Latest Bills
Bill # Title Summary January 14th, 2026 H7100 Public Officers and Employees -- Retirement System-- Contributions and Benefits This bill raises the annual earnings limit for retired teachers working as driver education instructors from $15,000 to $25,000. January 9th, 2026 H7020 Businesses and Professions -- Veterinary Practice This bill authorizes veterinarians to treat animals and issue limited prescriptions using video-based telemedicine technology. H7021 Health and Safety -- Retail Establishments-Vehicle Safety Barriers Stores must install strong barriers like posts or planters to protect people on sidewalks and near entrances from moving cars. H7022 Commercial Law -- General Regulatory Provisions -- Unfair Sales Practices Businesses charging credit card fees must post clear notices of the cost at registers and on menus by 2027. H7023 Education -- Cooperative Service Among School Districts This bill updates the leadership structure of the Urban Collaborative and allows it to receive funding like a school district. H7024 Education -- Cooperative Service Among School Districts Revises the governance structure and funding eligibility for the urban collaborative alternative education program. H7025 Education -- School Committees and Superintendents This bill mandates that school committees provide transportation for students living two or more miles from school. H7026 Education -- The Nathan Bruno and Jason Flatt Act Middle and high schools must place suicide and substance abuse hotline numbers on student and staff identification cards. H7027 Education -- Health and Safety of Pupils This bill mandates middle and high schools implement cardiac emergency plans and provide accessible defibrillators by 2027. H7029 Businesses and Professions -- Nurses This bill creates standards, training requirements, and licensing exemptions for nurses providing professional foot care in patients' homes. H7030 Health and Safety -- Healthcare Worker Platform Act Establishes licensing and definitions for digital apps connecting healthcare workers to shifts, separating them from staffing agency regulations. H7032 Education -- Student Computer Device Privacy Schools are banned from spying on students via cameras, microphones, or GPS on school devices, with limited safety exceptions. H7033 Courts and Civil Procedure -- Procedure Generally -- Judgments, Orders, and Decrees Changes lawsuit interest rates from a fixed 12% to a variable federal rate and starts interest upon filing. H7034 Property -- Rhode Island Fair Housing Practices Act This bill prohibits landlords and lenders from discriminating against housing applicants based on their prior incarceration or criminal history. H7035 Criminal Offenses -- Weapons This bill limits individuals to purchasing or possessing only one firearm every thirty days, with exceptions for police and collectors. H7036 Delinquent and Dependent Children -- Proceedings in Family Court This bill lists specific state agencies and school districts that are required to cooperate and share information with the Family Court. H7037 Delinquent and Dependent Children -- Proceedings in Family Court This bill generally prohibits arresting or handcuffing children twelve and under, except for serious felonies or safety threats. H7038 Courts and Civil Procedure--Procedure Generally -- Fees This bill changes the fee for serving standard legal papers from a maximum of $70 to a minimum of $70. H7039 State Affairs and Government -- Peace Officer Maximum Workday and Overtime Compensation This bill prohibits forcing corrections officers to work mandatory overtime, except during emergencies, and establishes penalty pay for violations. H7040 Labor and Labor Relations -- Municipal Police Arbitration Police union contracts will automatically stay in effect after expiring until a new agreement is reached. H7041 Labor and Labor Relations -- Firefighters' Arbitration This bill mandates that firefighters' union contracts remain fully in effect after expiration until a new agreement is finalized. H7042 Labor and Labor Relations -- Labor Relations Act This bill legalizes strikes for teachers, municipal and state workers, and healthcare staff, while keeping bans for public safety personnel. H7043 Alcoholic Beverages -- Retail Licenses This bill requires businesses applying for liquor licenses in Westerly to maintain specific liability insurance coverage. H7044 Property -- Homeless Bill of Rights This bill creates a committee to establish uniform standards and regulations for the operation, safety, and accessibility of homeless shelters. H7045 Taxation - Levy and Assessment of Local Taxes Allows the town of Bristol to adjust property tax classifications and rates