Latest Bills
Bill # Title Summary January 9th, 2026 S2023 State Affairs and Government -- Inspector General This bill creates an independent office to investigate and stop fraud, waste, and abuse of government money in Rhode Island. S2024 State Affairs and Government -- Rhode Island Climate Superfund Act of 2026 This bill charges major fossil fuel companies fees to fund state infrastructure projects addressing climate change damages. S2025 Education -- The Education Equity and Property Tax Relief Act This bill limits how much state funding school districts can lose from one year to the next. S2026 Taxation -- Personal Income Tax Eliminates state tax on Social Security, increases pension tax exemptions, and allows business deductions for cannabis companies. S2027 Public Officers and Employees -- Retirement System-- Contributions and Benefits This bill increases the annual earnings limit for retired driver education instructors from $15,000 to $25,000 without affecting their pension. S2028 Taxation -- Sales and Use Taxes -- Liability and Computation A tiered tax on large global companies selling digital ads in RI, funding housing, climate projects, and school lunches. S2029 Military Affairs and Defense -- National Guard Increases the maximum life insurance coverage amount eligible for state premium reimbursement for mobilized National Guard members. S2031 Taxation -- Property Tax Relief This bill expands property tax relief by raising income limits and increasing the maximum tax credit amount available to residents. S2032 Insurance -- Accident and Sickness Insurance Policies This bill requires health insurers to cover diagnostic and supplemental breast exams without charging patients copays or deductibles. S2033 Businesses and Professions -- Protections of Healthcare Providers Act Allows labels for abortion medications to list the healthcare practice's name instead of the dispensing individual's name. S2034 Insurance -- Accident and Sickness Insurance Policies Requires health insurers to cover buprenorphine medication for opioid treatment without copays or deductibles starting in 2027. S2035 Towns and Cities -- Zoning Ordinances This bill standardizes rules to allow homeowners to build accessory dwelling units (ADUs) while banning their use for short-term rentals. S2036 Taxation -- Property Subject to Taxation This bill exempts the property owned by the nonprofit Blithewold, Inc. in Bristol from local property taxes. S2037 Taxation -- Property Subject to Taxation This bill allows the town of Barrington to establish a property tax credit for legally blind residents via local ordinance. S2038 Towns and Cities -- Zoning Ordinances This bill creates statewide rules allowing homeowners to build in-law apartments while preventing towns and HOAs from banning them. S2039 Taxation -- Property Subject to Taxation This bill exempts specific real estate and personal property owned by the nonprofit arts organization AS220 in Providence from property taxes. S2040 Taxation - Levy and Assessment of Local Taxes This bill authorizes the town of Bristol to adopt and modify a specific property tax classification plan. S2041 Taxation -- Levy and Assessment of Local Taxes Allows Little Compton to provide property tax exemptions to resident homeowners, including for second homes and certain rent-stabilized rentals. S2042 Highways -- Sidewalks This bill mandates that the state maintain sidewalks on state highways, excluding the responsibility for snow and ice removal. S2043 Towns and Cities -- Zoning Ordinances This bill simplifies rules for building Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) while banning their use as short-term vacation rentals. S2044 Waters and Navigation -- Water Resources Management This bill redirects 20% of rental fees collected by the Water Resources Board from Coventry Pines Golf Club to the town of Coventry and its fire district. S2045 Criminal Procedure -- Protect Our Courts Act This bill protects people from being arrested for non-criminal matters (like immigration violations) while attending or traveling to court. S2046 Delinquent and Dependent Children -- Proceedings in Family Court Prohibits detaining or sentencing children 12 and under to the training school, with exceptions for murder or sexual assault. S2047 Criminal Offenses -- General Provisions Redefines the maximum sentence for misdemeanors from one year to 364 days and adjusts fine classifications. S2048 Motor and Other Vehicles -- State Identification Cards for Minors Without Residence Act This bill allows homeless and foster youth to obtain state ID cards and birth certificates for free without parental signatures. S2049 State Affairs and Government -- Corrections Department This bill requires Rhode Island prisons to provide medication-assisted treatment for inmates with opioid addiction and plan for their release. S2050 Probate Practice and Procedure -- Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act This bill allows homeowners to record a deed transferring their property to a beneficiary upon death, avoiding probate court. S2051 Health and Safety -- Lila Manfield Sapinsley Compassionate Care Act This bill allows terminally ill adults to legally obtain medication from a doctor to end their own lives. S2052 Courts and Civil Procedure -- Procedure Generally -- Jury Lists This bill allows individuals aged seventy or older to be exempt from mandatory jury duty service. S2053 Education -- Maintenance of Order on Campus This bill