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Rhode Island Bills

Track legislation and stay informed about the bills that matter to you.

State Legislature US Congress

All 25,118 Active 5 In committee 20,549 Passed 5,917 Signed 4,510 Failed 6,972

died · Rhode Island · Senate Mar 10, 2026

SB 2343: AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- SMALL BUSINESS REGULATORY FAIRNESS IN ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES

Expands the duties of the small business ombudsman, by also having the ombudsman serve as the Rhode Island commerce corporation's small business advocate.

died · Rhode Island · Senate Mar 6, 2026

SB 2864: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES

Mandates health insurance coverage by eliminating out-of-pocket costs for lung cancer screenings in order to enable patients to get the critical care they need without delay.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 6, 2026

HB 7604: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- UNFAIR CLAIMS SETTLEMENT PRACTICES ACT

HB 7604 modifies insurance claim rules by raising the damage threshold requiring a professional appraisal from $2,500 to $5,000 for vehicle repairs. It also extends the timeframe for insurers to complete appraisals from three to four days. This directly affects auto insurance claimants and insurers when vehicle damage exceeds $5,000, requiring insurers to use licensed, unaffiliated appraisers who conduct physical inspections (not photo-based appraisals). The bill aims to standardize appraisal processes for higher-value claims under the Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act.

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 6, 2026

HB 7732: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- FAIRNESS IN WOMEN'S SPORTS ACT

HB 7732, the "Fairness in Women's Sports Act," requires public schools and colleges to designate athletic teams based solely on biological sex at birth, not gender identity. It mandates that teams for female athletes must be exclusively for students identified as female at birth, verified through medical documentation of reproductive anatomy, natural testosterone levels, and genetics. The bill prohibits schools from facing penalties for maintaining separate female teams and allows affected students to sue if denied athletic opportunities due to this policy. It directly affects female athletes in public school sports programs and the institutions that govern them.

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 6, 2026

HB 7240: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- ESTATE AND TRANSFER TAXES -- ENFORCEMENT AND COLLECTION

Generates an estate tax discharge upon the recording of a statement by the executor or other estate representative that the value of the decedent’s gross estate does not require a state or federal tax filing.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 5, 2026

HB 7954: AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- DIGITAL PLATFORM TRANSPARENCY AND DEMOCRATIC INTEGRITY ACT

HB 7954 requires large social media platforms to disclose how their algorithms prioritize content. It directly affects major platforms with significant user engagement, mandating transparency about algorithmic decision-making. The bill's key provision is a requirement for platforms to explain their content-ranking systems to users and regulators. This aims to increase clarity around how user feeds are curated, without specifying particular content rules or outcomes. The bill is currently under further study in committee.

Topics ✓ Technology

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 5, 2026

HB 7955: AN ACT RELATING TO FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS -- CURRENCY TRANSMISSIONS

Expands the definition of operator to anyone who enables customers to purchase virtual currency. Expands the definition of a transaction to include a digital product or application where payment is made in person or through a third party intermediary.

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 5, 2026

HB 8024: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION

HB 8024 exempts Project Hand Up's property in West Warwick from local property taxes. This includes land, buildings, and physical assets owned by the nonprofit organization. The bill directly removes Project Hand Up's property tax obligations in West Warwick. It was introduced in February 2026 and is pending committee review.

Topics ✓ Housing

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 5, 2026

HR 7974: JOINT RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE CREATION OF A STATEWIDE TEACHER HEALTHCARE PLAN

Creates an 11-member commission to study and make recommendations on a statewide teacher healthcare plan, and would report quarterly as of September 1, 2026, and submit a final report by September 1, 2027, and expires on December 31, 2027.

Topics ✓ Education

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 5, 2026

HB 8030: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- GENERAL POWERS

HB 8030 requires criminal background checks for anyone applying for jobs or volunteering with the South Kingstown fire department or fire district. This bill directly affects fire department applicants and volunteers in South Kingstown, Rhode Island. The key provision mandates that these checks be conducted as part of the hiring or acceptance process. The bill is currently pending a committee hearing scheduled for March 5, 2026.

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 5, 2026

HB 7561: AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- TEMPORARY DISABILITY INSURANCE -- BENEFITS

Enables employees to no longer have to utilize sick leave, vacation leave, personal leave or other paid time off as a condition to their maternity leave.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 5, 2026

HB 7968: AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- TEMPORARY DISABILITY INSURANCE -- GENERAL PROVISIONS

Expands the benefit definitions to include a grandchild and care recipient and increases benefits period to 10 weeks for 2027 and 12 weeks for 2028 and provides a TDI/TCI opt-in option for self-employed workers.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment