Rhode Island Bills

died · Rhode Island · Senate Apr 2, 2025

SB 645: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- CONSUMER PFAS BAN ACT OF 2024

SB 645, the Consumer PFAS Ban Act of 2024, prohibits the sale of most consumer products containing intentionally added PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) starting in 2027, with additional bans on artificial turf and outdoor apparel for severe wet conditions taking effect in 2029. The bill exempts products containing PFAS that are authorized by the FDA for food contact, such as certain cookware, and requires clear labeling for products containing PFAS. It also exempts unavoidable trace amounts of PFAS in cosmetics due to manufacturing processes. This law applies to manufacturers, sellers, and distributors of affected products within the state.

Topics ✓ Environment

died · Rhode Island · Senate Apr 2, 2025

SB 861: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE PAUL W. CROWLEY RHODE ISLAND STUDENT INVESTMENT INITIATIVE

Allows when authorized by the board of regents, the commissioner to designate a receiver for the district with all the powers of the superintendent and school committee.

died · Rhode Island · House Apr 2, 2025

HB 5665: AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- HOMELESS BILL OF RIGHTS

Updates the Homeless Bill of Rights to add rules governing the interaction with encampments and include the right to access clean and sanitary conditions.

Topics ✓ Housing

died · Rhode Island · House Apr 1, 2025

HB 5417: AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- WATER SUPPLY

Provides that water utility companies be responsible for all costs associated with maintenance, operation and delivery of water pumping stations to individual parcels of land and schools with no pumping stations on the property.

died · Rhode Island · House Apr 1, 2025

HB 5839: AN ACT RELATING EDUCATION -- COUNCIL ON ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION

Expands council on elementary and secondary education and board of education and makes teacher of year and student advisory chair voting members on each.

Topics ✓ Education

died · Rhode Island · House Apr 1, 2025

HB 5604: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF TEACHERS GENERALLY

HB 5604 expands the definition of "teacher" to include school nurses, counselors, psychologists, principals, and administrators in public schools. It establishes 19 specific rights for these educators, such as requiring safe school environments free from harassment, prohibiting demands for personal spending on classroom supplies, and guaranteeing academic freedom. The bill also ensures teachers' professional judgment is respected regarding student discipline and grades, and mandates school districts to post summaries of teacher rights online. These provisions apply to all public school staff covered under the expanded definition and would take effect upon passage.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

died · Rhode Island · Senate Apr 1, 2025

SB 822: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- THEFT, EMBEZZLEMENT, FALSE PRETENSES, AND MISAPPROPRIATION

Provides that when 2 or more individuals associate to accomplish the crime of shoplifting, that they would be deemed to be associated for the particular purpose of shoplifting and be guilty of a felony.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

died · Rhode Island · House Apr 1, 2025

HB 5105: AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- RHODE ISLAND PUBLIC TRANSIT AUTHORITY

Enables the Rhode Island public transit authority (RIPTA) to work with the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) to allow commuter rail passes to be used as dual passes for both RIPTA and MBTA.

Topics ✓ Transportation

died · Rhode Island · House Apr 1, 2025

HB 5819: AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- NET METERING

HB 5819 changes how excess renewable energy credits are paid for net metering systems. Instead of receiving the full retail electricity rate (what customers pay), solar and other eligible renewable system owners will now be paid the lower wholesale rate for surplus power they send back to the grid. This directly affects residential, commercial, and community solar projects, including those serving low-income housing developments. The bill updates definitions and eligibility rules for net metering systems but focuses the key change on the payment rate for excess energy.

Topics ✗ Energy

died · Rhode Island · House Apr 1, 2025

HB 5621: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES

Prohibits insurance companies from paying a rate that is less than the approved Medicaid rate set by the executive office of health and human services.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

died · Rhode Island · House Apr 1, 2025

HB 5024: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- BENEFIT DETERMINATION AND UTILIZATION REVIEW ACT

HB 5024 prohibits health insurers from requiring or conducting utilization reviews for prescriptions used to treat opioid or alcohol use disorders. Specifically, it bans reviews for prescriptions containing Methadone, Buprenorphine, or Naltrexone, or those approved by the FDA to mitigate opioid withdrawal symptoms. The bill directly affects individuals receiving medication-assisted treatment for addiction and insurers who would otherwise review these prescriptions. It ensures coverage for these treatments cannot be denied after prior approval, unless fraud or misrepresentation occurred. The law takes effect upon passage.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Veterans

died · Rhode Island · House Apr 1, 2025

HB 6041: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- SENTENCE AND EXECUTION

Requires the court to set reasonable bail for all those individuals who appear before it as probation violators and establish a presumption of personal recognizance unless the new alleged offense is a crime of violence as defined in the act.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill results