Lammis J Vargas

This act would extend the forbearance of utility terminations for customers with serious illness certifications and would amend various provisions related to the termination of utility services for persons who are disabled, seriously ill, or in arrears. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would add "media literacy" to the standards currently taught in civic education for kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12), which are the history of Rhode Island, representative government, the rights and duties of actively engaged citizenship and the principles of democracy. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would prohibit the family court from detaining any youth or committing any youth, twelve (12) years or younger, to the training school, for any offense other than murder, first degree sexual assault, or an attempt to commit such offenses, and the court determines that there is no other reasonable placement to ensure the safety of the youth and the general public. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would further delineate the definitions of felony, misdemeanor and petty misdemeanor. This act would take effect on July 1, 2027.

This act would allow a minor between fourteen (14) and seventeen (17) years of age who does not have a permanent residence or is in the custody of the department of children, youth and families to receive a state identification card without a signature from a parent, guardian or foster parent at no cost as well as a certified copy of the minor's birth certificate. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would disqualify individuals with prior felony convictions or nolo contendere pleas from purchasing or possessing a firearm. It would also prevent the sentencing judge from suspending the first two (2) years of any sentence under limited circumstances. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would establish a statewide “healthy school meals for all” universal school breakfast and lunch program in Rhode Island public schools phased in over three (3) years. The program would begin with all elementary school students, then add all middle school students in year two (2), and then provide universal meals for all students by the 2028-2029 school year. The act would also direct that in operating its school breakfast and lunch program, each public educational entity would seek to maximize access to federal funds for the cost of the school breakfast and lunch program by participating in one of several identified federal programs in order to obtain federal funds to offset the costs to districts of providing free breakfasts and lunches and minimize the costs to the state. The general assembly would be required to make an appropriation by separate line items in the budget to provide breakfast and lunch at no charge for children in state subsidized early childhood education programs. This act would take effect on July 1, 2027.

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 eliminate the sunset on the provision of funding for child care educators. This act would also modify the eligibility requirement to eighty-five (85%) percent of state median income to waive any copayment. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would include municipal detention facility corporations as exempt from taxation under state law, and require the general assembly to appropriate, annually, for payment to the city or town where the property is located a sum equal to twenty-seven percent (27%) of all tax that would have been collected if the property was taxable. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would make students in workforce-ready certificate programs at the community college of Rhode Island eligible to receive the Rhode Island Promise Scholarship. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would provide beginning July 1, 2026, that twenty percent (20%) of available proceeds in the Rhode Island highway maintenance account would be allocated annually to RIPTA for operating expenditures. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would exempt the Health Care Entity Fiscal Integrity, Transparency and Accountability Act from the requirement that indirect cost recoveries of fifteen percent (15%) of funds from restricted receipt accounts be recorded as general revenues in the general fund. This act would also require quarterly financial reporting to the executive office of health and human services beginning on October 1, 2026. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would permit a nurse who has the appropriate knowledge, credentials and clinical competency, to provide home services foot care, which would include routine foot and nail care, as well as implementing a plan of footcare that includes hygiene and the shortening of toe and finger nails. A nurse providing in-home foot care would ensure that two (2) hours of continuing education out of the ten (10) hours required per certification period would be focused on foot care. The department of health would determine fair and reasonable license and renewal fees for nurses providing services pursuant to this section. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would modify the real estate sales disclosure form to include the disclosure of “blower door diagnostic air leakage testing” and advise that air leakage testing is recommended prior to purchasing a residential unit. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require that an independent efficiency and performance audit of the department of transportation be commissioned by the department of administration. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would remove the requirement that families consent to, and cooperate with the department of human services in establishing paternity and enforcing child and medical support orders as a condition of eligibility for child care assistance. This act would take effect upon passage.

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 prohibit handcuffing children twelve (12) or under at initial police contact unless needed for public safety or if the child is using or threatening physical force against an officer. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would allow the department of environmental management to acquire established foot paths by eminent domain in order to provide public access to streams, rivers, lakes and ponds. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would prohibit any questioning of a juvenile who is suspected of delinquent or criminal behavior unless (1) the parent, legal guardian of the juvenile or the DCYF when parental rights are terminated is present, (2) unless an attorney is present, (3) the juvenile and their parent or legal guardian have waived their presence, (4) the court is satisfied that the juvenile has made a knowing voluntary waiver of their rights, or (5) the juvenile is emancipated or has misrepresented their age as being eighteen (18) years or older. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require one elector of the parole board to be a person directly impacted by the criminal justice system who has completed the probation/parole process three (3) or more years prior to selection with a professional background in certain enumerated areas. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require courts to presume release for most probation violations, set reasonable bail or non-monetary conditions, limit detention to cases of risk or danger, require prompt hearings, and mandate written reasons for detention. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require the courts to consider the parental status of the defendant at the time of sentencing and would allow the defendant to present a family impact statement, including testimony, videos and documents relative to their parental status. Unless the court finds that the parent poses a significant risk to the community that outweighs the harm of the parent’s absence from the child’s life, it shall impose a sentence that does not include imprisonment. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would create a new registration plate for qualified individuals to possess an "adaptive vehicle license plate" to accommodate the transportation needs of an individual with a significant mobility impairment. This act would take effect six (6) months after passage.

