Rhode Island Bills

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 12, 2026

HB 7846: AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- THIRD-PARTY DELIVERY SYSTEMS

Prohibits unauthorized placement of merchants on advertising platform order interfaces, and would prohibit third-party restaurant reservation services.

Scott Slater (D) Justine Caldwell (D) Pat Serpa (D) Bob Phillips (D) Joshua Giraldo (D)

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 12, 2026

HB 7847: AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- UNFAIR SALES PRACTICES

HB 7847 prohibits airlines from setting expiration dates on airline tickets and flight vouchers, meaning these items cannot expire after a certain date. This directly affects travelers who purchase tickets or receive vouchers, ensuring they retain the right to use them indefinitely. The key provision bans expiration dates as a standard practice, requiring airlines to honor all purchased tickets and vouchers without time limits. The bill focuses on preventing unfair practices that limit consumer access to travel services. It is currently in the introduction phase, referred to the House Corporations committee.

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 12, 2026

HB 7856: AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- THE RHODE ISLAND CANNABIS ACT

HB 7856, the Rhode Island Cannabis Act, would ban advertising of cannabis and cannabis products on any medium that might be visible to minors. This bill directly affects cannabis businesses, requiring them to avoid advertising in locations or formats accessible to children, such as digital platforms, billboards, or print media in youth-oriented areas. The key provision prohibits all advertising that could be seen by minors, regardless of the medium used. The bill was introduced on February 27, 2026, and referred to the House Corporations committee.

died · Rhode Island · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 2698: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- NON-OWNER OCCUPIED PROPERTY TAX ACT

Defines a seasonably-habitable non-owner occupied residence, which is not the primary residence of the taxpayer, and which would be exempt from the non-owner occupied property tax.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 12, 2026

HB 8063: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- SEXUAL ASSAULT

Requires that court sentencing a person for first degree sexual assault of first degree child molestation, have the approval of the victim before imposing any negotiated sentence upon the offender.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 12, 2026

HB 7945: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR MENTAL ILLNESS AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS

Provides that for treatment of mental health and substance use disorders, payors would rely upon criteria which reflect generally accepted standards of care when developing coverage.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 12, 2026

HB 7949: AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- LICENSING AND MONITORING OF CHILD PLACING AGENCIES, CHILD CARING AGENCIES, FOSTER AND ADOPTIVE HOMES, AND CHILDREN'S BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAMS

HB 7949 authorizes Rhode Island's Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) to license mobile response and stabilization services (MRSS) that provide crisis intervention for children and young adults under 21. This bill directly affects MRSS providers, requiring them to meet new licensing standards set by DCYF. Key provisions include regulations on staff qualifications, safety standards, child-to-staff ratios, background checks, and record-keeping to ensure quality care. The law amends existing licensing rules to include MRSS as a distinct service category under DCYF's oversight.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 12, 2026

HB 7943: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR MENTAL ILLNESS AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS

HB 7943 prohibits health insurers from requiring preauthorization for in-network mental health or substance use disorder services, directly affecting insured patients seeking these treatments within their plan's network. The bill mandates that coverage for mental health and substance use disorders must meet the same terms as medical care, eliminating annual/lifetime dollar limits and ensuring cost-sharing parity with primary care visits. Key provisions include banning non-quantitative treatment restrictions that are stricter than those for medical conditions and requiring insurers to use American Society of Addiction Medicine criteria for substance use disorder coverage. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, and applies specifically to in-network services as defined in the bill.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 12, 2026

HB 7939: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES

Raises the age of eligibility for mobile response and stabilization services from eighteen (18) to twenty-one (21) and establishes a minimum rate for commercial health insurance reimbursement for such services.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 12, 2026

HB 7944: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR MENTAL ILLNESS AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS

HB 7944 requires health insurance plans to cover mental health and substance use disorder treatment under the same terms as medical care. It prohibits annual or lifetime dollar limits on such coverage and mandates that financial requirements (like copays) and treatment restrictions must not be more stringent than those for physical health conditions. The bill specifies coverage categories (e.g., inpatient, outpatient), mandates medication-assisted treatments for substance use disorders (like methadone), and ensures cost-sharing for behavioral health visits matches primary care standards, directly affecting all health insurance plans and their policyholders.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Veterans

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 12, 2026

HB 8078: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- COUNTY GRAND JURIES

HB 8078 allows county grand juries to formally issue reports about their investigations and creates a process for superior courts to review and approve these reports before they are shared publicly. This bill directly affects county grand juries, which would now have the authority to produce reports, and superior courts, which would handle the review and approval. The key mechanism requires courts to evaluate the reports for completeness and appropriateness before authorizing public dissemination. If passed, this would standardize how grand jury findings are made available to the public, though the bill is currently in the early introduction stage (referred to House Judiciary on 2/27/2026).

died · Rhode Island · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 2689: AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- OFFICE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Mandates that the EOHHS assemble a network of equity zones where local multisector groups of nonprofits, service providers, advocates, community members, state agencies, and municipalities can address social factors of health at a local level.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Bill results