for mixed-use owner-occupied homes. H7046 Taxation -- Property Subject to Taxation This bill exempts the property of Blithewold, Inc., a nonprofit in Bristol, from paying property taxes. H7047 Taxation -- Levy and Assessment of Local Taxes Little Compton may grant property tax reductions to resident homeowners and landlords who rent to locals without raising rents. H7048 Motor and Other Vehicles -- Registration of Vehicles This bill allows heavier commercial vehicles to use Reserve Forces plates and adds "Space Force" to the plate design. H7049 Elections -- Primary Elections If the primary election falls on the day after Labor Day, this bill moves voting to the following Wednesday. H7050 Motor and Other Vehicles -- Parking Facilities and Privileges This bill creates temporary physician-issued parking placards, mandates "Accessible Parking" signage, and allows citizen reporting of violations via app. H7051 State Affairs and Government -- Department of Children, Youth and Families Requires DCYF to apply for and conserve federal benefits for foster youth in savings accounts for their future use. H7052 Education -- Rhode Island Promise Scholarship Expands Rhode Island Promise Scholarship eligibility to include specific transfer students, deferred enrollments, and exempts College Crusade grants from calculations. H7053 Education -- Teachers Retirement Teachers taking unpaid parental or medical leave get full retirement credit if they work at least 135 days that year. H7054 Education -- The Rhode Island Prekindergarten Education Act This bill expands state-funded pre-K to 70% of 3- and 4-year-olds and mandates competitive wages for teachers. H7055 Education -- Council on Postsecondary Education Starting July 1, 2026, state employees will be allowed to negotiate for extra pay based on their years of service. H7056 Parks and Recreational Areas -- General Provisions This bill allows individuals considered disabled under Medicaid rules to enter state parks and beaches without paying fees. H7057 Taxation -- Personal Income Tax This bill phases out state taxes on Social Security, increases pension tax exemptions, and allows cannabis business deductions. H7058 Taxation -- Sales and Use Taxes -- Liability and Computation This bill lowers the sales tax due on motorcycle purchases by allowing buyers to deduct the value of a trade-in. S2010 Insurance -- The Transparency and Accountability in Artificial Intelligence Use by Health Insurers to Manage Coverage and Claims Act This bill requires human doctors to review insurance denials made by AI and mandates reporting on AI usage by insurers. S2011 Insurance-Casualty Insurance Generally-Limitations on Policy Cancellations and Renewals Requires insurers to give homeowners two months' notice for large rate increases or policy non-renewals. S2012 Public Utilities and Carriers -- Transparency in Electric and Gas Bills Act This bill requires electric and gas utilities to clearly itemize costs for renewable energy and delivery on customer bills. S2013 Public Utilities and Carriers -- Termination of Service to Persons Who Are Disabled, Seriously Ill, or in Arrears of Payment Extends utility shutoff protection from three weeks to three months for seriously ill patients with undefined recovery times. S2014 Public Utilities and Carriers -- Broadband Deployment and Investment Act This bill allows the state to regulate internet providers, mandates outage reporting, and charges fees to fund a new oversight map. S2015 Financial Institutions -- Lenders and Loan Brokers This bill requires low-volume lenders and check-cashing businesses offering payday loans to obtain specific state lending licenses. S2016 Education -- Curriculum This bill requires Rhode Island K-12 schools to include media literacy as part of their mandatory civics education curriculum. S2017 Education -- School Committees and Superintendents This bill requires all Rhode Island public schools, including charter schools, to start on the same date annually. S2019 Taxation -- Estate and Transfer Taxes -- Liability and Computation This bill gradually increases the estate tax exemption starting in 2027 and completely abolishes the state estate tax by 2033. S2020 State Affairs and Government -- Rhode Island Fire Services Training Fund Act Creates a dedicated fund for firefighter training financed by a 0.25% assessment on property insurance company premiums. S2021 Taxation -- Personal Income Tax This bill exempts up to $20,000 of Bitcoin sales per year from Rhode Island state income taxes for 2027. S2022 Taxation -- Business Corporation Tax This bill eliminates the mandatory minimum annual tax of $400 that corporations and small businesses in Rhode Island currently pay.