This act would exempt an individual in foster or adoptive homes from the fee associated with drivers education classes at the community college of Rhode Island. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would allow persons with disabilities to receive up to two (2) motor vehicle disability parking privilege placards. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would allow Rhode Island to opt out of the provisions of the “Depository Institutions Deregulation and Monetary Control Act of 1980” (DIDMCA), for loans made within the State of Rhode Island, which allow financial institutions chartered in other states to be exempt from interest rate limits which apply to financial institutions chartered in Rhode Island. This act would also prevent evasion of Rhode Island’s interest rate limits and lending rules by making clear that lenders, whether they identify themselves as such or not, remain bound by Rhode Island’s lending laws for both small loans and loans in general. This act would take effect on October 1, 2026.

This act would require transition planning for high school students with disabilities, who have a “504” plan, like the transition planning required for high school students with disabilities, who have an individualized education program (IEP). This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would expand and fine tune the law on the right to a safe school. It would authorize the school administration to issue an out-of-school suspension to students in grade six (6) or above not only if they are disruptive, but also if they are a threat to the safety of students, teachers, or administrators; or found guilty of violating school regulations involving alcohol, illegal drugs or controlled substances, or weapons. The act would also provide that where students are in preschool through grade five (5), the school administration may issue an out-of-school suspension but only after a consultation with a school psychologist or other mental health professional. This act would take effect upon passage.

The act would direct the office of energy resources to develop building performance standards for large buildings in Rhode Island that would cause greenhouse gas emissions to decline in line with the act on climate requirements. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would include Medicaid enrollment in the student success factor of the foundation aid formula to provide added support for high-need students beyond the core instructional amount. This would begin with the FY 2027 calculation. This act would take effect upon passage.

Joint Resolution Making An Appropriation Of $2,000,000 To The Elisha Project (authorizes The Appropriation Of The Sum Of $2,000,000 To The Elisha Project.)

This act would require every individual or group health insurance contract effective on or after January 1, 2027, to provide coverage to the insured and the insured's spouse and dependents for all FDA-approved contraceptive drugs, devices and other products, voluntary sterilization procedures, patient education and counseling on contraception and follow-up services as well as Medicaid coverage for a twelve (12) month supply for Medicaid recipients. This act would take effect upon passage.

Senate Resolution Respectfully Requesting The Executive Office Of Health And Human Services (eohhs) To Adopt An Electronic Preadmission Screening And Resident Review (pasrr) System

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 establish a building energy reporting program for covered residential, nonresidential properties and campuses containing twenty-five thousand (25,000) or more gross square feet. The office of energy resources (OER) shall be responsible for reporting this information to the public in order to provide transparency to the marketplace. 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 prohibit state and municipal officials or body from entering into and renewing any agreements that will be used to detain individuals for federal civil immigration violations. It would also prohibit state and local leaders from leasing their public real estate for use as an immigration detention facility. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would increase the number of members of the state crime laboratory commission from five (5) to nine (9), change the makeup of the commission to include individuals with expertise in law enforcement, expertise in criminal defense, and expertise in scientific research. It would also make the chair of the department of physics at the University of Rhode Island the executive secretary. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would provide that a person arrested for a misdemeanor shall be released without a financial condition unless the misdemeanor is for domestic violence or the court makes a finding on the record that there is a likely risk the arrested person will fail to appear in court or will obstruct justice or attempt to injure or intimidate a witness. 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 amend the unfair claims practices law by requiring an insurance appraisal by a licensed appraiser where damage to a motor vehicle exceeds $5,000 (from $2,500) and would eliminate language that prohibits an appraisal based on photos of a damaged motor vehicle. In addition, it would increase the time within which an appraisal must be done, from 3 days to 4 days. 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 prohibit employers from seeking or using credit reports in making hiring decisions concerning prospective employees, asking questions about the applicant's financial past during its interviews, or including credit history questions within the applicant's job applications. It would authorize the department of labor and training to impose administrative fines against the offending employer. Finally, it would also allow the aggrieved employee to seek civil financial damages and attorneys' fees. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would provide that exemptions to the prohibition of liquor licenses within two hundred feet (200') of schools or places of worship do not eliminate neighboring property owners’ remonstrance rights to object to the license. 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 establish the Higher Education Opportunities for Students with Disabilities Act. This act would enable students with disabilities who are ages eighteen (18) through twenty- one (21) years, and in some cases to age twenty-two (22) years, to audit and otherwise attend state colleges and universities using the student’s foundation education aid. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would prohibit the importation, disbursement, distribution, or sale, of any species of non-native (exotic) terrestrial invasive plants. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

Senate Resolution Requesting The Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission To Terminate Gas Line Extension Allowances As Part Of Docket 25-45-ge

This act would establish a revolving fund to assist first-time homebuyers and veterans to purchase a home in Rhode Island by issuing grants of up to forty thousand dollars ($40,000). The revolving fund would be administered by the Rhode Island housing and mortgage finance corporation. This act would also authorize the Rhode Island housing and mortgage finance corporation to issue low interest loans to applicants who qualify for the grants. The act would also provide for an initial appropriation of thirty million dollars ($30,000,000) to establish the revolving fund. This act would take effect on July 1, 2026.

