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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 7,678 In committee 7,673 Passed 5,917 Signed 4,510 Failed 6,972

died · Rhode Island · House May 29, 2025

HB 6361: AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- REGULATORY POWERS OF ADMINISTRATION

Requires a natural gas and electric utility company to read the meters of all ratepayers on a quarterly basis. The utility would be required to provide a formula, used to create estimated bills, to the PUC in order to send estimated bills.

died · Rhode Island · House May 29, 2025

HB 6203: AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- THE RENEWABLE ENERGY GROWTH PROGRAM

HB 6203 repeals Rhode Island's Renewable Energy Growth Program, which was a tariff-based financing system for distributed renewable energy projects. The program established rules for financing solar and other renewable projects under 5-year targets, with specific requirements for site selection (avoiding core forests) and project size limits. This bill removes all existing provisions of the program from state law, ending its operation without creating new mechanisms or requirements. The repeal directly affects electric distribution companies, renewable energy developers, and customers participating in the program.

Topics ✗ Energy ✗ Environment

died · Rhode Island · House May 29, 2025

HB 6202: AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- NET METERING -- LONG-TERM CONTRACTS FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY -- MORATORIUM

HB 6202 imposes a moratorium on three specific energy-related policies starting January 1, 2026. It prohibits new or renewed net metering contracts (allowing customers to offset electricity use with self-generated power), bans the state from entering long-term solar/wind energy purchase agreements (exceeding five years), and stops state funding for heat pump subsidies. This directly affects residential and commercial customers using solar/wind systems, utilities managing net metering, and energy providers seeking long-term contracts. The bill halts these programs under current state law without creating new exemptions or alternatives.

Topics ✗ Energy ✗ Environment

died · Rhode Island · House May 29, 2025

HB 6334: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- SALES AND USE TAXES--LIABILITY AND COMPUTATION

Authorizes municipalities to impose a ticket tax on ticket sales for venues large enough to hold at least eight hundred (800) patrons, seated, of two dollars ($2) per ticket. The tax shall be redistributed to the locality where the venue is located.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

died · Rhode Island · Senate May 29, 2025

SB 416: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- SALES AND USE TAXES -- LIABILITY AND COMPUTATION

SB 416 phases out Rhode Island's 1% local meals and beverage tax by gradually reducing it 0.25% annually starting in 2026, eliminating the tax entirely by January 1, 2029. The bill directly affects restaurants, bars, and other eating establishments that currently collect this tax on meals and beverages sold for immediate consumption. Key provisions include annual tax reductions beginning January 1, 2026, with the tax fully expiring on January 1, 2029. This change will end local revenue from this tax source for cities and towns that previously received quarterly distributions. The bill takes effect upon passage but is currently under further study in committee.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes

died · Rhode Island · Senate May 29, 2025

SB 433: AN ACT RELATING TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY -- AUDITOR GENERAL

SB 433 requires the state auditor general to conduct annual audits of all state agencies to evaluate how effectively and efficiently they operate, including checking compliance with laws on equal employment and minority business requirements. These audits will review agency programs, financial practices, and spending of public funds, with findings reported to the legislature. Agencies that fail to meet audit standards must be reported to the governor and top legislative leaders by January 1 each year. This bill directly affects all state agencies, including those managing education, public services, and other government operations.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

died · Rhode Island · Senate May 29, 2025

SB 432: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- SALES AND USE TAXES--LIABILITY AND COMPUTATION

Exempts from the sales tax firearm safety equipment, storage devices, gun safes, gun cabinets, gun vaults, gun cases, strong boxes, cable locks, trigger locks and biometric locks.

died · Rhode Island · Senate May 29, 2025

SB 107: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- SURPLUS FUNDS TAX CREDIT ACT

Mandates that any surplus state tax revenue received in any fiscal year would be refunded to the taxpayers of this state on a proportional basis in relation to the personal income tax liability incurred by the taxpayers in that fiscal year.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

died · Rhode Island · Senate May 29, 2025

SB 329: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PERSONAL INCOME TAX

SB 329 creates a new 3% tax rate on Rhode Island taxable income exceeding $625,000 (adjusted for inflation starting in 2025 dollars). This additional tax applies only to high-income earners - specifically individuals and households with income above that threshold - and takes effect for tax years beginning in 2026 or later, with no retroactive application. The bill amends Rhode Island’s existing personal income tax code to add this rate to the current progressive brackets, which already tax higher incomes at up to 9.9%. It directly affects residents and nonresidents with significant earnings, while leaving lower-income tax brackets unchanged. The measure is currently pending further study after a committee recommended holding it for additional review.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

died · Rhode Island · Senate May 29, 2025

SB 779: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- WEALTH TAX

SB 779 would impose a 1% tax on the worldwide value of intangible assets owned by Rhode Island residents, including both individuals and businesses, starting January 1, 2026. The tax applies to assets like stocks, patents, trademarks, copyrights, and financial investments as of December 31 each year, calculated using fair market value. Residents would file annual returns by April 15th reporting their taxable wealth, which excludes certain assets like real estate. The bill defines "intangible assets" broadly to include both financial investments and non-financial property such as trade secrets or business reputation.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

died · Rhode Island · Senate May 29, 2025

SB 438: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION

SB 438 provides a property tax exemption for veterans' primary residences, directly affecting veterans who served in specified conflicts (including World War I, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War, and others) with an honorable discharge, plus their unmarried surviving spouses. The bill exempts a set dollar amount from property taxes on the veteran's primary home, with the exemption amount varying by municipality (e.g., $1,000 statewide minimum, up to $40,500 in Westerly). Key provisions require veterans to reside in the state, provide proof of service and residency to assessors, and apply the exemption to their primary residence's value. The exemption applies to both real property and, in some towns, personal property, with specific local limits set by town councils. This policy change reduces property tax liability for qualifying veterans without altering broader tax structures.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing ✓ Veterans

died · Rhode Island · House May 29, 2025

HB 6365: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- RETAIL DELIVERY FEE

HB 6365 imposes a 50-cent fee per transaction on retailers (including marketplace facilitators) delivering taxable tangible goods to Rhode Island customers, effective October 1, 2025. It exempts retailers with under $500,000 in annual delivery sales in the state and all food-related deliveries (including prepared food and food service establishments). The fee is charged per transaction regardless of shipment size, must be listed separately from sales price on receipts, and is nonrefundable for returned items. Retailers may choose to collect the fee from customers but are not required to do so.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes