SB 2608 Rhode Island Senate · 2026 Regular Session

AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- THE RHODE ISLAND COMMUNITY PROTECTION ACT.

Rhode Island's SB 2608, the "Rhode Island Community Protection Act," prohibits law enforcement officers from wearing masks during public interactions while performing official duties, except for specific safety or operational exceptions (like health emergencies, SWAT operations, or fire rescues). The bill directly affects all state, local, and federal law enforcement officers interacting with the public in Rhode Island. Violations carry misdemeanor penalties (up to one year in jail or $1,000 fines) and civil liability for victims, including minimum $10,000 damages for intentional misconduct. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.
Bill status died 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 13, 2026 Last action May 5, 2026
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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
3
Key actions
0
Committee
1
May 5, 2026
Committee
05/05/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
legislature
Feb 13, 2026
Introduced
02/13/2026 Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary
upper
11 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors