Latest Bills
Bill # Title Summary May 22nd, 2026 H8578 Human Services -- Family Caregivers Support Act of 2013 This bill prohibits employers from discriminating against workers with family caregiving responsibilities and requires reasonable scheduling accommodations. H8579 Insurance -- Pharmacy Benefit Managers Act This bill requires pharmacy benefit managers to obtain a state certificate, pay fees, and report financial and pricing data. H8580 The North Tiverton Fire District This bill updates the legal boundaries of the North Tiverton Fire District and reduces its tax assessors to four. H8581 Education -- The Education Equity and Property Tax Relief Act This bill removes the 14% cap on the reduction of local education funding paid to charter and technical schools. S3313 Food and Drugs -- The Rhode Island Cannabis Act This bill removes Rhode Island residency requirements for cannabis licenses, updates social equity criteria, and restarts the application process. S3314 Solemnization of Marriages This bill allows Kimberley Gaffett to legally perform a specific marriage ceremony in New Shoreham in October 2026. S3315 Taxation -- Levy and Assessment of Local Taxes This bill allows Coventry to sort property into three classes and set different tax rates for each class. S3316 Regarding Motions at the Town of Scituate Annual Financial Town Meeting This bill updates the deadline for Scituate residents to propose large budget changes before the annual financial town meeting. S3318 Education -- Curriculum This bill gives Rhode Island schools an extra year, until June 2027, to select science and technology curriculums. May 20th, 2026 H8568 Health and Safety -- Rhode Island Program to Address Alzheimer's Disease This bill extends the deadline and updates rules for specific healthcare facilities to create Alzheimer's disease care plans. May 19th, 2026 H8562 State Affairs and Government -- Office of Inspector General This bill creates an Office of the Inspector General to investigate fraud and waste in Rhode Island state government. May 15th, 2026 H8558 Towns and Cities -- General Powers -- City of Warwick This bill allows the city of Warwick to sell a specific piece of public property at 34 Warwick Lake Avenue. H8559 Motor and Other Vehicles -- Registration of Vehicles This bill creates a special license plate for the Rhode Island Manufacturers Association to raise money for local charities. H8560 Education -- Foundation Level School Support This bill ends the state takeover of Providence schools in 2026 and updates teacher pay, layoff, and dismissal rules. H8561 State Affairs and Government -- Medicaid Program Funding and Reallocation of Enrollment Savings This bill requires that state savings from reduced Medicaid enrollment be exclusively used to increase healthcare provider reimbursement rates. S3288 Alcoholic Beverages -- Retail Licenses This bill allows Cranston to issue a liquor license at 1814 Broad Street, despite proximity to schools or churches. S3289 Education -- Access for Congressionally Chartered Youth Development Organizations Requires public schools to allow certain congressionally chartered youth organizations time and space to recruit students during school hours. S3290 Courts and Civil Procedure--Courts -- Superior Court This bill creates a dedicated and prioritized schedule in the Superior Court specifically for felony domestic violence cases. S3291 The Boys and Girls Clubs of Rhode Island -- 2026 Bond Referenda This bill asks voters in 2026 to approve $36 million in bonds to improve Rhode Island Boys and Girls Clubs. S3292 Towns and Cities -- Subdivision of Land This bill extends the maximum time municipalities can require maintenance guarantees from developers from one year to two years. S3293 Taxation -- Property Subject to Taxation This bill changes Cranston's property tax exemptions for veterans, seniors, and disabled residents into inflation-adjusted tax credits. S3294 Solemnization of Marriages This bill gives Joseph Couto the legal authority to officiate the marriage of Brandon Kemmy and Jacqueline Manousos. S3295 Highways -- Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority This bill makes the person renting a car responsible for unpaid tolls and fines instead of the rental company. S3296 Public Officers and Employees -- Rhode Island Public Employee Pension Revocation and Reduction Act This bill allows the state to revoke the pensions of public employees who commit certain felonies using their official position. S3297 Labor and Labor Relations -- Workers' Compensation-- General Provisions This bill requires employers to cover hearing aids for injured workers and updates dispute procedures for injured public servants. S3298 Property -- Homeless Bill of Rights Requires government agencies to give 20 days' written notice before removing homeless encampments from public property, with safety exceptions. S3299 Towns and Cities -- Subdivision of Land This bill allows property owners with public water and sewer to divide their land into three single-family home lots. S3300 Towns and Cities -- Rhode