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.)

Joint Resolution Making An Appropriation Of $200,000 To The Rhode Island Free Clinic (appropriates The Sum Of $200,000 To The Rhode Island Free Clinic.)

This act would authorize the secretary of the executive office of health and human services (EOHHS) to increase resource eligibility limits for persons with long-term-care needs who reside at home to $12,000 for single persons and $18,000 for couples. The act would also require that Medicaid certified assisted living facilities and adult day service providers furnish semi-annual reports to the EOHHS regarding the number of persons served each month and patients’ certification categories for the prior six months. This act would take effect upon passage.

This bill would require health insurance plans to cover services provided by licensed certified professional midwives. Insurers would be required to report utilization and cost data annually and certain limited benefit policies would be exempt. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

This act would require that the department of health provide recommended air quality standards for schools. This act would further provide that the department of education incorporate indoor air quality testing as part of the school building authority needs assessment conducted every five years pursuant to § 16-105-3. This act would also provide that HVAC systems in schools achieve a MERV level of 13 or the highest level achievable by system design. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require health insurance policies to cover licensed certified lactation counselor services for childbearing families. It would also prohibit requiring supervision or duplicate payments for services and mandates annual reporting. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

This act would require health insurance providers to provide insurance coverage for pharmacists’ services including evaluation and management of a patient, which requires a medically appropriate history and/or examination and medical decision making; medication therapy management review; immunization education and administration; administration of medications; ordering and evaluation of clinical laboratory tests. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027, and unless extended by the general assembly, would expire on January 1, 2031.

This act would authorize the city of Cranston to establish a housing division within its municipal court. This act would take effect upon passage.

Commencing January 1, 2027, this act would increase the minimum wage for employees receiving gratuities, from the current three dollars and eighty-nine cents ($3.89) to six dollars and seventy-five cents ($6.75) per hour. 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 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 act would authorize and empower the department of transportation to plant pollinator friendly native species of trees, shrubs, grasses and plants within limits of a roadway, including state highways. The department would follow guidelines to benefit pollinators consistent with § 23 U.S.C.332. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require the public utilities commission (PUC) to provide for a classification of service for retail electricity consumers that are large energy use facilities, defined as a facility that uses or is able to use twenty megawatts (20mw) or more and is primarily engaged in providing a service that is related to businesses offering infrastructure like cloud storage, application hosting (excluding software publishing), data entry services and facilities that process client-supplied data for reports or provide automated services such as optical scanning and disk conversion. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would amend certain provisions relative to school waste recycling and refuse disposal and would require reports of waste audits by educational entities and reports of program participation by vendors. It would also authorize the use of share tables in schools. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would prohibit the application of lawn care pesticides or rodenticides on the grounds of any public or private pre-school or public or private school with students in grade twelve (12) or lower, except in an emergency situation or to be used on the playing fields and playgrounds of the school as well as pre-schools and child care centers pursuant to an integrated pest management plan as developed by the department of environmental management and the department of health and would create a task force to study health risks of PFAS in athletic fields to students who use them. This act would also require a school department to provide a copy of the pesticide or rodenticide application notice sent to parents and guardians to the department of education. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would amend the current law on health insurance coverage for fertility diagnostic care, standard fertility preservation services, and fertility treatment and would require coverage for any medically necessary ovulation-enhancing drugs and medical services related to prescribing and monitoring the use of ovulation-enhancing drugs that is intended to treat infertility and establish a pregnancy that results in a live birth. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

This article would be known as the Rhode Island Inclusive Home Design Act. The act would address any single-family construction, townhouse construction, and multi-family construction complying with the Standards for Type C (Visitable) Units of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Standards for Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities (section 1105 of ICC ANSI A117.1-2017). The act would also require that any updates to the ANSI Standards for Type C (Visitable) Units be applied upon adoption by the building code standards committee. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would prohibit bail bond agents and bail bond recovery agents from engaging in civil immigration enforcement, define such conduct as unprofessional, and subject violators to professional discipline under Rhode Island law, including license suspension, revocation, denial of renewal and civil penalties. This act would take effect upon passage.

