Rhode Island Bills

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 17, 2026

HB 8038: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- ORDINANCES

Authorizes East Providence to issue licenses to any business seeking to engage in the business of operating a hotel, motel, inn, or boardinghouse and that business first obtains approval from chief of police, building inspector and the mayor.

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 17, 2026

HB 8021: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODE -- RHODE ISLAND INCLUSIVE HOME DESIGN ACT

Addresses any single-family construction, townhouse construction, and multi-family construction complying with the Standards for Visitable Units of the ANSI' Standards for Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities.

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 17, 2026

HB 8020: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODE

Allows for building inspectors to conduct “virtual inspections” or utilize photographic evidence, at the building official’s discretion, from time to time during and upon completion of the work for which the building official has issued a permit.

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 17, 2026

HB 8027: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- ACTIONS BY AND AGAINST TOWNS

Requires a municipality to disclose on their official website the specific issues, details and costs of any legal action of which the town or city is a named defendant within 60 days after the close of the fiscal year.

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 17, 2026

HB 8019: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODE

Increases the additional permit fee cap on residential construction that supports electronic permitting and residential construction workforce training from one hundred dollars ($100) to one hundred fifty dollars ($150).

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 17, 2026

HB 7230: AN ACT RELATING TO HOLIDAYS AND DAYS OF SPECIAL OBSERVANCE

Designates the month of May, annually, as "Rhode Island Native Plant Month," with appropriate ceremonies and activities to recognize and educate people about Rhode Island's native plants.

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 16, 2026

HB 7175: AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION-NATURAL GAS SUPPLIERS

Requires Rhode Island Energy to enter into at least one long-term contract, for at least a four (4) year period, to procure natural gas pipeline capacity with an interstate pipeline operator.

Topics ✗ Energy

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 14, 2026

HB 7129: AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT

Amends the residential landlord and tenant act to prohibit the use of algorithmic renting-setting software that relies on nonpublic competitor data to determine rental prices or occupancy levels for residential dwelling units in Rhode Island.

Topics ✓ Housing ✗ Technology

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 13, 2026

HB 8105: AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- RHODE ISLAND FAIR HOUSING PRACTICE ACT

Amends the Rhode Island Fair Housing Practices Act to clarify housing-status enforcement, ban discriminatory housing notices, align state law with federal standards and remove a ban on public discussion of fair housing cases.

Topics ✓ Housing

died · Rhode Island · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 3024: AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES

Increases the number of state childcare licensing inspectors to meet the national recommended average of one inspector for every fifty (50) to sixty (60) childcare providers.

died · Rhode Island · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 2916: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION

This bill proposes to increase the minimum veterans' property tax exemption from $1,000 to $6,000 for municipal taxes. It directly affects veterans who own taxable property, allowing them to deduct a larger portion of their property value from their tax bill. The change would apply to local property taxes rather than state taxes, reducing the amount of tax owed by eligible veterans. The measure is currently under review by the Senate Housing and Municipal Government committee and has been held for further study.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing ✓ Veterans

died · Rhode Island · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 2961: AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- THE RHODE ISLAND CANNABIS ACT

This bill updates Rhode Island's cannabis regulations by removing the requirement to express cannabinoid levels as dry-weight percentages. The change directly affects cannabis businesses, including cultivators, manufacturers, and retailers, who currently must label products using this specific measurement method. By allowing the cannabis control commission to determine the form and manner for expressing cannabinoid amounts, the bill gives regulators more flexibility in how product potency is reported and tested. This adjustment aims to modernize the state's cannabis framework without altering the core legal requirements for cannabis businesses.

Bill results