Todd M Patalano

Senate Resolution Expressing Sincere Condolences On The Passing Of Mary D. Burke

Senate Resolution Expressing Deepest Condolences On The Passing Of The Honorable David R. Carlin, Jr.

Senate Resolution Expressing Deepest Condolences On The Passing Of Arthur Armand Coia

Senate Resolution Expressing Condolences On The Passing Of Edward Catone, Jr.

Senate Resolution Expressing Condolences On The Passing Of Ashbel Tingley Wall, Ii

This act would require electric and gas utilities to provide a detailed breakdown of supply, delivery, and public policy costs on electric and gas bills, including specific costs for renewable energy sources, and mandate public comment and PUC approval. This act would take effect upon passage.

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 increase the net taxable estate exemption to three million six hundred thousand dollars ($3,600,000) on January 1, 2027. This act would also increase the exemption by one million dollars ($1,000,000) on January 1, 2028, and every year thereafter until this section and the tax would sunset and expire on January 1, 2033. This act would take effect upon passage.

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

Joint Resolution Making An Appropriation Of Approximately $30,000,000 To Rhode Island's Public Schools For Safety And Security Improvements (authorizes The Appropriation Of The Sum Of $100,000 To Each Public School In Rhode Island For School Safety And Security Improvements.)

This act would allow an owner or owners of real property to execute a deed that names one or more beneficiaries who will obtain title to the property at the owner's death without the necessity of probate. The act would apply to a transfer on death deed made before, on, or after January 1, 2027, by a transferor dying on or after that date. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would mandate arming campus police at public higher educational institutions and would include campus police in the definition of "law enforcement officer" for the purposes of the "law enforcement officers' bill of rights". This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would allow vehicles owned and operated by the Rhode Island Disaster Medical Assistance Team, Inc. and/or its affiliates or subsidiaries to operate with forward facing red and white emergency lights. 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 expand the requirement that all high schools and middle schools, whether they are publicly or privately run, to maintain on site functional automated external defibrillators (AED) while establishing and implementing a cardiac emergency response plan in these schools, inclusive of athletic activities, beginning in the 2027-2028 academic year. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would phase out the local meals and beverage tax by January 1, 2030. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would allow all retired police officers and firefighters to receive an additional retirement allowance, equal to the members' accrued benefit, determined pursuant to this section as of June 30, 2026, plus two and one-half percent (2.5%) of the final compensation amount multiplied by the years of service after June 30, 2026. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would afford an option for police and firefighters to receive retirement allowances, without reduction, who seek retirement after twenty (20) years of service, upon reaching age fifty- seven (57). 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 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 allow animal control officers in the cities and towns to lawfully take charge of and provide adequate care to any animal found abandoned or neglected or hazardously accumulated and would include them as agents authorized to enforce the provisions of this section. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would allow any peace officer working in a Rhode Island school, as a full or part- time resource officer, to work in excess of the seventy-five (75) working days in a calendar year and not have an interruption in their receipt of pension benefits. 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 repeal daylight savings time in the state and follow the “United States Standard Eastern Time” as provided by an exemption from the advancement of time as provide by the federal Uniform Time Ac of 1966, 15 U.S.C. § 260(a). This act would take effect upon passage and enactment by a law of a permanent year-round “United States Eastern Standard Time” in the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont, in substantially the same form as § 42-5.2-1 and upon a date agreed upon by all five (5) states.

This act would create a special license plate for the charity Real Access Motivates Progress, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. This act would take effect six (6) months after passage.

This act would require the director of the Rhode Island emergency management agency and the Rhode Island commerce commission to develop and implement a plan to assist businesses in obtaining flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance program. 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 provide for a comprehensive criminal and employment background check procedure for all school employees. 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 allow members of the retirement system who served in the national guard or reserves and qualify as veterans, to purchase retirement service credits based on their years of service in the National guard or reserves. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would exempt from the sales tax eligible school supplies, costing less than thirty dollars ($30.00), purchased within one week prior to the commencement of the academic year for public and private schools. This act would take effect upon passage.

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.