Island Comprehensive Planning and Land Use Act This bill streamlines the municipal approval process for redeveloping state-owned properties and vacant schools into housing. S3301 Health and Safety -- State Building Code -- Administration and Enforcement This bill creates safety standards for temporary shelters called SAFE Units and allows towns to build them during emergencies. S3302 Courts and Civil Procedure--Courts -- Superior Court This bill speeds up local zoning and subdivision approvals to make it easier and faster to build new housing. S3303 Towns and Cities -- Zoning Ordinances This bill limits how many parking spaces cities and towns can require for attached single-family homes and transit-oriented apartments. May 13th, 2026 H8544 Food and Drugs -- The Rhode Island Cannabis Act This bill removes Rhode Island residency requirements for cannabis licenses and restarts the social equity and retail application processes. H8545 Health and Safety -- Rhode Island Program to Address Alzheimer's Disease This bill requires doctors, nurses, and physician assistants to complete one hour of Alzheimer's training every license renewal period. H8546 Regarding Motions at the Town of Scituate Annual Financial Town Meeting This bill requires Scituate voters to submit a signature petition before changing major budget items at the financial meeting. H8547 Courts and Civil Procedure--Courts -- Superior Court This bill establishes a dedicated, prioritized court calendar in the Rhode Island Superior Court for domestic violence cases. H8548 Education -- Transportation of School Pupils Beyond City and Town Limits This bill moves the towns of Warren and Bristol into a different school bus transportation district. May 12th, 2026 S3282 Insurance -- Medicare Supplement Insurance Policies This bill allows people with continuous health coverage to switch Medicare Supplement plans annually without being denied for medical reasons. May 11th, 2026 S3276 Education -- The Education Equity and Property Tax Relief Act This bill removes the 14% limit on how much traditional public school districts can reduce funding to charter schools. May 8th, 2026 H8531 Education -- Compulsory Attendance The bill updates truancy procedures and allows school committees to deny homeschooling requests for students with recent truancy issues. H8532 Waters and Navigation -- Water Resources Management This bill directs 20% of state-collected rental fees from certain Coventry agreements to the town and its fire district. S3272 Public Utilities and Carriers -- Renewable Energy Standard This bill requires electric companies to offer 30-year contracts with fixed, escalating pricing for large renewable energy systems. May 6th, 2026 H8519 Public Utilities and Carriers -- Renewable Energy Standard This bill allows nuclear and large-scale hydroelectric power to count toward the state's renewable energy requirements and eases utility regulations. H8520 To Vacate the Forfeiture or Revocation of the Charter of Los Toros Band, Inc. This bill allows the corporation "Los Toros Band, Inc." to reinstate its revoked charter by paying owed taxes. H8521 To Vacate the Forfeiture or Revocation of the Charter of Los Toros Records, Inc. This bill reinstates the corporate charter of Los Toros Records, Inc. if it pays its owed taxes and fees. H8522 Fish and Wildlife -- Reciprocal Enforcement of Fishing Laws This bill lets Rhode Island and Connecticut officers arrest people for boating and fishing violations in shared boundary waters. H8523 Motor and Other Vehicles -- Special Stops Required This bill updates rules and penalties for automated school bus cameras, setting a $300 fine and adjusting revenue splits. H8524 Labor and Labor Relations -- Workers' Compensation-- General Provisions This bill routes certain first responder injury disputes to Workers' Compensation Court and requires employers to cover hearing aids. H8525 Taxation -- Levy and Assessment of Local Taxes This bill allows the town of Coventry to classify property into three categories and set different local tax rates. H8527 Authorizing the Chariho Regional School District to Finance the Construction, Furnishing and Equipping of an Elementary School Serving the Towns of Charlestown, Richmond and Hopkinton, Consisting of One or More Buildings on a Single Campus, and Improvements at the Switch Road Campus Including, but Not Limited To, Costs of Land Acquisition, Demolition, Design, Health and Safety Projects, Playgrounds, Landscaping, Paving, and All Expenses Incidental Thereto, by the Issuance of Not More Than $116,000,000 Bonds And/or Notes Therefor, Subject to Approval of State Housing Aid at a Reimbursement Rate or State Share Ratio of Not Less Than 61% at the Time of Issuance, Which Rate or Ratio May Increase to 65% at Project Completion This bill lets the Chariho Regional School District borrow $116 million for a new elementary school, pending voter approval. H8528 Capital Development Program -- 2026 Bond Referenda This bill places a $600 million bond referendum on the November 2026 ballot to fund various state capital projects.
| Bill # | Title | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| May 22nd, 2026 | ||
| H8578 | Human Services -- Family Caregivers Support Act of 2013 | This bill prohibits employers from discriminating against workers with family caregiving responsibilities and requires reasonable scheduling accommodations. |
| H8579 | Insurance -- Pharmacy Benefit Managers Act | This bill requires pharmacy benefit managers to obtain a state certificate, pay fees, and report financial and pricing data. |
| H8580 | The North Tiverton Fire District | This bill updates the legal boundaries of the North Tiverton Fire District and reduces its tax assessors to four. |
| H8581 | Education -- The Education Equity and Property Tax Relief Act | This bill removes the 14% cap on the reduction of local education funding paid to charter and technical schools. |
| S3313 | Food and Drugs -- The Rhode Island Cannabis Act | This bill removes Rhode Island residency requirements for cannabis licenses, updates social equity criteria, and restarts the application process. |
| S3314 | Solemnization of Marriages | This bill allows Kimberley Gaffett to legally perform a specific marriage ceremony in New Shoreham in October 2026. |
| S3315 | Taxation -- Levy and Assessment of Local Taxes | This bill allows Coventry to sort property into three classes and set different tax rates for each class. |
| S3316 | Regarding Motions at the Town of Scituate Annual Financial Town Meeting | This bill updates the deadline for Scituate residents to propose large budget changes before the annual financial town meeting. |
| S3318 | Education -- Curriculum | This bill gives Rhode Island schools an extra year, until June 2027, to select science and technology curriculums. |
| May 20th, 2026 | ||
| H8568 | Health and Safety -- Rhode Island Program to Address Alzheimer's Disease | This bill extends the deadline and updates rules for specific healthcare facilities to create Alzheimer's disease care plans. |
| May 19th, 2026 | ||
| H8562 | State Affairs and Government -- Office of Inspector General | This bill creates an Office of the Inspector General to investigate fraud and waste in Rhode Island state government. |
| May 15th, 2026 | ||
| H8558 | Towns and Cities -- General Powers -- City of Warwick | This bill allows the city of Warwick to sell a specific piece of public property at 34 Warwick Lake Avenue. |
| H8559 | Motor and Other Vehicles -- Registration of Vehicles | This bill creates a special license plate for the Rhode Island Manufacturers Association to raise money for local charities. |
| H8560 | Education -- Foundation Level School Support | This bill ends the state takeover of Providence schools in 2026 and updates teacher pay, layoff, and dismissal rules. |
| H8561 | State Affairs and Government -- Medicaid Program Funding and Reallocation of Enrollment Savings | This bill requires that state savings from reduced Medicaid enrollment be exclusively used to increase healthcare provider reimbursement rates. |
| S3288 | Alcoholic Beverages -- Retail Licenses | This bill allows Cranston to issue a liquor license at 1814 Broad Street, despite proximity to schools or churches. |
| S3289 | Education -- Access for Congressionally Chartered Youth Development Organizations | Requires public schools to allow certain congressionally chartered youth organizations time and space to recruit students during school hours. |
| S3290 | Courts and Civil Procedure--Courts -- Superior Court | This bill creates a dedicated and prioritized schedule in the Superior Court specifically for felony domestic violence cases. |
| S3291 | The Boys and Girls Clubs of Rhode Island -- 2026 Bond Referenda | This bill asks voters in 2026 to approve $36 million in bonds to improve Rhode Island Boys and Girls Clubs. |
| S3292 | Towns and Cities -- Subdivision of Land | This bill extends the maximum time municipalities can require maintenance guarantees from developers from one year to two years. |
| S3293 | Taxation -- Property Subject to Taxation | This bill changes Cranston's property tax exemptions for veterans, seniors, and disabled residents into inflation-adjusted tax credits. |
| S3294 | Solemnization of Marriages | This bill gives Joseph Couto the legal authority to officiate the marriage of Brandon Kemmy and Jacqueline Manousos. |
| S3295 | Highways -- Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority | This bill makes the person renting a car responsible for unpaid tolls and fines instead of the rental company. |
| S3296 | Public Officers and Employees -- Rhode Island Public Employee Pension Revocation and Reduction Act | This bill allows the state to revoke the pensions of public employees who commit certain felonies using their official position. |
| S3297 | Labor and Labor Relations -- Workers' Compensation-- General Provisions | This bill requires employers to cover hearing aids for injured workers and updates dispute procedures for injured public servants. |
| S3298 | Property -- Homeless Bill of Rights | Requires government agencies to give 20 days' written notice before removing homeless encampments from public property, with safety exceptions. |
| S3299 | Towns and Cities -- Subdivision of Land | This bill allows property owners with public water and sewer to divide their land into three single-family home lots. |
| S3300 | Towns and Cities -- Rhode Island Comprehensive Planning and Land Use Act | This bill streamlines the municipal approval process for redeveloping state-owned properties and vacant schools into housing. |
| S3301 | Health and Safety -- State Building Code -- Administration and Enforcement | This bill creates safety standards for temporary shelters called SAFE Units and allows towns to build them during emergencies. |
| S3302 | Courts and Civil Procedure--Courts -- Superior Court | This bill speeds up local zoning and subdivision approvals to make it easier and faster to build new housing. |
| S3303 | Towns and Cities -- Zoning Ordinances | This bill limits how many parking spaces cities and towns can require for attached single-family homes and transit-oriented apartments. |
| May 13th, 2026 | ||
| H8544 | Food and Drugs -- The Rhode Island Cannabis Act | This bill removes Rhode Island residency requirements for cannabis licenses and restarts the social equity and retail application processes. |
| H8545 | Health and Safety -- Rhode Island Program to Address Alzheimer's Disease | This bill requires doctors, nurses, and physician assistants to complete one hour of Alzheimer's training every license renewal period. |
| H8546 | Regarding Motions at the Town of Scituate Annual Financial Town Meeting | This bill requires Scituate voters to submit a signature petition before changing major budget items at the financial meeting. |
| H8547 | Courts and Civil Procedure--Courts -- Superior Court | This bill establishes a dedicated, prioritized court calendar in the Rhode Island Superior Court for domestic violence cases. |
| H8548 | Education -- Transportation of School Pupils Beyond City and Town Limits | This bill moves the towns of Warren and Bristol into a different school bus transportation district. |
| May 12th, 2026 | ||
| S3282 | Insurance -- Medicare Supplement Insurance Policies | This bill allows people with continuous health coverage to switch Medicare Supplement plans annually without being denied for medical reasons. |
| May 11th, 2026 | ||
| S3276 | Education -- The Education Equity and Property Tax Relief Act | This bill removes the 14% limit on how much traditional public school districts can reduce funding to charter schools. |
| May 8th, 2026 | ||
| H8531 | Education -- Compulsory Attendance | The bill updates truancy procedures and allows school committees to deny homeschooling requests for students with recent truancy issues. |
| H8532 | Waters and Navigation -- Water Resources Management | This bill directs 20% of state-collected rental fees from certain Coventry agreements to the town and its fire district. |
| S3272 | Public Utilities and Carriers -- Renewable Energy Standard | This bill requires electric companies to offer 30-year contracts with fixed, escalating pricing for large renewable energy systems. |
| May 6th, 2026 | ||
| H8519 | Public Utilities and Carriers -- Renewable Energy Standard | This bill allows nuclear and large-scale hydroelectric power to count toward the state's renewable energy requirements and eases utility regulations. |
| H8520 | To Vacate the Forfeiture or Revocation of the Charter of Los Toros Band, Inc. | This bill allows the corporation "Los Toros Band, Inc." to reinstate its revoked charter by paying owed taxes. |
| H8521 | To Vacate the Forfeiture or Revocation of the Charter of Los Toros Records, Inc. | This bill reinstates the corporate charter of Los Toros Records, Inc. if it pays its owed taxes and fees. |
| H8522 | Fish and Wildlife -- Reciprocal Enforcement of Fishing Laws | This bill lets Rhode Island and Connecticut officers arrest people for boating and fishing violations in shared boundary waters. |
| H8523 | Motor and Other Vehicles -- Special Stops Required | This bill updates rules and penalties for automated school bus cameras, setting a $300 fine and adjusting revenue splits. |
| H8524 | Labor and Labor Relations -- Workers' Compensation-- General Provisions | This bill routes certain first responder injury disputes to Workers' Compensation Court and requires employers to cover hearing aids. |
| H8525 | Taxation -- Levy and Assessment of Local Taxes | This bill allows the town of Coventry to classify property into three categories and set different local tax rates. |
| H8527 | Authorizing the Chariho Regional School District to Finance the Construction, Furnishing and Equipping of an Elementary School Serving the Towns of Charlestown, Richmond and Hopkinton, Consisting of One or More Buildings on a Single Campus, and Improvements at the Switch Road Campus Including, but Not Limited To, Costs of Land Acquisition, Demolition, Design, Health and Safety Projects, Playgrounds, Landscaping, Paving, and All Expenses Incidental Thereto, by the Issuance of Not More Than $116,000,000 Bonds And/or Notes Therefor, Subject to Approval of State Housing Aid at a Reimbursement Rate or State Share Ratio of Not Less Than 61% at the Time of Issuance, Which Rate or Ratio May Increase to 65% at Project Completion | This bill lets the Chariho Regional School District borrow $116 million for a new elementary school, pending voter approval. |
| H8528 | Capital Development Program -- 2026 Bond Referenda | This bill places a $600 million bond referendum on the November 2026 ballot to fund various state capital projects. |