Home › Rhode Island › Bills

Bills

Rhode Island Bills

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

State Legislature US Congress

All 25,118 Active 7,678 In committee 7,673 Passed 5,917 Signed 4,510 Failed 6,972

died · Rhode Island · House Feb 5, 2026

HB 7194: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION ACT

HB 7194 expands the definition of domestic violence to include animal cruelty committed by a family or household member against another household member. It specifically adds three offenses to the list: unnecessary cruelty to an animal (§ 4-1-3), malicious injury or killing of an animal (§ 4-1-5), and abandonment of an animal (§ 4-1-26). This change directly affects victims who share household animals with an abuser and allows courts to address animal cruelty as part of domestic violence cases. The bill amends the Domestic Violence Prevention Act to explicitly include these animal-related offenses under the same legal framework as other domestic violence crimes.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

died · Rhode Island · House Feb 5, 2026

HB 7362: AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- HEALTH AND SAFE FAMILIES WORKPLACES ACT--WORKWEEK

Mandates the workweek be reduced to 32 hrs. Rate of pay for a 32 hr workweek remains the same as the rate of pay for 40 hrs. Work in excess of 32 hrs in any one workweek qualify for overtime pay. Does not apply to employers with less than 500 employees.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

died · Rhode Island · House Feb 3, 2026

HB 7277: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES

Requires health insurance policies to cover licensed certified lactation counselor services for childbearing families. It would also prohibit requiring supervision or duplicate payments for services and mandates annual reporting.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

died · Rhode Island · House Feb 3, 2026

HB 7276: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES

HB 7276 prohibits insurance companies from requiring copays, deductibles, or other cost-sharing for specific breast examinations. It directly affects individuals with health insurance who need diagnostic exams (to evaluate breast abnormalities) or supplemental exams (for high-risk screening based on medical history). The law requires all group and individual health insurance plans to cover these exams without out-of-pocket costs. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

died · Rhode Island · House Feb 3, 2026

HB 7187: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- BENEFIT DETERMINATION AND UTILIZATION REVIEW ACT

Prohibits healthcare insurers from requiring or conducting a review for prescription medicine used to treat alcohol or opioid use disorder containing Methadone, Burenorphine, or Naltrexone, or approved to mitigate opioid withdrawal symptoms.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

died · Rhode Island · House Feb 3, 2026

HB 7370: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES - BURRILLVILLE AND GLOCESTER PUBLIC NOTICE ACT

Allows the towns of Burrillville and Glocester to publish notices in any newspaper located within their municipalities and would also allow publication in other designated digital or print platforms selected by their town councils.

died · Rhode Island · House Feb 3, 2026

HB 7409: AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICES

HB 7409 prohibits retail establishments from adding extra fees to customers who pay with credit cards for in-state transactions. It directly affects businesses selling goods or services within the state and their customers. The bill amends deceptive trade practices law to make imposing such credit card surcharges a violation, treating it as deceptive behavior. This policy change eliminates a common practice where businesses charged more for credit card use compared to cash or debit. The law would take effect immediately upon passage.

died · Rhode Island · House Feb 3, 2026

HB 7337: AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- RHODE ISLAND BIOTECHNOLOGY REGULATORY SANDBOX ACT

HB 7337 establishes Rhode Island's Biotechnology Regulatory Sandbox Program under the Department of Business Regulation. The program allows biotech companies, research institutions, or entities to test new products or services with limited exemptions from state licensing and regulatory requirements during a controlled trial period. Applicants must submit detailed applications demonstrating safety, consumer benefits, financial stability, and a plan for handling test failures, while coordinating with state and federal agencies like the FDA. The sandbox directly affects biotech innovators seeking market access and consumers who may use the tested products under temporary regulatory flexibility. It requires participants to maintain liability coverage and ensures consumer protection throughout the testing phase.

Topics ✓ Technology

died · Rhode Island · House Feb 3, 2026

HB 7275: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES

Requires health insurance plans to cover services provided by licensed certified professional midwives. Insurers would be required to report utilization and cost data annually and certain limited benefit policies would be exempt.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

died · Rhode Island · House Feb 3, 2026

HB 7150: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- GENERAL POWERS

HB 7150 prevents cities and towns from banning or restricting landscape equipment like leaf blowers, lawn mowers, or trimmers solely based on whether they use gasoline, electricity, batteries, or other power sources. It directly affects municipalities (which cannot enforce such bans) and property owners or businesses using this equipment. The bill allows local governments to still set general noise limits, operating hours for all equipment, or safety rules - but not rules targeting specific fuel types. Existing fuel-based bans in place before the law's effective date remain valid until amended.

Topics ✗ Environment

died · Rhode Island · House Feb 3, 2026

HB 7333: AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT AND INVESTMENT ACT -- RHODE ISLAND BROADBAND OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2026

HB 7333 creates the Rhode Island Broadband Oversight and Accountability Act of 2026 to remove legal barriers preventing state oversight of broadband services. It repeals a prior law that effectively banned Rhode Island from monitoring or regulating broadband performance, requiring the Commerce Corporation to develop a broadband office plan. This office would map coverage, monitor service quality, identify unserved areas, coordinate federal broadband funds (like BEAD), and ensure transparent reporting. The bill directly affects all Rhode Island residents and businesses relying on broadband for essential services like healthcare, education, and government access. It establishes concrete mechanisms for managing public broadband investments and meeting federal requirements for ongoing performance tracking.

Topics ✓ Technology

died · Rhode Island · House Feb 3, 2026

HB 7339: AN ACT RELATING TO CORPORATIONS, ASSOCIATIONS, AND PARTNERSHIPS -- THE RHODE ISLAND LIMITED-LIABILITY COMPANY ACT

Permits a member or members of a limited-liability company to avoid dissolution by buying the membership interest owned by the other member or members seeking dissolution.