Bill Sponsors
Acosta, LaMountain, Mack, Quezada, Vargas, Ujifusa, Britto, Gu, Murray, McKenney, and Urso
Committee
Senate Judiciary
Summary
Select
This bill changes the definitions of criminal offenses in Rhode Island based on their penalties. It redefines a felony as a crime punishable by more than one year in prison, removing the fine amount from the definition. It sets the maximum prison sentence for a misdemeanor at 364 days instead of one year, and adjusts the fine amounts that define misdemeanors, petty misdemeanors, and violations. Additionally, it states that anywhere Rhode Island law mentions a maximum sentence of "one year," it will now legally mean 364 days.
Sponsor
Analysis
Pros for Progressives
- Protects non-citizens from disproportionate immigration consequences, such as deportation, since federal law often triggers these severe penalties for crimes carrying a one-year sentence.
- Advances systemic criminal justice reform by slightly reducing the maximum incarceration time for misdemeanors, aligning with goals to decrease jail populations.
- Clarifies and standardizes the classification of crimes by removing overlapping fine amounts, ensuring fairer and more consistent sentencing for defendants.
Cons for Progressives
- Does not eliminate incarceration for minor offenses, falling short of broader progressive goals for decarceration and abolishing prisons.
- Establishes higher fine thresholds for certain misdemeanor classes, which could still impose severe financial hardships on low-income individuals unable to pay.
- The delayed effective date of July 1, 2027, means vulnerable communities will continue to face the current harsher sentencing and potential deportation risks for several more years.
Pros for Conservatives
- Standardizes the legal code and removes ambiguity by clearly separating the fine thresholds for different classes of crimes, aligning with a strict interpretation of the rule of law.
- Streamlines the judicial process by providing a universal definition for "one year" sentences across all general and public laws, potentially reducing government waste on legal appeals.
- Maintains the ability of judges to impose substantial fines for misdemeanors, ensuring there are still strict financial penalties for individuals who break the law.
Cons for Conservatives
- Intentionally circumvents federal immigration enforcement by reducing misdemeanor sentences to 364 days, protecting criminal non-citizens from deportation.
- Weakens the criminal justice system by reducing the maximum jail time for misdemeanors, which may be viewed as being soft on crime and disrespecting the rule of law.
- Removes the provision that allowed felonies to be charged based solely on a fine of more than $1,000, limiting prosecutors' tools to heavily penalize certain offenses.
Constitutional Concerns
None Likely. This bill simply reclassifies the statutory definitions and maximum penalties for state-level criminal offenses. The state legislature has the constitutional authority to define crimes and establish maximum sentences within its jurisdiction.
Impact Overview
Groups Affected
- Non-citizen residents
- Criminal defendants
- Judges and magistrates
- Prosecutors
- Defense attorneys
Towns Affected
All
Cost to Taxpayers
None
Revenue Generated
Amount unknown
BillBuddy Impact Ratings
Importance
Measures population affected and overall level of impact.
Freedom Impact
Level of individual freedom impacted by the bill.
Public Services
How much the bill is likely to impact one or more public services.
Regulatory
Estimated regulatory burden imposed on the subject(s) of the bill.
Clarity of Bill Language
How clear the language of the bill is. Higher ambiguity equals a lower score.
Enforcement Provisions
Measures enforcement provisions and penalties for non-compliance (if applicable).
Environmental Impact
Impact the bill will have on the environment, positive or negative.
Privacy Impact
Impact the bill is likely to have on the privacy of individuals.
Bill Status
Current Status
Held
Comm Passed
Floor Passed
Law
History
• 01/09/2026 Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary
• 05/01/2026 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (05/05/2026)
• 05/05/2026 Committee recommends passage
• 05/06/2026 Placed on Senate Calendar (05/12/2026)
• 05/12/2026 Senate read and passed
• 05/13/2026 Referred to House Judiciary
• 06/06/2026 Scheduled for consideration (06/08/2026)
• 06/06/2026 Proposed Substitute
• 06/08/2026 Committee recommends passage of Sub A
• 06/08/2026 Placed on House Calendar (06/10/2026)
• 06/10/2026 House passed Sub A
• 06/10/2026 Placed on Senate Calendar (06/11/2026)
• 06/11/2026 Senate passed Sub A in concurrence
• 06/18/2026 Transmitted to Governor
• 06/22/2026 Signed by Governor
• 05/01/2026 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (05/05/2026)
• 05/05/2026 Committee recommends passage
• 05/06/2026 Placed on Senate Calendar (05/12/2026)
• 05/12/2026 Senate read and passed
• 05/13/2026 Referred to House Judiciary
• 06/06/2026 Scheduled for consideration (06/08/2026)
• 06/06/2026 Proposed Substitute
• 06/08/2026 Committee recommends passage of Sub A
• 06/08/2026 Placed on House Calendar (06/10/2026)
• 06/10/2026 House passed Sub A
• 06/10/2026 Placed on Senate Calendar (06/11/2026)
• 06/11/2026 Senate passed Sub A in concurrence
• 06/18/2026 Transmitted to Governor
• 06/22/2026 Signed by Governor
Bill Text
SECTION 1. Section 11-1-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-1 entitled "General Provisions" is hereby amended to read as follows:
11-1-2. Felony, misdemeanor — Petty misdemeanor, and violation distinguished.
(a) Unless otherwise provided, any criminal offense which at any given time may be punished by imprisonment for a term of more than one year, or by a fine of more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), is declared to be a felony; any criminal offense which may be punishable by imprisonment for a term of more than six (6) months and not exceeding one year, or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both, is declared to be three hundred sixty-four (364) days, or solely by a fine of more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both, is declared to be a misdemeanor; any criminal offense which may be punishable by imprisonment for a term not exceeding six (6) months or solely by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500), or both, and not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) is declared to be a petty misdemeanor; and any offense which may be punished by only a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500) is declared to be a violation.
(b) Whenever the phrase "one year" appears in any provision of the general or public laws in reference to the maximum sentence of imprisonment that may be imposed, such phrase shall mean, be interpreted as, and be applied as three hundred sixty-four (364) days.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
11-1-2. Felony, misdemeanor — Petty misdemeanor, and violation distinguished.
(a) Unless otherwise provided, any criminal offense which at any given time may be punished by imprisonment for a term of more than one year
(b) Whenever the phrase "one year" appears in any provision of the general or public laws in reference to the maximum sentence of imprisonment that may be imposed, such phrase shall mean, be interpreted as, and be applied as three hundred sixty-four (364) days.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
SECTION 1. Section 11-1-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-1 entitled "General Provisions" is hereby amended to read as follows:
11-1-2. Felony, misdemeanor — Petty misdemeanor, and violation distinguished.
(a) Unless otherwise provided, any criminal offense which at any given time may be punished by imprisonment for a term of more than one year, or by a fine of more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), is declared to be a felony; any criminal offense which may be punishable by imprisonment for a term of more than six (6) months and not exceeding one year, or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both, is declared to be three hundred sixty-four (364) days, or solely by a fine of more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both, is declared to be a misdemeanor; any criminal offense which may be punishable by imprisonment for a term not exceeding six (6) months or solely by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500), or both, and not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) is declared to be a petty misdemeanor; and any offense which may be punished by only a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500) is declared to be a violation.
(b) Whenever the phrase "one year" appears in any provision of the general or public laws in reference to the maximum sentence of imprisonment that may be imposed, such phrase shall mean, be interpreted as, and be applied as three hundred sixty-four (364) days.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2027.
11-1-2. Felony, misdemeanor — Petty misdemeanor, and violation distinguished.
(a) Unless otherwise provided, any criminal offense which at any given time may be punished by imprisonment for a term of more than one year
(b) Whenever the phrase "one year" appears in any provision of the general or public laws in reference to the maximum sentence of imprisonment that may be imposed, such phrase shall mean, be interpreted as, and be applied as three hundred sixty-four (364) days.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2027.
Changes in S2047A:
The amended bill solely changes the effective date of the legislation. Instead of taking effect immediately upon passage, the act is now scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2027.
- Section 2 has been modified to change the effective date from "upon passage" to "on July 1, 2027."
------
The amended bill solely changes the effective date of the legislation. Instead of taking effect immediately upon passage, the act is now scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2027.
- Section 2 has been modified to change the effective date from "upon passage" to "on July 1, 2027."
------