further, the act would allow private causes of action for damages sustained as a result of violations of the act affecting students and schools. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would amend the Consumer PFAS Ban Act of 2024 by clarifying enforcement provisions, providing the department of environmental management (DEM) with authority to join a multijurisdictional clearinghouse to assist in carrying out the requirements of the law, and providing DEM with the authority to exempt a product or category of products from the prohibitions in the law. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would establish a property tax deferral program for senior citizens, disabled persons or veterans. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require that the state’s share to support public library services in fiscal year 2027 be fixed at twenty-five percent (25%) of the amount appropriated and expended by the city or town in the second preceding fiscal year. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would provide that all public officers and employees, teacher retirees and municipal employees, in addition to their defined benefit retirement allowance, receive cost of living adjustments of up to three percent (3%) but in no event, zero percent (0%) and that the adjustment be compounded into the retiree’s total retirement benefits each year. The benefits shall be based on the retirement benefit received on January 1, 2026, or, if not receiving benefits at the time of the passage of this act, then upon their defined benefit retirement entitlement. These benefits shall be prospective only and this act shall not modify or increase any contribution by any employee into the retirement system. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would define public-private partnerships and provide the framework to encourage the use of public-private partnerships for proposals for state purchases. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would permit hit and run victims suffering serious bodily injury to recover under the crime victim compensation program. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would, under the emergency fund for victims, increase the share of a victim’s total award that may be used for relocation related expenses but would not increase total compensation available to a victim. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would include the deputy chief of inspection and inspector within the provision of law related to retirement on service allowance relating to correctional officers. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would exempt from the sales tax meals served by licensed child care centers. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would remove the definition of "totally and permanently disabled" from the general law affording college tuition paid by the state to the spouse and children of active members of the police force who are killed or disabled during duty. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would repeal the older of the two existing chapters related to speech-language pathologists and audiologists and would make several amendments to reconcile the two statutes into one. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would allow electronic notifications modernize language for notifications, synchronize renewal dates for certain license-types, streamline licensing requirements across several license-types, and update the unlicensed health care practices statute. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would permit reimbursement for dental hygienists from "other insurance" or a third-party payor such as Medicare. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would clarify the manner in which certain dental insurance benefits are paid directly to the provider. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

This act would clarify 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. This act would allow owners of a substandard lot of record with more than one dwelling, to subdivide the lot such that each dwelling is treated as on its own lot. This act would also expand the circumstances in which an accessory dwelling is treated as its own lot. This act would further expand the circumstances in which an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) may be allowed by right, clarify the extent to which local authorities can set the maximum size of ADUs, in relation to the gross area of the principal dwelling, and ensure the right of municipalities to require year-round occupancy for such units. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would permit property owners or contractors to utilize an independent building inspector if the municipality’s building inspector does not inspect the property within twenty (20) days of notification. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would increase the minimum hourly wage commencing January 1, 2028, by an amount equal to the total percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the Northeast Region for the calendar year 2027. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would provide that all contractual provisions in a firefighters collective bargaining agreement would continue until a successor agreement has been reached or an interest arbitration award has been rendered. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would provide that Rhode Island state employees be eligible for temporary disability insurance effective January 1, 2027. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027, and would apply to wages earned on or after that date.

This act would extend the sunset from June 30, 2026 to June 30, 2029, on the increase in the total amount of earnings a partial-unemployment insurance claimant can receive before being entirely disqualified for unemployment insurance benefits and the increase in the amount of earnings disregarded when calculating a weekly benefit rate. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would allow a police officer to be reemployed by a state agency or department for purposes of working a state-funded detail subject to certain restrictions. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would move North Kingstown from the third division of the district court to the fourth division to better balance case workloads among the divisions. This act would take effect two (2) months after passage.

