Latest Bills
Bill # Title Summary January 16th, 2026 S2150 Courts and Civil Procedure -- Procedure Generally -- Judgments, Orders, and Decrees Creditors must send a detailed notice by certified mail to property owners within ten days of recording a judgment lien. S2151 Animals and Animal Husbandry -- Cruelty to Animals This bill allows city animal shelters to seize abused animals and charge owners for their care costs. S2152 State Affairs and Government -- Open Meetings Public government bodies must create plans to provide translation services for open meetings upon request by September 2027. S2153 Criminal Offenses -- Weapons This bill requires Rhode Island to recognize concealed gun permits and active-duty police IDs issued by other states. S2154 Criminal Procedure -- Electronic Information and Data Privacy Act Law enforcement must obtain a search warrant to access a person's electronic data or location information, with limited exceptions. S2155 Criminal Offenses -- Weapons This bill allows qualified adults over twenty-one to carry concealed handguns without a permit if they possess specific safety certificates. S2156 Criminal Offenses -- Burglary and Breaking and Entering Establishes that occupants have no duty to retreat from intruders and creates a legal presumption that self-defense actions were reasonable. S2157 Criminal Offenses -- Law Enforcement Sexual Misconduct This bill makes it a crime for on-duty police officers to have sexual contact with people in their custody. S2158 Delinquent and Dependent Children -- Proceedings in Family Court Police cannot use a juvenile's statement as evidence unless a parent or lawyer was present during the questioning. S2159 Criminals -- Correctional Institutions -- Parole This bill requires that one member of the state parole board be a formerly incarcerated person with relevant professional experience. S2160 Labor and Labor Relations -- Rhode Island Noncompetition Agreement Act Bans noncompete agreements for employees earning under $125,000/year and authorizes employer lawsuits for trade secret violations. S2161 Criminal Procedure -- Sentence and Execution This bill limits the ability to jail people for minor probation violations before their court hearing, favoring release instead. S2162 Criminal Procedure -- Sentence and Execution This bill safeguards children by allowing judges to sentence parents to probation or home confinement instead of prison. S2163 Criminal Offenses -- Weapons Creates a formal review and appeal process, including Superior Court trials, for individuals denied a concealed carry weapon permit. S2164 Criminal Offenses -- Weapons This bill mandates the issuance of concealed carry permits to qualified applicants and legalizes firearm silencers for hunting. S2165 Property -- Residential Landlord and Tenant Act Allows domestic violence victims to end leases early without penalty and mandates landlords change locks upon request for safety. S2166 Labor and Labor Relations -- Minimum Wages--Overtime This bill raises the salary threshold required for businesses to exempt executive and administrative employees from mandatory overtime pay. S2167 Towns and Cities -- Retirement of Municipal Employees This bill increases the number of days a retired municipal employee can work annually without losing pension benefits from 75 to 90. S2168 Towns and Cities -- Retirement of Municipal Employees Exempts retired police officers working as School Resource Officers from the 75-day pension work limit regarding private, non-governmentally paid details. S2169 Education -- Career and Technical Education Starting in 2026, students in firefighting or safety programs can train at the Fire Academy and take certification exams. S2170 Labor and Labor Relations -- Employment Security -- Benefits This bill allows workers who are on strike or involved in a labor dispute to collect unemployment insurance benefits. S2171 Public Officers and Employees -- Merit System State employees can now qualify for job classification upgrades and promotions without being required to supervise other workers. S2172 Labor and Labor Relations -- Labor Relations Act No summary available S2173 Human Services -- Certification of Childcare and Youth- Serving Workers and Operators Starting July 2026, new childcare and youth workers will receive required criminal background checks for free. S2174 Labor and Labor Relations -- Labor Relations Act--No Limitation on Healthcare Benefit Providers No summary available S2175 Motor and Other Vehicles -- Registration of Vehicles This bill adds Space Force to Reserve plates and allows heavier commercial vehicles to use these special plates. S2176 Motor and Other Vehicles -- Registration of Vehicles Creates a special license plate to raise funds for the Friends of the Historic Narragansett Towers. S2177 Military Affairs and Defense -- Decorations Creates a state medal for Rhode Island veterans who developed illnesses from toxic exposures like Agent Orange or burn pits. S2178 Motor and Other Vehicles -- Parking Facilities and Privileges This bill creates special license plates and parking privileges for vehicles modified with ramps or lifts for people with mobility disabilities. S2179 State Affairs and Government -- Standard and Daylight Savings Time This bill keeps Rhode Island on Standard Time year-round, ending clock changes, if neighboring states agree to do the same. S2180 Public Property and Works -- Public Buildings This bill requires the state to pay for and display painted portraits of all current and former Senate Presidents. S2181 Health and Safety -- Office of State Fire Marshal The DMV must share the addresses of electric and hybrid vehicles with local fire departments twice a year. S2182 Motor and Other Vehicles -- Operators' and Chauffeurs' Licenses This bill allows children in foster care and adoptive homes to take driver education classes at CCRI for free. S2183 Motor and Other Vehicles -- Registration of Vehicles This bill removes all registration fees and service charges for Rhode Island National Guard members obtaining special license plates. S2184 Motor and Other Vehicles -- Registration of Vehicles This bill eliminates vehicle registration fees and service charges for recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross medal. S2185 Motor and Other Vehicles -- Registration of Vehicles Creates a special charity license plate for "Real Access Motivates Progress" with surcharges funding the non-profit and the state general fund. S2186 Motor and Other Vehicles -- Parking Facilities and Privileges This bill allows people with qualifying disabilities to receive up to two parking placards instead of just one. January 15th, 2026 H7109 Commercial Law -- General Regulatory Provisions -- Patient Brokering Act This bill makes it a felony to pay or receive bribes or kickbacks for referring patients to healthcare providers. H7110 Health and Safety -- The Personal Hygiene Product Safety and Toxic Metal Removal Act of 2026 This bill bans dangerous metals like lead and arsenic from personal care products like makeup and tampons to ensure consumer safety. H7111 Insurance -- Producer Licensing Act Requires insurance companies to provide 180 days' written notice to agents before modifying contracts or changing compensation rates. H7112 Public Utilities and Carriers - Regulatory Powers of Administration This bill caps electric rate increases at 5.5% or the inflation rate, unless the legislature approves a higher amount. H7113 Insurance -- Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act This bill requires insurers to pay out-of-network dentists directly upon patient request and prohibits forced virtual credit card payments. H7114 Education -- Health and Safety of Pupils Students who bully based on identity may be assigned specific, educational community service to learn from their actions. H7115 Education -- Health and Safety of Pupils Starting in 2028, RI student football players must wear protective soft-shell helmet covers, unless a parent opts them out. H7116 Education -- Curriculum This bill requires all Rhode Island schools to provide a four-hour unit of mental health instruction to seventh-grade students starting in 2027. H7117 Education -- Curriculum Mandates the creation of statewide computer science curriculum standards and requires schools to offer these courses, potentially through online platforms. H7118 Businesses and Professions -- Pharmaceutical Cost Transparency This bill forces drug companies to explain large price hikes and requires insurers to publish clear online drug cost lists. H7119 State Affairs and Government -- Artificial Intelligence Accountability Act This bill regulates state government use of Artificial Intelligence to ensure transparency, accountability, and the prevention of discrimination. H7120 Public Utilities and Carriers -- Broadband Deployment and Investment Act Creates a state government position dedicated to helping residents apply for federal internet affordability programs. H7121 Labor and Labor Relations -- Workplace Psychological Safety Act This bill creates legal protections against workplace psychological abuse and bullying, requiring employer prevention policies and allowing employee lawsuits.