requires state college police to carry firearms after training and grants them standard police due process rights. S2054 Courts and Civil Procedure -- Procedure Generally -- Evidence Statements of apology or sympathy by healthcare providers regarding unexpected outcomes are inadmissible as evidence of liability in court. S2055 Motor and Other Vehicles -- Lighting Equipment and Reflectors This bill permits AAA roadside assistance vehicles to use flashing amber lights while assisting or transporting disabled vehicles. S2056 Criminal Offenses -- Weapons This bill prohibits anyone convicted of any felony from possessing a firearm and sets a maximum ten-year prison sentence for violations. S2057 Delinquent and Dependent Children -- Proceedings in Family Court This bill mandates that specific state agencies and all school districts must cooperate and share information with the Family Court. S2058 Criminal Offenses -- Trespass and Vandalism This bill adjusts community service hours for graffiti offenses and adds a $1,000 fine for tagging overpasses or underpasses. S2059 Taxation -- Tax Sales It requires notifying state housing and aging agencies before selling a home for unpaid taxes to protect vulnerable owners. January 7th, 2026 H7002 Businesses and Professions -- Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline Medical providers and insurers must process bills immediately through health insurance, even if a third party caused the injury. H7004 State Affairs and Government -- Rhode Island Climate Superfund Act of 2026 This bill charges major fossil fuel companies fees to fund Rhode Island's climate change infrastructure and resilience projects. H7005 Taxation -- Property Subject to Taxation Allows the Town of Barrington to establish its own property tax credit system for legally blind residents. H7006 Taxation -- Sales and Use Taxes -- Liability and Computation This bill limits sales tax exemptions for books to limited productions of 1,500 copies, excluding retail and online sales. H7007 Elections -- Mail Ballots This bill sets cybersecurity standards for overseas voting and permanently allows disabled voters to cast ballots electronically. H7008 Motor and Other Vehicles -- Parking Facilities and Privileges Mandates that cities and state agencies submit annual reports on disability parking enforcement to the Governor’s Commission on Disabilities. H7010 Human Services -- Medical Assistance This bill allows licensed independent clinical social workers to bill Medicaid directly for services provided to adults.
| Bill # | Title | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| January 9th, 2026 | ||
| S2023 | State Affairs and Government -- Inspector General | This bill creates an independent office to investigate and stop fraud, waste, and abuse of government money in Rhode Island. |
| S2024 | State Affairs and Government -- Rhode Island Climate Superfund Act of 2026 | This bill charges major fossil fuel companies fees to fund state infrastructure projects addressing climate change damages. |
| S2025 | Education -- The Education Equity and Property Tax Relief Act | This bill limits how much state funding school districts can lose from one year to the next. |
| S2026 | Taxation -- Personal Income Tax | Eliminates state tax on Social Security, increases pension tax exemptions, and allows business deductions for cannabis companies. |
| S2027 | Public Officers and Employees -- Retirement System-- Contributions and Benefits | This bill increases the annual earnings limit for retired driver education instructors from $15,000 to $25,000 without affecting their pension. |
| S2028 | Taxation -- Sales and Use Taxes -- Liability and Computation | A tiered tax on large global companies selling digital ads in RI, funding housing, climate projects, and school lunches. |
| S2029 | Military Affairs and Defense -- National Guard | Increases the maximum life insurance coverage amount eligible for state premium reimbursement for mobilized National Guard members. |
| S2031 | Taxation -- Property Tax Relief | This bill expands property tax relief by raising income limits and increasing the maximum tax credit amount available to residents. |
| S2032 | Insurance -- Accident and Sickness Insurance Policies | This bill requires health insurers to cover diagnostic and supplemental breast exams without charging patients copays or deductibles. |
| S2033 | Businesses and Professions -- Protections of Healthcare Providers Act | Allows labels for abortion medications to list the healthcare practice's name instead of the dispensing individual's name. |
| S2034 | Insurance -- Accident and Sickness Insurance Policies | Requires health insurers to cover buprenorphine medication for opioid treatment without copays or deductibles starting in 2027. |
| S2035 | Towns and Cities -- Zoning Ordinances | This bill standardizes rules to allow homeowners to build accessory dwelling units (ADUs) while banning their use for short-term rentals. |
| S2036 | Taxation -- Property Subject to Taxation | This bill exempts the property owned by the nonprofit Blithewold, Inc. in Bristol from local property taxes. |
| S2037 | Taxation -- Property Subject to Taxation | This bill allows the town of Barrington to establish a property tax credit for legally blind residents via local ordinance. |
| S2038 | Towns and Cities -- Zoning Ordinances | This bill creates statewide rules allowing homeowners to build in-law apartments while preventing towns and HOAs from banning them. |
| S2039 | Taxation -- Property Subject to Taxation | This bill exempts specific real estate and personal property owned by the nonprofit arts organization AS220 in Providence from property taxes. |
| S2040 | Taxation - Levy and Assessment of Local Taxes | This bill authorizes the town of Bristol to adopt and modify a specific property tax classification plan. |
| S2041 | Taxation -- Levy and Assessment of Local Taxes | Allows Little Compton to provide property tax exemptions to resident homeowners, including for second homes and certain rent-stabilized rentals. |
| S2042 | Highways -- Sidewalks | This bill mandates that the state maintain sidewalks on state highways, excluding the responsibility for snow and ice removal. |
| S2043 | Towns and Cities -- Zoning Ordinances | This bill simplifies rules for building Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) while banning their use as short-term vacation rentals. |
| S2044 | Waters and Navigation -- Water Resources Management | This bill redirects 20% of rental fees collected by the Water Resources Board from Coventry Pines Golf Club to the town of Coventry and its fire district. |
| S2045 | Criminal Procedure -- Protect Our Courts Act | This bill protects people from being arrested for non-criminal matters (like immigration violations) while attending or traveling to court. |
| S2046 | Delinquent and Dependent Children -- Proceedings in Family Court | Prohibits detaining or sentencing children 12 and under to the training school, with exceptions for murder or sexual assault. |
| S2047 | Criminal Offenses -- General Provisions | Redefines the maximum sentence for misdemeanors from one year to 364 days and adjusts fine classifications. |
| S2048 | Motor and Other Vehicles -- State Identification Cards for Minors Without Residence Act | This bill allows homeless and foster youth to obtain state ID cards and birth certificates for free without parental signatures. |
| S2049 | State Affairs and Government -- Corrections Department | This bill requires Rhode Island prisons to provide medication-assisted treatment for inmates with opioid addiction and plan for their release. |
| S2050 | Probate Practice and Procedure -- Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act | This bill allows homeowners to record a deed transferring their property to a beneficiary upon death, avoiding probate court. |
| S2051 | Health and Safety -- Lila Manfield Sapinsley Compassionate Care Act | This bill allows terminally ill adults to legally obtain medication from a doctor to end their own lives. |
| S2052 | Courts and Civil Procedure -- Procedure Generally -- Jury Lists | This bill allows individuals aged seventy or older to be exempt from mandatory jury duty service. |
| S2053 | Education -- Maintenance of Order on Campus | This bill requires state college police to carry firearms after training and grants them standard police due process rights. |
| S2054 | Courts and Civil Procedure -- Procedure Generally -- Evidence | Statements of apology or sympathy by healthcare providers regarding unexpected outcomes are inadmissible as evidence of liability in court. |
| S2055 | Motor and Other Vehicles -- Lighting Equipment and Reflectors | This bill permits AAA roadside assistance vehicles to use flashing amber lights while assisting or transporting disabled vehicles. |
| S2056 | Criminal Offenses -- Weapons | This bill prohibits anyone convicted of any felony from possessing a firearm and sets a maximum ten-year prison sentence for violations. |
| S2057 | Delinquent and Dependent Children -- Proceedings in Family Court | This bill mandates that specific state agencies and all school districts must cooperate and share information with the Family Court. |
| S2058 | Criminal Offenses -- Trespass and Vandalism | This bill adjusts community service hours for graffiti offenses and adds a $1,000 fine for tagging overpasses or underpasses. |
| S2059 | Taxation -- Tax Sales | It requires notifying state housing and aging agencies before selling a home for unpaid taxes to protect vulnerable owners. |
| January 7th, 2026 | ||
| H7002 | Businesses and Professions -- Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline | Medical providers and insurers must process bills immediately through health insurance, even if a third party caused the injury. |
| H7004 | State Affairs and Government -- Rhode Island Climate Superfund Act of 2026 | This bill charges major fossil fuel companies fees to fund Rhode Island's climate change infrastructure and resilience projects. |
| H7005 | Taxation -- Property Subject to Taxation | Allows the Town of Barrington to establish its own property tax credit system for legally blind residents. |
| H7006 | Taxation -- Sales and Use Taxes -- Liability and Computation | This bill limits sales tax exemptions for books to limited productions of 1,500 copies, excluding retail and online sales. |
| H7007 | Elections -- Mail Ballots | This bill sets cybersecurity standards for overseas voting and permanently allows disabled voters to cast ballots electronically. |
| H7008 | Motor and Other Vehicles -- Parking Facilities and Privileges | Mandates that cities and state agencies submit annual reports on disability parking enforcement to the Governor’s Commission on Disabilities. |
| H7010 | Human Services -- Medical Assistance | This bill allows licensed independent clinical social workers to bill Medicaid directly for services provided to adults. |