Bill Sponsors
Senator Pamela J. Lauria
Committee
Senate Housing & Municipal Government
Summary
Select
This legislation amends the general laws regarding dog licenses in Rhode Island. While it reiterates the specific licensing fees for various towns across the state, the primary change is the introduction of a specific penalty structure for the city of Woonsocket. In Woonsocket, owners who fail to license or collar their dogs will face escalating fines: $50 for a first offense, $100 for a second offense, and $150 for third and subsequent offenses. The standard fine for unlicensed dogs in other municipalities remains at ten dollars.
Sponsor
Analysis
Pros for Progressives
- Promotes public health and community safety by incentivizing dog licensing, which requires proof of rabies vaccination, thereby protecting the community from disease.
- Generates revenue through fines that can be utilized to support local municipal services, potentially including animal control and welfare services.
- Encourages responsible pet ownership and accountability, ensuring that animal owners contribute to the regulatory framework that keeps neighborhoods safe.
Cons for Progressives
- Imposes regressive financial penalties that disproportionately impact low-income residents, who may already struggle to afford licensing fees or veterinary care.
- Relies on punitive enforcement measures rather than community outreach or financial assistance programs to encourage compliance among disadvantaged populations.
- Could create a barrier to pet companionship for poor families, who might face severe financial strain from escalating fines for administrative lapses.
Pros for Conservatives
- Upholds the rule of law by establishing clear, escalating consequences for individuals who fail to comply with established local ordinances.
- Supports the principle of local control by allowing the Woonsocket city council to determine specific penalty structures that fit their specific municipal needs.
- Utilizes a "user pays" approach where violators of the law bear the financial burden of enforcement, rather than shifting costs to the general taxpayer.
Cons for Conservatives
- Represents government overreach by increasing the financial power of the state to penalize private citizens for the management of their personal property (pets).
- Increases the financial burden on citizens through higher government-imposed fees and fines, effectively extracting more money from the private sector.
- Could lead to aggressive enforcement tactics by local officials seeking to generate revenue for the city rather than focusing on genuine public safety.
Constitutional Concerns
None Likely
Impact Overview
Groups Affected
- Dog owners in Woonsocket
- Animal control officers
- City clerks
- Low-income residents
- Veterinarians
Towns Affected
Woonsocket
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
• 02/06/2026 Introduced, referred to Senate Housing and Municipal Government
• 02/27/2026 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/05/2026)
• 03/05/2026 Committee recommends passage
• 03/06/2026 Placed on Senate Calendar (03/10/2026)
• 03/10/2026 Senate read and passed
• 03/11/2026 Referred to House Municipal Government & Housing
• 03/20/2026 Scheduled for consideration (03/24/2026)
• 03/24/2026 Committee recommends passage in concurrence
• 04/10/2026 Placed on House Calendar (04/14/2026)
• 04/14/2026 House passed in concurrence
• 04/14/2026 Transmitted to Governor
• 04/22/2026 Effective without Governor's signature
• 02/27/2026 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/05/2026)
• 03/05/2026 Committee recommends passage
• 03/06/2026 Placed on Senate Calendar (03/10/2026)
• 03/10/2026 Senate read and passed
• 03/11/2026 Referred to House Municipal Government & Housing
• 03/20/2026 Scheduled for consideration (03/24/2026)
• 03/24/2026 Committee recommends passage in concurrence
• 04/10/2026 Placed on House Calendar (04/14/2026)
• 04/14/2026 House passed in concurrence
• 04/14/2026 Transmitted to Governor
• 04/22/2026 Effective without Governor's signature
Bill Text
SECTION 1. Section 4-13-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 4-13 entitled "Dogs" is hereby amended to read as follows:
4-13-4. Dog licenses — Fees — Penalties.
(a)(1) Every owner or keeper of a dog shall annually, in April, obtain a license effective May 1 through the office of the city or town clerk of the city or town in which the owner or keeper resides.
(2) The fees for the license shall be five dollars ($5.00).
(3) No city or town shall issue any license under this section unless the dog has been inoculated against rabies for the period of time which the license would be valid.
(4) All licenses issued under the provisions of this chapter shall be valid in every city or town during the then-current year.
(5) Any person who becomes the owner or keeper of a dog shall obtain a license within thirty (30) days after he or she becomes the owner or keeper.
(6)(i) The Cumberland town clerk may issue a license renewable every two (2) years for a licensing fee of six dollars ($6.00).