This act would for purposes of the judicial security act permit an authorized agent to file a written notice with a state, county, or municipal agency on behalf of a protected individual. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would establish the Super Speeder Accountability Act to be used as a sentencing option or enhancement for drivers charged with certain driving violations, including reckless driving and multiple moving offenses, subject to the provisions of § 31-27-24. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would add 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. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would update and streamline the law regarding loss or suspension of license by the division of motor vehicles, and eliminate the provisions that the division may suspend a license for reckless or negligent operation of a motor vehicle or for frequency of offense. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would provide measures to prevent title fraud by authorizing the recorder of deeds to require the production of a government-issued photographic identification card before recording a deed or certain other instruments and providing for a separate cause of action to quiet title after an attempted fraudulent conveyance. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027, and would apply to instruments presented for recording on or after that date.

This act would add 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. In the case of an alleged threat against these persons, a suspect would be charged only if the suspect is eighteen (18) years of age or older and is not a student at the school. No student enrolled or matriculating at the school would be charged under the provisions of this act. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require that any person convicted of a charge of driving under the influence or refusal to submit to a chemical test, have an ignition interlock system installed in their vehicle as part of any sentence before being eligible for a license reinstatement. It would also establish an ignition interlock system fund administered by the office of the general treasurer to provide funding for indigent defendants. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would amend the general law relative to right-of-way of pedestrians to reference the schedule of violations for the adjudication of traffic offenses contained in § 31.41.1-4. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would prohibit 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. Sections 1 and 2 of this act would take effect upon passage and section 3 would take effect six (6) months after passage.

This act would prohibit the state from seeking reimbursement for expenditures made on behalf of disabled Rhode Islanders from an ABLE account after the death of the designated beneficiary. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would fund the state crime victim compensation program through an additional one dollar ($1.00) fine on traffic violations, exclusive of violations related to the parking of vehicles. This act would take effect one year after passage.

This act would designate certain program workers and shift coordinators at the training school as peace officers while on duty. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would create the reproductive health and gender-affirming healthcare data privacy act. This act would further protect reproductive and gender-affirming care data. The act would require the holders of such data, with certain exceptions, obtain consent from a consumer before collecting the data. The act would prohibit the sale of the data without the permission of the consumer. The act contains several enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance with the law, including an individual cause of action and authority for the attorney general to bring enforcement of an action. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would create 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. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would establish the Rhode Island education funding and accountability act, which would include a totally revised and revamped formula for funding all levels of public education in Rhode Island. This act would take effect upon passage, with full implementation no later than fiscal year 2030.

This act would allow a modification for up to fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) of individual retirement account income that is included in federal adjusted gross income for the taxable year; provided that the person with individual retirement accounts has no income from pensions. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would prohibit municipalities from restricting certain landscaping equipment based on its power source unless the restriction was grandfathered in or as a result of a positive referendum vote. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require that in the town of Coventry, local regulations shall require approval of the permitting authority for both private and public improvements prior to final plan approval. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would prohibit an individual who operates a recreational vehicle in a reckless or negligent manner which hinders the movement of other vehicles with a group of two (2) more vehicles shall be guilty of a felony, punishable by imprisonment of up to two and one-half (2.5) years and a fine of up to two thousand dollars ($2,000). If any individuals in violation of this act are wearing masks at the time of violation, offenders are subject to an additional one year imprisonment and/or up to an additional five hundred dollars ($500) fine. This act would also subject any recreational vehicle used in violation of this act to forfeiture of that vehicle. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require a court considering evidence for the issuance of a temporary emergency protective order to cause the respondent to be taken into protective custody by law enforcement and sent to an emergency room of any hospital, pursuant to § 40.1-5-7.1. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would amend “Law Enforcement Officers’ Due Process, Accountability, and Transparency Act" by changing the provision for payment of legal fees to allow upon written application by both the law enforcement agency and the accused that the chairperson may appoint legal counsel for the hearing committee, and each party shall be responsible for fifty percent (50%) of the legal fees unless otherwise agreed. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would ban 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). The act would also authorize the impounding of the vehicle involved in the offense and subject it to a forfeiture hearing in the superior court. The act would also increase the penalty for disorderly conduct while wearing a mask. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would set an earlier deadline from June to April for filing of declaration of candidacy and nomination papers It would delay the filing of nomination papers from fifty-four (54) days to eighty-four (84) days, before the date of the primary. It would also change the date of primary elections, from the eighth Tuesday preceding the biennial state elections to the second Tuesday. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027

This act would dictate the length a search warrant involving a tracking device would be valid and provide a process to extend the time frame of the tracking device usage for good cause. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would prohibit individuals from conveying certain items to or from the training school for youth without prior consent by the executive director of the division of youth development at the department of children, youth and families. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would provide amendments to the assessment of filing fees required to appeal from certain matters adjudicated by the district court. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

Senate Resolution Joyously Celebrating "world Greek Language Day In The State Of Rhode Island" As Proclaimed By Unesco

Senate Resolution Expressing Deepest Condolences On The Passing Of The Honorable James M. Donelan, Esq.

