Rhode Island Bills

died · Rhode Island · House Feb 26, 2026

HB 7735: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- ORGANICS DIVERSION AT CATERED EVENTS ACT

Creates the "Organics Diversion at Catered Events Act" to require caterers to submit an annual diversion plan for food and organic waste to the department of environmental management for approval prior to permitting for covered events.

Terri Cortvriend (D) Tina Spears (D) Lauren Carson (D) Megan Cotter (D) Michelle McGaw (D)

died · Rhode Island · House Feb 26, 2026

HB 7761: AN ACT RELATING TO PARKS AND RECREATIONAL AREAS -- PUBLIC USE OF PRIVATE LANDS-LIABILITY LIMITATIONS

Changes the definition of owner to exclude the state and municipalities for the purposes of liability limitations relating to public use of private lands.

died · Rhode Island · House Feb 26, 2026

HB 7736: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- RHODE ISLAND RESOURCE RECOVERY CORPORATION

This bill prohibits Rhode Island landfills from using artificial turf to cover compacted solid waste after July 1, 2026, except for existing installations installed before that date. It requires the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation (RIRC) to track artificial turf disposal volumes and include annual reports on this data. The bill also establishes a pilot program testing native plants and pollinator-friendly grass mixes as landfill cover, with results due by January 1, 2028. These changes apply to all sanitary landfills operated under RIRC's oversight.

Topics ✓ Environment

died · Rhode Island · House Feb 26, 2026

HB 7646: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE IN PARTICULAR ACTIONS -- RHODE ISLAND MEDICAL LIABILITY ACTIONS

HB 7646 creates a pre-trial medical malpractice tribunal to screen cases before they proceed to superior court, directly affecting patients suing healthcare providers for alleged negligence and the providers defending such claims. The tribunal, composed of a superior court judge, an attorney, and a healthcare provider (matching the defendant’s specialty), must review the plaintiff’s evidence within 15 days to determine if it raises a legitimate question of liability or is merely an unfortunate medical outcome. If the tribunal finds the case insufficient, the plaintiff must post a $6,000 bond (reducible for financial hardship) to continue, or face dismissal without prejudice. The bill applies to all medical malpractice cases filed on or after January 1, 2027, with the tribunal’s findings admissible as evidence at trial.

died · Rhode Island · House Feb 26, 2026

HB 7622: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- REFUSE DISPOSAL

Authorizes the department of environmental management to issue and enforce rules and regulations to implement and enforce the provisions of the food waste ban.

died · Rhode Island · House Feb 26, 2026

HB 7752: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE--PROCEDURE IN PARTICULAR ACTIONS -- CLIMATE DISASTER ACTIONS

Creates legal cause of action for persons/insurers to recover losses resulting from climate disaster against petroleum product producers based upon strict liability for deceptive/false statements as to climate impacts.

Topics ✓ Environment

died · Rhode Island · House Feb 26, 2026

HB 7635: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- THE RHODE ISLAND CESSPOOL ACT OF 2007

Provides that a certificate be provided for every contract for the purchase and sale of real estate certifying that the property has a functioning on-site wastewater treatment system or a sewer connection and not a cesspool.

died · Rhode Island · House Feb 26, 2026

HB 7620: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- PLASTIC WASTE CONVERSION FACILITY ACT

HB 7620 prohibits the construction and operation of new plastic waste conversion facilities in Rhode Island. The bill bans permits for facilities that use "regulated technologies" (including gasification, pyrolysis, and chemical processes) to convert plastic waste into fuels, chemical feedstocks, or other products. It directly affects developers seeking to build such facilities and aims to prevent environmental and health risks linked to toxic emissions and hazardous waste. The law defines these facilities broadly to include "advanced recycling" or "molecular recycling" operations, regardless of how they are marketed.

Topics ✓ Environment

died · Rhode Island · Senate Feb 26, 2026

SB 2593: AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- GENERAL PROVISIONS

Redefines "Political Party" and defines and distinguishes between "major parties" and "minor parties" based on the total number of votes a party's candidate received in the previous election among other factors.

died · Rhode Island · Senate Feb 26, 2026

SB 2568: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Require that routine childhood and adult immunization vaccine recommendations that are developed from evidence based, medically sound scientific research by the department of health.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

died · Rhode Island · House Feb 26, 2026

HB 7775: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION

Exempts from taxation the real and tangible personal property of MAP Behavioral Health Services, Inc. and MAP Development Corporation, located in the city of Providence.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

died · Rhode Island · House Feb 26, 2026

HB 7776: AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS -- ACQUISITION OF LAND

Provides that cities or towns may, by ordinance, designate "special ways" throughout the city or town which would be subject to alternative regulations to preserve its cultural, historic or scenic character.

Bill results