| Bill # | Title | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| January 14th, 2026 | ||
| H7100 | Public Officers and Employees -- Retirement System-- Contributions and Benefits | This bill raises the annual earnings limit for retired teachers working as driver education instructors from $15,000 to $25,000. |
| January 9th, 2026 | ||
| H7020 | Businesses and Professions -- Veterinary Practice | This bill authorizes veterinarians to treat animals and issue limited prescriptions using video-based telemedicine technology. |
| H7021 | Health and Safety -- Retail Establishments-Vehicle Safety Barriers | Stores must install strong barriers like posts or planters to protect people on sidewalks and near entrances from moving cars. |
| H7022 | Commercial Law -- General Regulatory Provisions -- Unfair Sales Practices | Businesses charging credit card fees must post clear notices of the cost at registers and on menus by 2027. |
| H7023 | Education -- Cooperative Service Among School Districts | This bill updates the leadership structure of the Urban Collaborative and allows it to receive funding like a school district. |
| H7024 | Education -- Cooperative Service Among School Districts | Revises the governance structure and funding eligibility for the urban collaborative alternative education program. |
| H7025 | Education -- School Committees and Superintendents | This bill mandates that school committees provide transportation for students living two or more miles from school. |
| H7026 | Education -- The Nathan Bruno and Jason Flatt Act | Middle and high schools must place suicide and substance abuse hotline numbers on student and staff identification cards. |
| H7027 | Education -- Health and Safety of Pupils | This bill mandates middle and high schools implement cardiac emergency plans and provide accessible defibrillators by 2027. |
| H7029 | Businesses and Professions -- Nurses | This bill creates standards, training requirements, and licensing exemptions for nurses providing professional foot care in patients' homes. |
| H7030 | Health and Safety -- Healthcare Worker Platform Act | Establishes licensing and definitions for digital apps connecting healthcare workers to shifts, separating them from staffing agency regulations. |
| H7032 | Education -- Student Computer Device Privacy | Schools are banned from spying on students via cameras, microphones, or GPS on school devices, with limited safety exceptions. |
| H7033 | Courts and Civil Procedure -- Procedure Generally -- Judgments, Orders, and Decrees | Changes lawsuit interest rates from a fixed 12% to a variable federal rate and starts interest upon filing. |
| H7034 | Property -- Rhode Island Fair Housing Practices Act | This bill prohibits landlords and lenders from discriminating against housing applicants based on their prior incarceration or criminal history. |
| H7035 | Criminal Offenses -- Weapons | This bill limits individuals to purchasing or possessing only one firearm every thirty days, with exceptions for police and collectors. |
| H7036 | Delinquent and Dependent Children -- Proceedings in Family Court | This bill lists specific state agencies and school districts that are required to cooperate and share information with the Family Court. |
| H7037 | Delinquent and Dependent Children -- Proceedings in Family Court | This bill generally prohibits arresting or handcuffing children twelve and under, except for serious felonies or safety threats. |
| H7038 | Courts and Civil Procedure--Procedure Generally -- Fees | This bill changes the fee for serving standard legal papers from a maximum of $70 to a minimum of $70. |
| H7039 | State Affairs and Government -- Peace Officer Maximum Workday and Overtime Compensation | This bill prohibits forcing corrections officers to work mandatory overtime, except during emergencies, and establishes penalty pay for violations. |
| H7040 | Labor and Labor Relations -- Municipal Police Arbitration | Police union contracts will automatically stay in effect after expiring until a new agreement is reached. |
| H7041 | Labor and Labor Relations -- Firefighters' Arbitration | This bill mandates that firefighters' union contracts remain fully in effect after expiration until a new agreement is finalized. |
| H7042 | Labor and Labor Relations -- Labor Relations Act | This bill legalizes strikes for teachers, municipal and state workers, and healthcare staff, while keeping bans for public safety personnel. |
| H7043 | Alcoholic Beverages -- Retail Licenses | This bill requires businesses applying for liquor licenses in Westerly to maintain specific liability insurance coverage. |
| H7044 | Property -- Homeless Bill of Rights | This bill creates a committee to establish uniform standards and regulations for the operation, safety, and accessibility of homeless shelters. |
| H7045 | Taxation - Levy and Assessment of Local Taxes | Allows the town of Bristol to adjust property tax classifications and rates for mixed-use owner-occupied homes. |
| H7046 | Taxation -- Property Subject to Taxation | This bill exempts the property of Blithewold, Inc., a nonprofit in Bristol, from paying property taxes. |
| H7047 | Taxation -- Levy and Assessment of Local Taxes | Little Compton may grant property tax reductions to resident homeowners and landlords who rent to locals without raising rents. |
| H7048 | Motor and Other Vehicles -- Registration of Vehicles | This bill allows heavier commercial vehicles to use Reserve Forces plates and adds "Space Force" to the plate design. |
| H7049 | Elections -- Primary Elections | If the primary election falls on the day after Labor Day, this bill moves voting to the following Wednesday. |
| H7050 | Motor and Other Vehicles -- Parking Facilities and Privileges | This bill creates temporary physician-issued parking placards, mandates "Accessible Parking" signage, and allows citizen reporting of violations via app. |
| H7051 | State Affairs and Government -- Department of Children, Youth and Families | Requires DCYF to apply for and conserve federal benefits for foster youth in savings accounts for their future use. |
| H7052 | Education -- Rhode Island Promise Scholarship | Expands Rhode Island Promise Scholarship eligibility to include specific transfer students, deferred enrollments, and exempts College Crusade grants from calculations. |
| H7053 | Education -- Teachers Retirement | Teachers taking unpaid parental or medical leave get full retirement credit if they work at least 135 days that year. |
| H7054 | Education -- The Rhode Island Prekindergarten Education Act | This bill expands state-funded pre-K to 70% of 3- and 4-year-olds and mandates competitive wages for teachers. |
| H7055 | Education -- Council on Postsecondary Education | Starting July 1, 2026, state employees will be allowed to negotiate for extra pay based on their years of service. |
| H7056 | Parks and Recreational Areas -- General Provisions | This bill allows individuals considered disabled under Medicaid rules to enter state parks and beaches without paying fees. |
| H7057 | Taxation -- Personal Income Tax | This bill phases out state taxes on Social Security, increases pension tax exemptions, and allows cannabis business deductions. |
| H7058 | Taxation -- Sales and Use Taxes -- Liability and Computation | This bill lowers the sales tax due on motorcycle purchases by allowing buyers to deduct the value of a trade-in. |
| S2010 | Insurance -- The Transparency and Accountability in Artificial Intelligence Use by Health Insurers to Manage Coverage and Claims Act | This bill requires human doctors to review insurance denials made by AI and mandates reporting on AI usage by insurers. |
| S2011 | Insurance-Casualty Insurance Generally-Limitations on Policy Cancellations and Renewals | Requires insurers to give homeowners two months' notice for large rate increases or policy non-renewals. |
| S2012 | Public Utilities and Carriers -- Transparency in Electric and Gas Bills Act | This bill requires electric and gas utilities to clearly itemize costs for renewable energy and delivery on customer bills. |
| S2013 | Public Utilities and Carriers -- Termination of Service to Persons Who Are Disabled, Seriously Ill, or in Arrears of Payment | Extends utility shutoff protection from three weeks to three months for seriously ill patients with undefined recovery times. |
| S2014 | Public Utilities and Carriers -- Broadband Deployment and Investment Act | This bill allows the state to regulate internet providers, mandates outage reporting, and charges fees to fund a new oversight map. |
| S2015 | Financial Institutions -- Lenders and Loan Brokers | This bill requires low-volume lenders and check-cashing businesses offering payday loans to obtain specific state lending licenses. |
| S2016 | Education -- Curriculum | This bill requires Rhode Island K-12 schools to include media literacy as part of their mandatory civics education curriculum. |
| S2017 | Education -- School Committees and Superintendents | This bill requires all Rhode Island public schools, including charter schools, to start on the same date annually. |
| S2019 | Taxation -- Estate and Transfer Taxes -- Liability and Computation | This bill gradually increases the estate tax exemption starting in 2027 and completely abolishes the state estate tax by 2033. |
| S2020 | State Affairs and Government -- Rhode Island Fire Services Training Fund Act | Creates a dedicated fund for firefighter training financed by a 0.25% assessment on property insurance company premiums. |
| S2021 | Taxation -- Personal Income Tax | This bill exempts up to $20,000 of Bitcoin sales per year from Rhode Island state income taxes for 2027. |
| S2022 | Taxation -- Business Corporation Tax | This bill eliminates the mandatory minimum annual tax of $400 that corporations and small businesses in Rhode Island currently pay. |