Senate Resolution Expressing Deepest Condolences On The Passing Of Anna Casale

Senate Resolution Expressing Deepest Condolences On The Passing Of Francisco J. Batista

Senate Resolution Expressing Deepest Condolences On The Passing Of Vincent D'adamo, Jr.

This act would allow 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). This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would establish requirements for capital, liquidity, and corporate governance including audit, risk management, and board oversight, for nonbank mortgage servicers. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would update 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. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would allow any member of a federally recognized Indian tribe located in Rhode Island to receive recreational freshwater and saltwater fishing licenses free of charge. It would also make a technical correction to a separate section of law dealing with commercial fishing dealers' licenses. Sections 1 and 3 of this act would take effect on March 1, 2027. Section 2 of this act would take effect upon passage.

This act would, effective April 1, 2027, require every vehicle that operates in intrastate commerce be permanently marked with a USDOT number. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would give the Rhode Island traffic tribunal jurisdiction to hear first offense refusals to submit to a chemical test pursuant to the Alcohol Boating Safety Act. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would change the term of drug court to recovery court. This act would take effect upon passage.

Effective for retirement plan year 2026, the act would provide that all teachers and state employees who retired after July 1, 2012, their annual cost of living adjustment would be reinstated and municipal employees would receive a one-time cost of living adjustment of two and eighty nine one hundredths percent (2.89%). The act would also provide that public petition benefits from the state retirement system would not be subject to the state personal income tax. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would provide for a single, increased range of penalties for all driving offenses which result in serious bodily injury or death. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would amend existing expungement laws to be consistent with the new 10-year lookback period required for DUI charges. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would amend unfair discrimination statutes to encompass more protected categories and protect against additional forms of discrimination. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would allocate the assessment of fines for failure to provide reports to the board of elections between the candidate and the chairperson of the political action committee or political party committee based on the person or entity that is required to file such report, and would cap fines assessed by the board to one thousand dollars ($1,000) for any one report not filed. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would increase from seven (7) days to nine (9) days the period of time in which a request for a recount of the votes cast can be made to the board of elections. No certificates of election may be issued, until the recount if any is completed. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would redefine sports wagering sections and specifically change the percent the host facilities would receive on sports wagering. No later than January 1, 2027, the division would issue an open invitation to applicants for sports-wagering vendor contracts and then would award no less than four (4) and no more than six (6) individual sports-wagering vendor contracts. Additionally, this act would allow a sports-wagering vendor to be permitted to make operational decisions with regard to marketing, advertising, and promotions and reallocate the percentages of revenue that the vendors, the state and host facilities would receive from sports-wagering revenues. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would extend 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. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would include the senate majority leader in the joint committee on legislative services. This act would take effect upon passage.

Senate Resolution Celebrating St. Patrick's Day And Honoring Irish American Patriots' Role In The United States War Of Independence

Senate Resolution Honoring The Life And Legacy Of The Late Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio And Commemorating The Naming Of The Rhode Island Senate Chamber In His Honor

This act would provide that every gas distribution company that charges for the distribution of gas to any house or building would need to include certain information on any bill or statement provided to the consumer. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would amend the audit compliance requirements for municipalities' contributions to pension plans under the audit of accounts and installation of systems chapter of the general laws. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would allow a modification to federal adjusted gross income for all public pension benefits administered by the employees' retirement system of Rhode Island. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would allow 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. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would establish a restricted receipt account for the benefit of the Rhode Island public transit authority for use to fund its operations, funded by sales taxes collected from ride- share companies, which account would be exempt from indirect cost recovery provisions. This act would take effect on July 1, 2026.

This act would provide that violations of § 11-37.1-10 relating to failing to register as a sex offender are subject to the duration and frequency of registrations pursuant to § 11-37.1-4. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would restore 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. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require any person, as defined, who is 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 and cancellation provisions as mandated. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

This act would create a new class of retirement status license for retirees that had possessed a professional license issued by the division of professional regulation. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

Senate Resolution Expressing Deepest Condolences On The Passing Of Michael J. Murphy

This act would amend pension benefits for Rhode Island State Police members and pension benefit determinations to be based on date of hire and years of service. Retirements authorized after twenty (20) years of service would be entitled to fifty percent (50%) of whole salary. Members may accrue an additional three percent (3%) for each year of service over twenty (20) years with a cap of sixty-five percent (65%) of whole salary. Members may serve no more than a maximum of thirty (30) years. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would allow 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. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would provide that motor vehicle rental companies be entitled to establish non- liability for toll violations, administrative fees, and fines by providing a rental or lease agreement to the traffic tribunal as prima facie evidence that a lessee was the vehicle operator, and would exempt car rental companies from registration penalties resulting from out-of-state toll violations from operators using their rental vehicles. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would provide that any person convicted of shoplifting any item valued at less than one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) would be guilty of a misdemeanor and any subsequent offense would be punished as a felony. Any offense involving items valued at more than one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) would carry enhanced penalties. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would authorize judges to issue electronic warrants for DUI offenses under certain conditions. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would create an enhanced penalty defined as "road rage" to be applied in addition to penalties for convictions of certain misdemeanor and felony offenses where the behavior on the part of the operator or passenger includes certain intentionally aggressive, harassing, intimidating or dangerous behavior. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would designate bridge number 44-000000000007010, located in Providence, Rhode Island, where U.S. Route 44 (Smith Street) crosses over both northbound and southbound lanes of Interstate 95, roughly a tenth of a mile south of the junction with Route 146, as the “George Nee Bridge.” This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would establish sales and use tax exemptions for commercial forest product operations. Exempt would be machinery and equipment to include, but not limited to: sawmills, tractors, forklifts, log skidders, chainsaws and power generators. Additionally, the act would create a new motor vehicle registration for "forestry vehicles" and would provide that all forestry product operations machinery, including motor vehicles with forestry registration plates would be exempt from taxation. Municipalities would be allowed to tax forestry product operations buildings at a rate that reflects the actual cost incurred by the municipality in providing services to these buildings. Finally, this act would provide that forest product operations are permitted uses within all zoning districts of a municipality except where prohibited for public health or safety reasons or the protection of wildlife habitat. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would provide and clarify procedures for the administration of deep sedation and general anesthesia by certain types of nurses. This act would take on January 1, 2027.

This act would provide for punitive damages in civil actions where there is willful or wanton conduct or a reckless disregard for health, safety and welfare. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would increase the minimum claim amount necessary to require a matter involving motor vehicle liability be submitted to mandatory arbitration. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would provide for mandatory uninsured motorist coverage. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027, and shall apply prospectively to any new or renewed policy of insurance issued or renewed after January 1, 2027.

Senate Resolution Proclaiming April 24, 2026, As "armenian Genocide Remembrance Day" To Commemorate The Armenian Genocide Of 1915 To 1923, And In Honor Of Armenian-americans

This act would make a series of amendments and add new provisions of law to address business identity theft and deceptive solicitations sent to businesses and the unauthorized formation of entities. This act would take effect on July 1, 2026.

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.)

Senate Resolution Proclaiming April 16, 2026, To Be "community College Of Rhode Island Day" In The State Of Rhode Island

This act would provide 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 to offset expenses related to the growth in the healthcare and educational areas. This act would take effect upon passage.