| Bill # | Title | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| January 16th, 2026 | ||
| S2150 | Courts and Civil Procedure -- Procedure Generally -- Judgments, Orders, and Decrees | Creditors must send a detailed notice by certified mail to property owners within ten days of recording a judgment lien. |
| S2151 | Animals and Animal Husbandry -- Cruelty to Animals | This bill allows city animal shelters to seize abused animals and charge owners for their care costs. |
| S2152 | State Affairs and Government -- Open Meetings | Public government bodies must create plans to provide translation services for open meetings upon request by September 2027. |
| S2153 | Criminal Offenses -- Weapons | This bill requires Rhode Island to recognize concealed gun permits and active-duty police IDs issued by other states. |
| S2154 | Criminal Procedure -- Electronic Information and Data Privacy Act | Law enforcement must obtain a search warrant to access a person's electronic data or location information, with limited exceptions. |
| S2155 | Criminal Offenses -- Weapons | This bill allows qualified adults over twenty-one to carry concealed handguns without a permit if they possess specific safety certificates. |
| S2156 | Criminal Offenses -- Burglary and Breaking and Entering | Establishes that occupants have no duty to retreat from intruders and creates a legal presumption that self-defense actions were reasonable. |
| S2157 | Criminal Offenses -- Law Enforcement Sexual Misconduct | This bill makes it a crime for on-duty police officers to have sexual contact with people in their custody. |
| S2158 | Delinquent and Dependent Children -- Proceedings in Family Court | Police cannot use a juvenile's statement as evidence unless a parent or lawyer was present during the questioning. |
| S2159 | Criminals -- Correctional Institutions -- Parole | This bill requires that one member of the state parole board be a formerly incarcerated person with relevant professional experience. |
| S2160 | Labor and Labor Relations -- Rhode Island Noncompetition Agreement Act | Bans noncompete agreements for employees earning under $125,000/year and authorizes employer lawsuits for trade secret violations. |
| S2161 | Criminal Procedure -- Sentence and Execution | This bill limits the ability to jail people for minor probation violations before their court hearing, favoring release instead. |
| S2162 | Criminal Procedure -- Sentence and Execution | This bill safeguards children by allowing judges to sentence parents to probation or home confinement instead of prison. |
| S2163 | Criminal Offenses -- Weapons | Creates a formal review and appeal process, including Superior Court trials, for individuals denied a concealed carry weapon permit. |
| S2164 | Criminal Offenses -- Weapons | This bill mandates the issuance of concealed carry permits to qualified applicants and legalizes firearm silencers for hunting. |
| S2165 | Property -- Residential Landlord and Tenant Act | Allows domestic violence victims to end leases early without penalty and mandates landlords change locks upon request for safety. |
| S2166 | Labor and Labor Relations -- Minimum Wages--Overtime | This bill raises the salary threshold required for businesses to exempt executive and administrative employees from mandatory overtime pay. |
| S2167 | Towns and Cities -- Retirement of Municipal Employees | This bill increases the number of days a retired municipal employee can work annually without losing pension benefits from 75 to 90. |
| S2168 | Towns and Cities -- Retirement of Municipal Employees | Exempts retired police officers working as School Resource Officers from the 75-day pension work limit regarding private, non-governmentally paid details. |
| S2169 | Education -- Career and Technical Education | Starting in 2026, students in firefighting or safety programs can train at the Fire Academy and take certification exams. |
| S2170 | Labor and Labor Relations -- Employment Security -- Benefits | This bill allows workers who are on strike or involved in a labor dispute to collect unemployment insurance benefits. |
| S2171 | Public Officers and Employees -- Merit System | State employees can now qualify for job classification upgrades and promotions without being required to supervise other workers. |
| S2172 | Labor and Labor Relations -- Labor Relations Act | No summary available |
| S2173 | Human Services -- Certification of Childcare and Youth- Serving Workers and Operators | Starting July 2026, new childcare and youth workers will receive required criminal background checks for free. |
| S2174 | Labor and Labor Relations -- Labor Relations Act--No Limitation on Healthcare Benefit Providers | No summary available |
| S2175 | Motor and Other Vehicles -- Registration of Vehicles | This bill adds Space Force to Reserve plates and allows heavier commercial vehicles to use these special plates. |
| S2176 | Motor and Other Vehicles -- Registration of Vehicles | Creates a special license plate to raise funds for the Friends of the Historic Narragansett Towers. |
| S2177 | Military Affairs and Defense -- Decorations | Creates a state medal for Rhode Island veterans who developed illnesses from toxic exposures like Agent Orange or burn pits. |
| S2178 | Motor and Other Vehicles -- Parking Facilities and Privileges | This bill creates special license plates and parking privileges for vehicles modified with ramps or lifts for people with mobility disabilities. |
| S2179 | State Affairs and Government -- Standard and Daylight Savings Time | This bill keeps Rhode Island on Standard Time year-round, ending clock changes, if neighboring states agree to do the same. |
| S2180 | Public Property and Works -- Public Buildings | This bill requires the state to pay for and display painted portraits of all current and former Senate Presidents. |
| S2181 | Health and Safety -- Office of State Fire Marshal | The DMV must share the addresses of electric and hybrid vehicles with local fire departments twice a year. |
| S2182 | Motor and Other Vehicles -- Operators' and Chauffeurs' Licenses | This bill allows children in foster care and adoptive homes to take driver education classes at CCRI for free. |
| S2183 | Motor and Other Vehicles -- Registration of Vehicles | This bill removes all registration fees and service charges for Rhode Island National Guard members obtaining special license plates. |
| S2184 | Motor and Other Vehicles -- Registration of Vehicles | This bill eliminates vehicle registration fees and service charges for recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross medal. |
| S2185 | Motor and Other Vehicles -- Registration of Vehicles | Creates a special charity license plate for "Real Access Motivates Progress" with surcharges funding the non-profit and the state general fund. |
| S2186 | Motor and Other Vehicles -- Parking Facilities and Privileges | This bill allows people with qualifying disabilities to receive up to two parking placards instead of just one. |
| January 15th, 2026 | ||
| H7109 | Commercial Law -- General Regulatory Provisions -- Patient Brokering Act | This bill makes it a felony to pay or receive bribes or kickbacks for referring patients to healthcare providers. |
| H7110 | Health and Safety -- The Personal Hygiene Product Safety and Toxic Metal Removal Act of 2026 | This bill bans dangerous metals like lead and arsenic from personal care products like makeup and tampons to ensure consumer safety. |
| H7111 | Insurance -- Producer Licensing Act | Requires insurance companies to provide 180 days' written notice to agents before modifying contracts or changing compensation rates. |
| H7112 | Public Utilities and Carriers - Regulatory Powers of Administration | This bill caps electric rate increases at 5.5% or the inflation rate, unless the legislature approves a higher amount. |
| H7113 | Insurance -- Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act | This bill requires insurers to pay out-of-network dentists directly upon patient request and prohibits forced virtual credit card payments. |
| H7114 | Education -- Health and Safety of Pupils | Students who bully based on identity may be assigned specific, educational community service to learn from their actions. |
| H7115 | Education -- Health and Safety of Pupils | Starting in 2028, RI student football players must wear protective soft-shell helmet covers, unless a parent opts them out. |
| H7116 | Education -- Curriculum | This bill requires all Rhode Island schools to provide a four-hour unit of mental health instruction to seventh-grade students starting in 2027. |
| H7117 | Education -- Curriculum | Mandates the creation of statewide computer science curriculum standards and requires schools to offer these courses, potentially through online platforms. |
| H7118 | Businesses and Professions -- Pharmaceutical Cost Transparency | This bill forces drug companies to explain large price hikes and requires insurers to publish clear online drug cost lists. |
| H7119 | State Affairs and Government -- Artificial Intelligence Accountability Act | This bill regulates state government use of Artificial Intelligence to ensure transparency, accountability, and the prevention of discrimination. |
| H7120 | Public Utilities and Carriers -- Broadband Deployment and Investment Act | Creates a state government position dedicated to helping residents apply for federal internet affordability programs. |
| H7121 | Labor and Labor Relations -- Workplace Psychological Safety Act | This bill creates legal protections against workplace psychological abuse and bullying, requiring employer prevention policies and allowing employee lawsuits. |