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 change the residential limit for any substantial multi-family housing project not to exceed forty thousand (40,000) residents according to the United States Census Bureau. 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 define suitable person for purposes of possessing and having a concealed carry pistol permit, would establish reasons for applying for a concealed carry permit for both in- state and out-of-state residents, would establish what information is required on applications for concealed carry permits, establish an appeal process when an application is denied and provide that records relating to concealed carry permits and appeals are not a public record. 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 require the local board to publish early voting dates, hours, and location, at least twice in a newspaper of general circulation within the city or town, and to publish the same on the municipality's website for the duration of the in-person early voting period. This act would permit the substitution of advertising the voter registration deadline in a newspaper by posting notice of designation(s) on the municipality's website, continuously, for at least ten (10) consecutive days leading up to the last day prescribed by law for the receiving of voter registrations. This act would require the local board to publish local ballot questions on its website for 25 consecutive days, and to authorize the substitution of newspaper advertisements if a jurisdiction- wide household mailing containing the same information is instead sent. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would provide for a cause of action against an individual or entity that prohibits the possession of firearms on real property, except residences, by an individual that is authorized and licensed to carry a firearm. The cause of action would allow the injured individual to recover for injury to his or her person, death, physical, emotional and/or mental distress, economic loss or expense, property damage or any other compensable loss as a result of conduct occurring on the real property that prohibits the possession of firearms. 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 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 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 require employers to protect employees from extreme temperatures through rest breaks, PPE, training, and equipment, and mandate training, to recognize and mitigate heat- and cold-related risks. The act would require the department of health to establish and implement a training program. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

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.

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 create a special motor vehicle registration plate for The Rhode Island Hockey Hall of Fame. This act would take effect upon passage.

Senate Resolution Celebrating The 12th Annual "physician Anesthesiologists Week" From January 26th Through February 1st, 2026, In The State Of Rhode Island

Senate Resolution Commemorating January 30, 2026, As "fred Korematsu Day Of Civil Liberties And The Constitution"

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 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 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 establish the office of inspector general as an independent administrative agency charged with the responsibility to investigate, detect, and prevent fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in the expenditure of public funds. This act would merge the auditor general and office of internal audit and program integrity into the office of inspector general. 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 public auctions by any city or town of real estate or an interest therein to only be done in person and not by electronic or remote procedures unless authorized by court order. 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 increase penalties for a second or subsequent offense with a fine of not less than two hundred fifty dollars ($250) or no more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) and up to eleven (11) months imprisonment, for violating the law on the care of dogs. This act would further amend existing law to include city and town animal control officers as agents authorized to enforce the provisions of this law. This act would take effect upon passage.

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 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 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 provide protocols for radon inspection relative to real estate transactions and provides time frames and conditions for testing and mitigation. This act would take effect on June 1, 2027.

This act would prohibit any person from employing dynamic or surveillance pricing practices in the sale of goods or services to consumers in Rhode Island and would authorize consumers damaged by a violation of the section to bring a civil action for the recovery of damages, attorney's fees and/or equitable relief. 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 grant automatic admission to state public institutions of higher education to any applicant who is a resident of the State of Rhode Island who has earned the rank of Eagle Scout from Scouting America or the Gold Award from the Girl Scouts of the USA and meets all minimum application submission requirements of the institution. 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 require the state to implement the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact no later than July 1, 2026. 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 require verification of an applicant's date of birth and either a Rhode Island driver's license number or state identification number on all applications seeking mail ballots and emergency mail ballots. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would amend the definition of “domestic violence” to include the coercive control of another, resulting in a pattern of behavior that in purpose or effect unreasonable interferes with another person’s free will or personal liberty. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would allow automatic voter registration for Rhode Islanders applying for hunting and fishing licenses, like the procedures in effect for applicants to the division of motor vehicles. 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 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, 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 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 repeal the energy efficiency charge. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would terminate the requirement that the public utilities commission allocate five million dollars ($5,000,000) annually to the Rhode Island infrastructure bank for use with energy efficient programs. This act would take effect upon passage.

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 establish provisions for student and teacher classroom safety, and provides for the authority to remove students from classrooms and the administrative response to the same. This act would provide for student and educator protections from said removals and the school district’s responsibilities to the safety of the student. 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 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 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 create a state-run pilot program in Rhode Island that provides paid, low- barrier employment to individuals experiencing homelessness for community beautification and cleanup projects while connecting participants to supportive services. 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.

This act would allow customers to directly take single-use plastic straws from single straw dispensers at food service establishments. This act would take effect upon passage.

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 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 phased reduction of personal income tax rates. 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 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 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 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 create the joint committee of the repealer for a term of six (6) years to compile suggestions for repeal of statutes, regulations, and executive orders received from citizens, businesses, and government agencies, including, but not limited to, those that are not considered "business-friendly", and those that are archaic and out of date. 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.

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 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 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 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.

Senate Resolution Respectfully Condemning The Assaults On Police Officers In New York During The Blizzard And Urging Investigation And Accountability

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 provide that no new charter school application shall be granted, if the proposed school is a network charter school or the expansion of an existing charter school would create a network charter school. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would prevent the council on elementary and secondary education from granting preliminary approval or final approval for the creation or expansion of any district charter school, independent charter school or mayoral academy charter school beginning operations in 2026-2027, 2027-2028, or 2028-2029 school years. This act would also prevent the state from approving or appropriating funding to any new charter school or to expand an existing charter school that has not been approved by the council on elementary or secondary education prior to July 01, 2025 for fiscal year 2026-2027, fiscal year 2027-2028, or fiscal year 2028-2028. This act would take effect upon passage.