Senate Resolution Congratulating The Eleanor Slater Hospital--zambarano Campus On The Recognition Of "zambarano Day" On May 5, 2026

Senate Resolution Proclaiming May 4th Through May 8th Of 2026, To Be "teacher Appreciation Week" In The State Of Rhode Island

Senate Resolution Proclaiming The First Saturday In May As "rhode Island Labyrinth Day" And Recognizing May 2, 2026, As "world Labyrinth Day" In The State Of Rhode Island

Senate Resolution Recognizing May 6, 2026, As A "national Day Of Reason" In The State Of Rhode Island And Affirming The Central Importance Of Reason In The Betterment Of Humanity

Commencing on July 1, 2026, this act would allow 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. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would amend the terms of the pension plan set forth in the respective collective bargaining agreements in effect on July 1, 2026, between Central Falls and the labor organizations representing members of the Central Falls plan and would reduce the contributions of active firefighters and police officers from eleven and seven tenths percent (11.7%) to ten percent (10%) of their salary or compensation. This act would take effect upon passage.

Thia act would create the public health data privacy and protection act to regulate the reporting of information relating to reportable disease data in the possession of the department of health. This act would take effect upon passage.

Senate Resolution Expressing Condolences On The Passing Of Mary Lou Di Padua

Senate Resolution Celebrating The Week Of May 6th Through May 12th Of 2026, As "national Nurses Week" In The State Of Rhode Island

Senate Resolution Celebrating The 160th Anniversary Of Child & Family And Recognizing Its Impact Across Rhode Island

Senate Resolution Honoring Executive Director Julie Leddy Upon Her Retirement After Twenty-nine Years Of Dedicated Service To The Coventry Housing Authority

Senate Resolution Commemorating May Of 2026, As "national Speech-language-hearing Month" In The State Of Rhode Island

Senate Resolution Congratulating Ripin On 35 Years Of Improving Rhode Islanders' Lives

Senate Resolution Celebrating "national Hospital Week" On May 10-16, 2026, In The State Of Rhode Island

Senate Resolution Honoring The Rhode Island Medical Society For Organizing The 2026 State House Advocacy Day

This act would authorize permitting authorities to require maintenance guarantees for a period of up to two (2) years following completion, inspection, and acceptance of public improvement projects. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would provide that motor vehicle rental companies be entitled to establish non- liability for toll violations, administrative fees, and fines by providing a rental or lease agreement to the traffic tribunal as prima facie evidence that a lessee was the vehicle operator. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would amend various sections of the workers' compensation statute relative to the court's jurisdiction, the court's authority to determine certain issues relative to claims, and the authority to determine the status of certain officer's injuries, reimbursement expenses, and would provide certain employees with a reimbursement for hearing aids. This act would take effect upon passage.

Senate Resolution Celebrating May Of 2026, As "asian American, Native Hawaiian, And Pacific Islander Heritage Month" In The State Of Rhode Island

Senate Resolution Proclaiming May 2026, To Be "als Awareness Month" In The State Of Rhode Island

Senate Resolution Declaring May 2026 As "brain Tumor Awareness Month" In The State Of Rhode Island

This act would authorize the town of Coventry to apportion the tax levy proportionately between residential and commercial properties. This act would take effect retroactively to December 31, 2025.

This act would establish the office of inspector general to investigate the management and operation of agencies in an effort to prevent and deter fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement in the expenditure of public funds. This act would take effect upon passage.

Senate Resolution Proclaiming May 10th, 2026, To Be "lupus Day" In The State Of Rhode Island

Senate Resolution Celebrating And Honoring The Girl Scouts Of Southeastern New England

Senate Resolution Declaring May 28, 2026, As "pharmacy Advocacy Day" In The State Of Rhode Island

This act would protect individuals and businesses from those who knowingly impersonate an entity with the intent of facilitating fraud. This act would also protect individuals and businesses from digital forgery. This act would take effect upon passage.

Senate Resolution Proclaiming And Acknowledging June Of 2026 As "portuguese American Heritage Month" In The State Of Rhode Island

Senate Resolution Proclaiming June 4, 2026, To Be "cox Impact Day" In The State Of Rhode Island

Senate Resolution Recognizing The Month Of June 2026 As "pride Month" In The State Of Rhode Island

Senate Resolution Expressing Condolences On The Passing Of The Honorable Joseph Falvo

This act would allow for sending of the notice under power of sale and rights of active military servicemembers by United States Postal Service First Class Mail and/or an overnight delivery service, instead of by United States Postal Service certified mail return receipt requested. This act would take effect upon passage.