Rhode Island Bills

died · Rhode Island · House Apr 7, 2026

HB 7309: AN ACT RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- COASTAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT COUNCIL

Authorizes a property owner to pursue reasonable actions to protect their property from coastal hazards that affect life, infrastructure, or essential land uses without prior approval.

Scott Slater (D) Greg Costantino (D) Jon Brien (I) Charlene Lima (D) Jackie Baginski (D)

died · Rhode Island · House Apr 7, 2026

HB 7270: AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION

Requires the public utilities commission to provide for a classification of service for retail electricity consumers that are large energy use facilities.

died · Rhode Island · House Apr 7, 2026

HB 7330: AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES -- INSURANCE BENEFITS

Allows private employees at nursing homes, developmental disability and home care providers whose salaries are 90% funded with federal or state monies to be eligible to opt into the state healthcare plan.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

died · Rhode Island · House Apr 7, 2026

HB 7331: AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

Requires that certain data centers requiring large amounts of electricity be required to fund the cost of necessary infrastructure improvements to supply such electricity.

died · Rhode Island · House Apr 7, 2026

HB 7446: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSING

Eliminates mandated housing densities/density bonuses for public drinking water supply watersheds/groundwater. Requires densities not exceed water availability, introduce pollution, stay within public water or sewer system capacity limits.

Topics ✓ Environment ✗ Housing

died · Rhode Island · Senate Apr 7, 2026

SB 2404: AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- GENERAL PROVISIONS

Allows citizens of a city or town who are at least sixteen (16) years of age to register to vote and to vote in school committee elections in municipalities where school committees are elected entities.

died · Rhode Island · House Apr 7, 2026

HB 7447: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSING -- PROCEDURE FOR APPROVAL OF CONSTRUCTION

Restores the requirement that a local review board issue findings for denial in reviewing a comprehensive permit request and clarifies that affordable housing units shall be included in each town and city when the building permits for units are granted.

Topics ✓ Housing

died · Rhode Island · Senate Apr 7, 2026

SB 2345: AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT AND INVESTMENT ACT -- RHODE ISLAND BROADBAND OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2026

This bill repeals a law that previously blocked Rhode Island from monitoring or regulating broadband services, removing a barrier to state oversight. It requires the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation to develop a plan for a broadband oversight office to monitor service quality, map coverage gaps, and coordinate federal broadband funding. The bill is necessary to meet federal requirements for managing programs like the BEAD grant, which demand ongoing state-level tracking of broadband performance and coverage. This oversight structure will enable the state to better manage public broadband investments and address unserved areas.

Topics ✓ Technology

died · Rhode Island · House Apr 6, 2026

HB 7671: AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- SIZE, WEIGHT, AND LOAD LIMITS

HB 7671 amends Rhode Island's vehicle size, weight, and load regulations to update existing rules for commercial and specialized vehicles. It increases the maximum length for most vehicles from 40 feet to 45 feet, adds specific exemptions for natural gas vehicles (accounting for fuel system weight differences), and clarifies exemptions for articulated public transit buses, farm equipment, and emergency vehicles. The bill also updates penalty structures, including $200 per foot for overlength violations and $125 per 100 pounds overweight for axle or bridge weight limits. These changes directly affect commercial truck drivers, farmers transporting equipment, public transit operators, and emergency services. The amendments maintain existing safety standards while adjusting technical parameters for modern vehicle types.

Topics ✓ Transportation

died · Rhode Island · House Apr 6, 2026

HB 7226: AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- RHODE ISLAND HOUSING AND MORTGAGE FINANCE CORPORATION

Expands Rhode Island Housing’s authority to revise the qualified allocation plan to prioritize cost-efficient affordable housing production and total units, while reducing the scoring weight of non-production-related criteria.

Topics ✓ Housing

in committee · Rhode Island · House Apr 3, 2026

HB 8406: AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- MEDICAL ASSISTANCE -- LONG-TERM CARE SERVICE AND FINANCE REFORM -- ASSISTED LIVING SERVICES

Provides that licensed assisted living community is not required to hold a residential unit for a Medicare-eligible resident absent from the facility for a period exceeding 10 days unless EOHHS provides payment to the facility to hold the bed.

in committee · Rhode Island · House Apr 3, 2026

HB 8405: AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- MEDICAL ASSISTANCE -- LONG-TERM CARE SERVICE AND FINANCE REFORM -- ASSISTED LIVING COMMUNITY MEDICAID RATES

Requires the executive office of health and human services (EOHHS) to apply an automatic cost-of-living adjustment (“COLA”) to the Medicaid reimbursement rates paid for assisted living services provided pursuant to this chapter.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Bill results