Senate Resolution Proclaiming February 7th Through The 14th Of 2026, To Be "congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week" In The State Of Rhode Island

Senate Resolution Proclaiming February 10, 2026, As "the 3rd Rhode Island Regiment/black Regiment Recognition Day" To Commemorate The Contributions Of Black Soldiers During The American Revolutionary War

Senate Resolution Expressing Condolences On The Passing Of Thomas Joseph Holland

This act would require that automated teller machines disclose the account balance prior to any cash withdrawal. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

This act would prohibit the use of combustion-based heating for air or water heating in any state or municipal building open to the public constructed, altered or renovated on or after January 1, 2028. Systems for emergency back-up power, or buildings specifically designed for occupancy of a commercial food establishment, laboratory, laundromat, hospital, or crematorium, shall be exempt. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would prohibit a manufacturer from selling, offering for sale, or distributing into commerce any product containing synthetic polymer micro particles, beginning January 1, 2030, would call for the adoption of microplastics testing plan of water, soil, and other environmental media for the presence of microplastics, and would adopt a statewide microplastics strategy plan. This act would take effect upon passage.

Senate Resolution Formally Requesting That The Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission To Consider The Creation And Adoption Of A Seasonal Heat Pump Rate As Part Of Docket 25-45-ge

This act would require the executive office of health and human services to amend the state Medicaid plan and secure sufficient state general revenue to increase Medicaid payment rates to an amount equal to one hundred thirty percent (130%) of Medicare rates for outpatient clinical pediatric services. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require as part of the director of administration’s report to the general assembly to include information on the number of hybrid, combustion engine, plug-in hybrid, and ZEV vehicles in the light duty fleet. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require the department of elementary and secondary education to establish a bilingual education support fund to provide grants to traditional public school districts that establish and expand bilingual language instruction program model. This act would take effect on July 1, 2026.

This act would permit licensed providers to accompany emergency medical services and treat patients within the community for mental health disorders, including substance use disorders. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would include both the MomsPRN and PediPRN teleconsultation lines in the healthcare services funding contributions payable by health insurers. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require that routine childhood and adult immunization vaccine recommendations be based on, and developed from, evidence-based, medically sound scientific research by the department of health as well as the Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Association, American Academy of Family Physicians, and other such similar medical professional organizations. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require all major hospitals within the state constructed or substantially renovated or expanded on or after January 1, 2028 to use renewable energy sources for power. The building code standards committee would promulgate rules and regulations to implement the requirements. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would amend what is considered sexual abuse for purposes of limitations on actions based on sexual abuse or exploitation of a child and would amend the provisions for when a cause of action may be brought. This act would take effect on July 1, 2026.

This act would set the minimum wage for 2027 at twenty dollars ($20) per hour. This act would take effect upon passage.

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 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 provide an exemption from paying nonresident tuition to any student who attended an approved Rhode Island high school for at least two (2) or more consecutive years; continues to reside in the State of Rhode Island; has graduated from an approved Rhode Island high school or received a high school equivalency diploma from the State of Rhode Island; and has filed, or will file, upon matriculation, with the Rhode Island public university, college, or community college of expected attendance, the appropriate exemption request. This act would take effect on July 1, 2026.

This act would require veterinarians to provide consultations to dog or cat owners when a drug is prescribed and dispensed for that animal patient. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

This act would establish a statewide "healthy school meals for all" universal school breakfast and lunch program in Rhode Island public schools phased in over 3 years. The program would begin with all elementary school students, then add all middle school students in year two (2), and then provide universal meals for all students by the 2028-2029 school year. The act would also direct that in operating its school breakfast and lunch program, each public educational entity would seek to maximize access to federal funds for the cost of the school breakfast and lunch program by participating in one of several identified federal programs in order to obtain federal funds to offset the costs to districts of providing free breakfasts and lunches and minimize the costs to the state. This act would take effect on July 1, 2027.

This act would increase the income limit for eligible families from two hundred sixty-one percent (261%) to two hundred eighty-five percent (285%) of the federal poverty level (FPL) beginning January 1, 2027, and would increase the exit threshold from three hundred percent (300%) to three hundred twenty-five percent (325%). This act would also increase the reimbursement rates for infants by five percent (5%). Section 1 of this act would take effect after January 1, 2027, except for the provisions of § 40-5.2-20(c) which would take effect July 1, 2026. Section 2 of this act would take effect July 1, 2026.

Joint Resolution Making An Appropriation Of $150,000 To The Main Street Rhode Island Program (authorizes The Appropriation Of The Sum Of One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000) To The Main Street Rhode Island Program.)

Joint Resolution Creating The Immigrant Impact Task Force (creates An 11-member Task Force To Track And Oversee Immigration Enforcement And Support Actions In Rhode Island, And Who Would Report Back To The General Assembly House No Later Than January 5, 2027, And Whose Life Would Expire On March 5, 2027.)

This act would create the child-serving provider liability joint underwriting association to provide a joint underwriting association to provide liability insurance coverage for eligible child serving providers. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would create a cause of action for the replacement cost of a child restraint system that is in a motor vehicle at the time of a motor vehicle accident. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would create an intervenor compensation program to provide compensation in the form of grants for legal fees, expert witness fees, and other reasonable costs to an intervenor in both, energy siting board and public utilities commission proceedings. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require notice to E-ZPass users by the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA) before reporting toll violators or toll evaders to the division of motor vehicles (DMV) and establish rules and regulations for transponder failures as well as to require outreach and free replacements, and allow mitigation or forgiveness of tolls and penalties from equipment failures. This act would take effect upon passage.

Senate Resolution Recognizing The Culture And Heritage Of TaÍno Descendants In Rhode Island

This act would define a "catastrophic loss" to a residential property. It would allow a customer to be discharged from making the first payment following the date of a catastrophic loss. The solar customer would be required to provide the retailer with documentation of the loss in order to qualify for a temporary suspension of payments. This act would take effect upon passage.

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 prohibit the sale of over-the-counter diet pills and muscle-building supplements to minors in Rhode Island and require age verification, restricted access, and civil penalties for violations. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would take several measures to lead by example by banning state purchases of plastic bottles, and would require state funds to be used to lease or purchase electric vehicles and renewable energy efficient technologies for use on state property. Annual reports would be required to be filed by January 31, and provided to the Executive Climate Change Coordinating Council (EC4), the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, and the governor. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would establish the Beverage Container Recycling Act. This act would establish a comprehensive program providing for deposits on and recycling of beverage containers. This program would be administered and overseen by the department of environmental management. This act would also provide for the assessment of penalties on producers and recycling refund producer responsibility organizations who fail to meet certain performance targets. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would modernize the state’s existing online E-Permitting Portal by requiring automated plan review and instant permits issuance for residential solar energy systems or other eligible small-scale solar energy systems that meet all safety and building codes. It would also authorize remote virtual inspections as a valid practice for typical rooftop residential installations in an effort to reduce administrative costs for Rhode Island’s municipalities, businesses, and consumers. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require the state and private health insurers to reimburse claims for healthcare services provided by nurse practitioners and physician assistants at the same amount as the reimbursement paid to a physician performing the service in the area served. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

This act would provide for penalties for tax preparers that purposefully mislead their clients or act as ghost preparers of tax returns and would require the tax administrator to publish a list of tax preparers who have had their privileges to prepare returns revoked or suspended. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would create a publicly funded program for uninsured individuals requiring an appropriation of fifty-three million two hundred thousand dollars ($53,200,000) for fiscal year 2027 and an appropriation of one hundred nine million, six hundred thousand dollars ($109,600,000) for fiscal year 2028 and every fiscal year thereafter. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would submit the state's 2026 capital development program requesting the issuance of general obligation bonds totaling one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) for approval of the electorate at the general election to be held in November, 2026. Sections 1, 2, 3, 11 and 12 of this act would take effect upon passage. The remaining sections of this act would take effect when and if the state board of elections shall certify to the secretary of state that a majority of the qualified electors voting on the proposition contained in section 1 hereof have indicated their approval of the project thereunder.

This act would establish a child tax credit in the amount of three hundred thirty dollars ($330) for eligible taxpayers adjusted for inflation annually commencing January 1, 2027. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would submit the state's 2026 capital development program requesting the issuance of general obligation bonds totaling two hundred seventeen million dollars ($217,000,000) for approval of the electorate at the general election to be held in November 2026. Sections 1, 2, 3, 11 and 12 of this act would take effect upon passage. The remaining sections of this act would take effect when and if the state board of elections shall certify to the secretary of state that a majority of the qualified electors voting on the proposition contained in section 1 hereof have indicated their approval of the projects thereunder.

This act would appropriate two million seven hundred thousand dollars ($2,700,000) to fund the primary care training sites program to provide training for physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants within the department of health. This act would take effect on July 1, 2026.

This act would provide that an individual school district that utilizes its own buses or vendors to transport students outside the district, at a lower cost than the statewide school transportation system, could submit these costs to the department of elementary and secondary education and receive reimbursement from state funds. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would authorize pharmacists to order, perform and interpret CLIA-waived tests authorized by statewide protocol and prescribe medications. This act would further permit for such test-and-treat authority to be covered by all health insurance carriers. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

This act would allow patients to authorize providers to email medical notes or records, require written consent acknowledging risks, and ensure compliance with HIPAA while expanding delivery options beyond fax or in-person pickup. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require hospital emergency rooms and free-standing emergency care facilities to offer and provide pregnancy prevention medication to victims of sexual assault. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require the department of elementary and secondary education or the department of health to develop and implement policies to allow students diagnosed with asthma, a condition that may lead to bronchospasm or anaphylaxis, or both, to carry and self-administer asthma medication or auto-injectable or intranasal epinephrine, or both. This act would further provide immunity to any school teacher, school administrator, or school healthcare personnel, school bus driver, school bus monitor, or any other school personnel for civil damages which may result from the administration of such medications. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

This act would include routine, scheduled or recommended immunizations to individuals between the ages of three (3) and eighteen (18) years, under the consent and reporting provisions required for pharmacy administered immunizations to individuals between three (3) and eighteen (18) years of age. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would create a new license for eyelash service technicians, require permits for eyelash businesses, establish training and exam standards, authorize RIDOH enforcement and fines, and impose five hundred dollar ($500) penalties for unlicensed practice. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

This act would require the department of health to implement a tobacco control program that incorporates evidence-based best practices for tobacco prevention and cessation to prevent tobacco-related diseases and diminish tobacco use in the state. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would allow foreign-trained dentists and dental hygienists to obtain limited licenses if they graduate from reputable dental colleges or universities, work under a supervising dentist, and pass a board-approved exam. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require the state, and private insurers that cover prescription hormone therapy, to dispense twelve (12) months’ worth of the prescription as a single prescription. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would mandate health insurance coverage by eliminating out-of-pocket costs for lung cancer screenings in order to enable patients to get the critical care they need without delay. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require certain healthcare facilities to allow a terminally ill patient’s use of medicinal cannabis within the healthcare facility, subject to the following restrictions including: requiring a patient to provide the healthcare facility with an ID and a copy of their medical marijuana card or written documentation that the use of medicinal cannabis is recommended by a physician, and requiring a healthcare facility to restrict how a patient stores and uses medicinal cannabis to ensure the safety of other patients, guests, and employees of the healthcare facility. The act would also provide that compliance with the bill would not be a condition for obtaining, retaining, or renewing a license as a healthcare facility. The act would authorize a healthcare facility to suspend compliance with these provisions if a federal agency takes specified actions. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would not allow prescriptions for testosterone to be transmitted or reported within the prescription drug monitoring database and would remove from the records all existing information concerning prior testosterone prescriptions. This act would take effect on July 1, 2027.

This act would mandate health insurance coverage for medically necessary hormonal and non-hormonal therapy to treat symptoms of peri-menopause and menopause, if the therapy is recommended by a qualified healthcare provider who is licensed, accredited, or certified under Rhode Island law and the therapy has been proven safe and effective. This coverage would be mandated for all insurance policies issued on or after January 1, 2027. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would establish a food-as-medicine pilot program and task force to be administered by the executive office of health and human services. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would preclude any legal entity from possessing, controlling or otherwise claiming legal title to real property exceeding an aggregate value of twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) in single-family dwellings or multi-family dwellings. This act would require any legal entity that possesses, controls or otherwise claims legal title to real property exceeding an aggregate value of twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) in single-family dwellings or multi- family dwellings, to divest a graduated yearly amount from assets consisting of single-family dwellings or multi-family dwellings over the next ten (10) years, until the total aggregate value held by that legal entity is less than or equal to twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000). This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

This act would provide that no train or light engine used in connection with the movement of freight be operated unless it had a crew consisting of at least two (2) persons. This act would include the imposition of fines upon a company, individual or business entity for violation of the act. This act would take effect on October 1, 2026.

This act would change the definition of employee to include individuals employed in the domestic service of any person. 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 require employers to provide full-time employees four (4) hours of paid leave, once a year to donate blood through an approved blood donation program. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would provide that commencing January 1, 2027, the minimum wage shall be twenty-four dollars ($24.00) per hour. This act would take effect upon passage.

Senate Resolution Creating A Special Legislative Commission To Study And Provide Recommendations For Juvenile Hearing Boards (creates A 19 Member Special Legislative Study Commission Whose Purpose It Would Be To Study Current Practices Of State And Municipal Juvenile Hearing Boards Established Pursuant To §§ 8-10-23.1 Or 8-10-23.2.)

This act would limit use of restraints on juveniles in transport and court proceedings to safety or escape risks, require least restrictive methods, and mandate reporting on when and why restraints were used. 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 mandate all private equity companies or real estate investment trusts (REIT) that are seeking to invest in healthcare providers or provider-sponsored organizations in this state, submit a notice of material change with attorney general and deposit a bond with the department of health (DOH). This act would also require that the bond be the equivalent of one year of the investor’s expenses and be maintained as long as the company owns or controls the provider or provider organization and for 7 years after leaving. DOH would be allowed to collect the bond if the provider or provider-sponsored organization declares bankruptcy, is at risk of closure, or closes a majority of essential services. The act would also prohibit the investor from interfering with or controlling the clinical decisions of health care practitioners. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require the police officers' commission on standards and training to provide training and instructions for police detectives, police officers and trainees in order to more accurately identify complaints involving traumatized youth and to develop law enforcement responses in dealing with youth suffering from trauma relating to an incident necessitating a response by law enforcement officers. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would make persons convicted of petty misdemeanors and convicted of simple possession of controlled substances, eligible to have their records expunged three years after completion of their sentence. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would allow a party to condition a transaction by electronic means on their stated desire to obtain and receive a written copy of the document in English or Spanish before electronic execution of the agreement or performance is required of the party. This act would take effect upon passage.

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

This act would provide that advanced practice registered nurses have the same immunity from liability as physicians under the mental health law. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would permit the expungement of records 5 years after the imposition of sentence for misdemeanors and 10 years after the imposition of sentence for felonies, and if the sentence is greater than 10 years, then, upon successful completion of the sentence. 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 require licensed retailers authorized to sell intoxicating beverages to provide a lid to a consumer upon request. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

This act would prohibit public and private colleges and universities from charging students for institution provided health insurance in the absence of affirmative action by the student opting in to coverage. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

This act would create multiple chapters to provide and establish a comprehensive program for recycling of beverage containers and extended producer responsibility for packaging and paper, after the completion of an implementation analysis by the department of environmental management, which would be the lead department in overseeing, implementing, and enforcing the provisions of this act. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would increase and reallocate the fees collected for motor vehicle inspections, including motorcycle inspections, with an allocation of ten dollars ($10.00) to the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA). This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

This act would require the state investment commission to create a capital access initiative to expand potential investment opportunities for the state’s pension fund and engage qualified but traditionally underrepresented investment managers. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would mandate health insurance coverage by eliminating out-of-pocket costs for lung cancer screenings in order to enable patients to get the critical care they need without delay. This act would take effect upon passage.

Senate Resolution Celebrating March Of 2026 As “arts In The Schools - Youth Art Month” In The State Of Rhode Island

Senate Resolution Expressing Deepest Condolences On The Passing Of The Following Seven Members Of The United States Military Sergeant First Class Nicole Amor, Sergeant Declan Coady, Captain Cody Khork, Sergeant First Class Noah Tietjens, Major Jeffrey O'brien, Sergeant Benjamin N. Pennington And Chief Warrant Officer Robert Marzan

Senate Resolution Congratulating The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (ahepa) Chapter 106 "sophocles" Of Providence On The Joyous Occasion Of Its 100th Anniversary

Senate Resolution Creating A Special Legislative Commission To Make A Comprehensive Study Of Rhode Island's Healthcare Workforce Related To Educating And Retaining Primary Care Providers (creates A 17-member Commission To Study Rhode Island’s Healthcare Workforce Related To Educating And Retaining Primary Care Providers And Who Would Report Back Annually To The President Of The Senate.)

Senate Resolution Congratulating Miranda Marie Musumeci On Being Named Miss Ireland In The West Warwick St. Patrick's Day Parade 2026

Senate Resolution Affirming The State Of Rhode Island's Commitment To Supporting Women In The Building Trades And Expanding Equitable Access To Careers In The Construction Industry

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 merge the coastal resources management council with the department of environmental management and create the bureau of coastal resources management within the department of environmental management. This act would take effect upon passage.

Senate Resolution Celebrating March 19, 2026, As "rhode Island College Day" In The State Of Rhode Island

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.

Senate Resolution Proclaiming March Of 2026, As "colorectal Cancer Awareness Month" In The State Of Rhode Island

Senate Resolution Celebrating The 50th Anniversary Of The Founding Of Sojourner House Of Rhode Island

This act would create the Rhode Island voting rights act to establish procedures to prevent discrimination in the voting process. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

Senate Resolution Celebrating March Of 2026, As "national Social Work Month" In The State Of Rhode Island

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

This act would impose a wealth proceeds tax equal to four percent (4%) on net investment income, such as interest, dividends, annuities, royalties, capital gains and rental income, of high- income households, estates and trusts, based upon federal guidelines. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027, and would not be applied retroactively.

Senate Resolution Proclaiming April Of 2026, To Be "financial Literacy Month" In The State Of Rhode Island

Senate Resolution Commending The Valiant Intervention Efforts Of Superior Court Judge Joseph J. Mcburney And Head Of Security, Dana Smith On Behalf Of His Court Intern Who Was Wrongfully Identified And Targeted By Immigration And Customs Enforcement (ice) Agents

Senate Resolution Proclaiming April Of 2026, To Be The "month Of The Military Child" In The State Of Rhode Island

Senate Resolution Proclaiming April 9, 2026, To Be "rhode Island Home Visiting Day"

Senate Resolution Congratulating The Winners Of The 2026 14th Annual Prostart® High School Competition And Wishing Them Success At The National Prostart® Invitational

Senate Resolution Proclaiming April 2026, As "school Library Month" In The State Of Rhode Island

Senate Resolution Expressing Deepest Condolences On The Passing Of The Honorable Joseph A. Abbate

This act would authorize the State of Rhode Island to issue up to eighteen million dollars ($18,000,000) in general obligation bonds, subject to voter approval, to support the Roger Williams Park Zoo. Sections 1, 2, 3, 11, 12, and 13 of this act would take effect upon passage. The remaining sections of this act would take effect when and if the state board of elections shall certify to the secretary of state that a majority of the qualified electors voting on the proposition contained in section 1 of this act have indicated their approval of the project thereunder.

Senate Resolution Celebrating The 175th Anniversary Of The Ymca In The United States And Recognizing The Impact Of The Rhode Island Alliance Of Ymcas

Joint Resolution Repealing Rhode Island's Ratification Of The Corwin Amendment (repeals The General Assembly’s Previous Ratification Of The Corwin Amendment.)

Senate Resolution Expressing Condolences On The Passing Of Arthur Paiva

Senate Resolution Commemorating And Recognizing May 7, 2026, As "national Day Of Prayer" In The State Of Rhode Island

Senate Resolution Commemorating May 10 Through May 16, 2026, As "national Police Week" In The State Of Rhode Island, In Remembrance Of All Police And Law Enforcement Officers Who Have Lost Their Lives In The Line Of Duty

This act would allow for the issuance of a Class BV license for the property located at 1814 Broad Street in the city of Cranston. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would change tax exemptions to tax credits in the city of Cranston. 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

Senate Resolution Recognizing May 2026 As "national Women's Health Month" In The State Of Rhode Island

Senate Resolution Joyously Celebrating The 10th Anniversary Of The Rhode Island Hispanic Chamber Of Commerce

Senate Resolution Proclaiming The Day Of May 21st, 2026, To Be "frontotemporal Degeneration (ftd) Awareness Day" In The State Of Rhode Island

Senate Resolution Extending The Reporting And Expiration Dates Of The Special Legislative Commission To Study And Provide Recommendations For Potential Changes In Legislation/oversight Of The Act On Climate (extends Reporting And Expiration Dates Of Special Legislative Commission To Study And Provides Recommendations For Potential Changes In Legislation/oversight Of Act On Climate From 5/1/2026, To 10/1/2026, And Said Commission Expires On 11/1/2026.)

This act would prohibit ICE employees, agents or officials from being within two hundred feet (200') of any polling place during voting, including early voting and election day voting. This act would take effect upon passage.

Senate Resolution Creating A Special Legislative Commission To Make A Comprehensive Study Of Rhode Island's Healthcare Workforce Related To Educating And Retaining Primary Care Providers

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

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

AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF CRANSTON TO FINANCE THE REPAIR, CONSTRUCTION AND REHABILITATION OF STORM DRAINS AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS, AND THE REMEDIATION AND MITIGATION OF DRAINAGE AND FLOODING PROBLEMS, BY THE ISSUANCE OF NOT MORE THAN $4,000,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS AND NOTES THEREFOR

AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF CRANSTON TO ISSUE NOT TO EXCEED $25,000,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS, NOTES AND OTHER EVIDENCES OF INDEBTEDNESS TO FINANCE THE PURCHASE AND/OR ACQUISITION OF LAND AND BUILDINGS, CONSTRUCTION, RENOVATION, IMPROVEMENT, ALTERATION, REPAIR, LANDSCAPING, FURNISHING AND EQUIPPING OF SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL FACILITIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY

AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF CRANSTON TO FINANCE THE ACQUISITION, CONSTRUCTION, IMPROVEMENT, RENOVATION, REPAIR AND ALTERATION OF PLAYGROUNDS, ATHLETIC FIELDS AND RELATED EQUIPMENT IN THE CITY BY THE ISSUANCE OF NOT MORE THAN $4,000,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS AND NOTES THEREFOR

AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF CRANSTON TO FINANCE THE ACQUISITION, DEMOLITION, CONSTRUCTION, IMPROVEMENT, RENOVATION, REPAIR, ALTERATION, FURNISHING AND EQUIPPING OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS IN THE CITY BY THE ISSUANCE OF NOT MORE THAN $2,000,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS AND NOTES THEREFOR

AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF CRANSTON TO FINANCE THE ACQUISITION, IMPROVEMENT, RENOVATION AND REPAIR OF FIRE AND PUBLIC SAFETY EQUIPMENT BY THE ISSUANCE OF NOT MORE THAN $8,000,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS AND NOTES THEREFOR

Authorizing The City Of Cranston To Finance The Design, Construction, Repair, Rehabilitation And Improvement Of Streets, Sidewalks And Bridges In The City Including, But Not Limited To, Paving, Drainage, Traffic Control Devices, Road Maintenance Equipment, Safety Improvements And Landscaping And All Costs Incidental Or Related Thereto By The Issuance Of Not More Than $8,000,000 General Obligation Bonds And Notes Therefor

This act would empower the division of motor vehicles to make available special motor vehicle registration plates for the not-for-profit entity, the Dominican Independence and Heritage Award Committee of RI. This act would take effect six (6) months after passage.