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 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, 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.

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 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 remove obsolete language and clarify asbestos abatement and radon control requirements for purpose of the asbestos abatement statute. 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 and update language in the office of state medical examiners statute to address outdated or ambiguous language, outdated practices, outdated position titles/qualifications, and ensure compliance with federal HIPAA requirements. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require landlords to register certain information for residential properties constructed prior to 1978 with the department of health on a statewide registry and defines which information may be viewed on a public database. This act would take effect upon passage.

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 increase the minimum veterans’ exemption from one thousand dollars ($1,000) to six thousand dollars ($6,000) with respect to municipal taxes. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

This act would allow employees, not represented by a union, to create a group to collectively bargain with employers. The employees would need to demonstrate that they have majority support for the creation of a collective bargaining unit by using signed file cards to gauge the level of support they enjoy, as set forth by the act. This act would take effect upon passage.

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 transfer authority over the examination and licensing of telecommunications professionals to the state board of examiners of electricians and would amend the composition of that body to require the inclusion of a telecommunications professional. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would make contractors civilly liable and/or jointly civilly liable for any claims of wage theft or nonpayment from an employee against the contractor, its subcontractors and any subcontractor, involved in the performance of a contract solely for construction services performed under the International Building Code, as locally amended and adopted as the RISBC-1; provided that, written notice of the alleged violation be given to the contractor not more than forty-five (45) days from the last occurrence of the alleged wage theft. This act would also authorize only administrative and/or civil actions to recover the claimed wages. This act would further provide that these provisions could be waived by a collective bargaining agreement with a bona fide building and construction trade labor organization which has established itself as the collective bargaining representative for persons performing work on a project. This act would apply to construction contracts entered into, renewed, modified or amended on or after the effective date of this act. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

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 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 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 prohibit solicitation of money or other donations while an individual is standing or sitting in a crosswalk, intersection or safety zone. 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 provide services for veterans in the criminal justice system ensuring disclosure and connections with federal and state resources. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require that any contractor performing any construction or maintenance for RIDOT, RITBA or any other construction on any state roads have in place an attenuator truck/crash truck with an operational camera. Violators may be punished criminally and be barred from performing work on any state project for up to 5 years. This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.

This act would allow any vehicle eligible for registration with a gross weight of under eight thousand eight hundred pounds (8,800 lbs.) to be registered as a passenger vehicle as long it is accompanied by a registrant's affidavit declaring it would not be used for commercial purposes. This act would take effect upon passage.

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 healthcare providers and health plans from denying the payment of a medical bill, solely because the bill may have arisen from a third-party claim. 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 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 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 Congratulating The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (ahepa) Chapter 106 "sophocles" Of Providence On The Joyous Occasion Of Its 100th Anniversary

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

This act would establish a procedure for a health insurer to reimburse a healthcare provider no less than sixty-five percent (65%) of each unpaid co-payment, co-insurance or deductible amount due, after reasonable collection efforts. 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 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 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.

Senate Resolution Commemorating March 25, 2026, As The 205th Anniversary Of Greek Independence Day And Celebrating Democracy In Greece And The United States

This act would authorize a veterinarian to establish a client-patient relationship in Rhode Island through synchronous audiovisual electronic means, subject to certain limitations and requirements. The act would also provide that the veterinarian shall be licensed in Rhode Island, obtain the client consent to establish the veterinarian client-patient relationship through electronic means, and maintain such documentation for at least one year. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would change the definition of owner to exclude the state and municipalities for the purposes of liability limitations relating to public use of private lands. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would repeal the collateral source rule in medical malpractice actions. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would add the doctrine of assumption of risk to the current comparative negligence statute. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would provide that for purposes of all civil actions, the fair and reasonable charge for certain medical and dental services is the amount billed by the licensed healthcare provider. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would remove the intent requirement relative to the definitions of "abuse" within the chapter on "abuse in healthcare facilities" and would amend the definitions of "abuse" and "neglect" with regard to elderly affairs by deleting the element of willful conduct. This act would also delete the definition of willful. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would permit a signed release to be transmitted to the party responsible for paying the settlement or their attorney by electronic means. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would require that insurance policies for property damage, personal injuries, and indemnification other than payment of compensation for workers compensation, state policy limits and no amount of the policy may be used to pay costs to defend a claim. This act would take effect upon passage.

This act would provide a specific cause of action for violations of the rights of nursing home patients chapter. This act would take effect upon passage.

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

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

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

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

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.

Senate Resolution Proclaiming May 19th Of 2026 As "greek And Pontic Genocide Remembrance Day" 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

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

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

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

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