(ii) Glocester town council may provide for an annual licensing fee of fourteen dollars ($14.00) for all dogs, except spayed or neutered females and males, and for an annual licensing fee of seven dollars ($7.00) for spayed or neutered female and male dogs.
(iii) Jamestown town council may provide, by ordinance, for an annual licensing fee not to exceed fifteen dollars ($15.00) for neutered dogs, and not to exceed twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for unneutered dogs.
(iv) Newport city council may, however, provide, by ordinance, for an annual licensing fee of not more than ten dollars ($10.00) for all spayed and neutered dogs, and for an annual licensing fee of not more than fifteen dollars ($15.00) for unspayed females and unneutered males.
(v) North Smithfield town council may provide, by ordinance, for an annual licensing fee of five dollars ($5.00) for all dogs.
(vi)(A) South Kingstown town council may provide for an annual licensing fee of twelve dollars ($12.00) for all dogs, except spayed or neutered female and male dogs, and for an annual licensing fee of seven dollars ($7.00) for spayed or neutered female and male dogs.
(B) The South Kingstown town council may assess an impound fee.
(vii)(A) Westerly town council may provide, by ordinance, for an annual license fee of ten dollars ($10.00) for unspayed female dogs and unneutered male dogs;
(B) May provide for a fee of one dollar ($1.00) for the replacement of lost dog tags;
(C) May provide that no fee be charged to license guide dogs used by persons with disabilities;
(D) May provide for the number of licensed dogs which may be kept at any single-family residence, other than a breeding kennel; and
(E) May provide for pecuniary penalties not exceeding twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for violations.
(viii) Woonsocket city council may provide, by ordinance, for an annual licensing fee of five dollars ($5.00) for all dogs.
(ix)(A) West Warwick town council may provide, by ordinance, for an annual license fee of seven dollars ($7.00) for each neutered male or spayed female and fifteen dollars ($15.00) for each unneutered male and unspayed female.
(B) May provide, by ordinance, for a payment of a two dollars ($2.00) fee for duplicate or for replacement tags.
(x)(A) Pawtucket city council may provide, by ordinance, for an annual licensing fee not to exceed fifteen dollars ($15.00) for spayed or neutered dogs, and not to exceed twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for unspayed or unneutered dogs.
(B) May provide, by ordinance, for an annual licensing fee for dogs owned by residents age 65 or older not to exceed five dollars ($5.00) for spayed or neutered dogs, and not to exceed ten dollars ($10.00) for unspayed or unneutered dogs.
(xi) Scituate town council may provide, by ordinance, for an annual license fee not to LC004837 - Page 2 of 4 exceed twenty ($20.00) dollars for all dogs.
(xii) Burrillville town council may:
(A) Provide, by ordinance, for an annual licensing fee of not more than ten dollars ($10.00) for all dogs; and
(B) Provide for pecuniary penalties not exceeding twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for violations.
(xiii) The Middletown town council may:
(A) Provide, by ordinance, for an annual licensing fee not to exceed twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per dog.
(xiv) Foster town council may:
(A) Provide, by ordinance, for an annual or biennial licensing fee not to exceed fifteen dollars ($15.00) for all dogs; and
(B) Provide for pecuniary damages not exceeding twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for violations.
(xv) The Barrington town council may provide, by ordinance, for an annual licensing fee of not more than seven dollars ($7.00) per dog.
(b) Every person, owning or keeping a dog not licensed and/or collared according to the provisions of this chapter, shall be fined ten dollars ($10.00) to be applied to the support of the city or town, and that fine shall be in addition to all other lawful fees.
(c) Any city or town may waive the fee to be charged to license guide dogs used by persons with disabilities.
(d) In the city of Woonsocket, every person owning or keeping a dog not licensed and/or collared according to the provisions of this chapter shall be fined fifty dollars ($50.00) for the first offense; one hundred dollars ($100) for the second offense; and one hundred fifty dollars ($150) for the third and subsequent offenses.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
4-13-4. Dog licenses — Fees — Penalties.
(a)(1) Every owner or keeper of a dog shall annually, in April, obtain a license effective May 1 through the office of the city or town clerk of the city or town in which the owner or keeper resides.
(2) The fees for the license shall be five dollars ($5.00).
(3) No city or town shall issue any license under this section unless the dog has been inoculated against rabies for the period of time which the license would be valid.
(4) All licenses issued under the provisions of this chapter shall be valid in every city or town during the then-current year.
(5) Any person who becomes the owner or keeper of a dog shall obtain a license within thirty (30) days after he or she becomes the owner or keeper.
(6)(i) The Cumberland town clerk may issue a license renewable every two (2) years for a licensing fee of six dollars ($6.00).
(ii) Glocester town council may provide for an annual licensing fee of fourteen dollars ($14.00) for all dogs, except spayed or neutered females and males, and for an annual licensing fee of seven dollars ($7.00) for spayed or neutered female and male dogs.
(iii) Jamestown town council may provide, by ordinance, for an annual licensing fee not to exceed fifteen dollars ($15.00) for neutered dogs, and not to exceed twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for unneutered dogs.
(iv) Newport city council may, however, provide, by ordinance, for an annual licensing fee of not more than ten dollars ($10.00) for all spayed and neutered dogs, and for an annual licensing fee of not more than fifteen dollars ($15.00) for unspayed females and unneutered males.
(v) North Smithfield town council may provide, by ordinance, for an annual licensing fee of five dollars ($5.00) for all dogs.
(vi)(A) South Kingstown town council may provide for an annual licensing fee of twelve dollars ($12.00) for all dogs, except spayed or neutered female and male dogs, and for an annual licensing fee of seven dollars ($7.00) for spayed or neutered female and male dogs.
(B) The South Kingstown town council may assess an impound fee.
(vii)(A) Westerly town council may provide, by ordinance, for an annual license fee of ten dollars ($10.00) for unspayed female dogs and unneutered male dogs;
(B) May provide for a fee of one dollar ($1.00) for the replacement of lost dog tags;
(C) May provide that no fee be charged to license guide dogs used by persons with disabilities;
(D) May provide for the number of licensed dogs which may be kept at any single-family residence, other than a breeding kennel; and
(E) May provide for pecuniary penalties not exceeding twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for violations.
(viii) Woonsocket city council may provide, by ordinance, for an annual licensing fee of five dollars ($5.00) for all dogs.
(ix)(A) West Warwick town council may provide, by ordinance, for an annual license fee of seven dollars ($7.00) for each neutered male or spayed female and fifteen dollars ($15.00) for each unneutered male and unspayed female.
(B) May provide, by ordinance, for a payment of a two dollars ($2.00) fee for duplicate or for replacement tags.
(x)(A) Pawtucket city council may provide, by ordinance, for an annual licensing fee not to exceed fifteen dollars ($15.00) for spayed or neutered dogs, and not to exceed twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for unspayed or unneutered dogs.
(B) May provide, by ordinance, for an annual licensing fee for dogs owned by residents age 65 or older not to exceed five dollars ($5.00) for spayed or neutered dogs, and not to exceed ten dollars ($10.00) for unspayed or unneutered dogs.
(xi) Scituate town council may provide, by ordinance, for an annual license fee not to LC004837 - Page 2 of 4 exceed twenty ($20.00) dollars for all dogs.
(xii) Burrillville town council may:
(A) Provide, by ordinance, for an annual licensing fee of not more than ten dollars ($10.00) for all dogs; and
(B) Provide for pecuniary penalties not exceeding twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for violations.
(xiii) The Middletown town council may:
(A) Provide, by ordinance, for an annual licensing fee not to exceed twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per dog.
(xiv) Foster town council may:
(A) Provide, by ordinance, for an annual or biennial licensing fee not to exceed fifteen dollars ($15.00) for all dogs; and
(B) Provide for pecuniary damages not exceeding twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for violations.
(xv) The Barrington town council may provide, by ordinance, for an annual licensing fee of not more than seven dollars ($7.00) per dog.
(b) Every person, owning or keeping a dog not licensed and/or collared according to the provisions of this chapter, shall be fined ten dollars ($10.00) to be applied to the support of the city or town, and that fine shall be in addition to all other lawful fees.
(c) Any city or town may waive the fee to be charged to license guide dogs used by persons with disabilities.
(d) In the city of Woonsocket, every person owning or keeping a dog not licensed and/or collared according to the provisions of this chapter shall be fined fifty dollars ($50.00) for the first offense; one hundred dollars ($100) for the second offense; and one hundred fifty dollars ($150) for the third and subsequent offenses.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.