Rhode Island Bills

died · Rhode Island · Senate Mar 25, 2025

SB 704: AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- NURSING HOME FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY ACT

SB 704 requires Rhode Island nursing homes to publicly disclose detailed financial information starting July 1, 2025. Owners and managers with 5% or more ownership or financial influence must submit balance sheets, income statements, cash flow reports, and proof that services provided were at fair market value. This includes all assets, liabilities, expenses, and details on goods/services supplied to the facility. The public will access this data while protecting individual owner privacy, aiming to increase transparency in nursing home finances.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 25, 2025

HB 5588: AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- REGULATION OF BUSINESS PRACTICES AMONG MOTOR VEHICLES MANUFACTURES, DISTRIBUTORS, AND DEALERS

Extends certain protocols applicable to vehicle manufacturers to their distributors and factory branches, updates definitions relative to common entities and sales.

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 25, 2025

HB 5812: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- LIABILITY INSURANCE

Requires that insurance policies for property damage, personal injuries, and indemnification other than payment of compensation for workers compensation, state policy limits and no amount of the policy may be used to pay costs to defend a claim.

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 25, 2025

HB 5419: AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- SAFEGUARDING AMERICAN VETERAN EMPOWERMENT ACT

HB 5419, the "Safeguarding American Veteran Empowerment Act" (SAVE Act), regulates businesses that charge fees for helping veterans file claims with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or Rhode Island Veterans Services. It prohibits referral fees, requires written agreements for contingent fees (capped at five times the monthly benefit increase), and mandates clear disclosures that services are not affiliated with the VA or state veterans offices. The law also bans using veterans' login credentials, restricts international data centers for personal information, and requires background checks for staff handling sensitive data. It directly affects non-VA-accredited businesses offering paid assistance with veterans' benefits claims, while exempting VA-accredited agents. Violations may result in civil penalties deposited into Rhode Island’s military family relief fund.

Topics ✓ Veterans

died · Rhode Island · Senate Mar 25, 2025

SB 787: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- RIGHTS OF NURSING HOME PATIENTS

Supports the role of independent family council and makes the waiting list transparent by requiring nursing facilities with more than thirty percent (30%) self-pay residents to admit applicants on a first-come-first-served basis for non-private rooms.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

died · Rhode Island · Senate Mar 25, 2025

SB 545: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- THEFT, EMBEZZLEMENT, FALSE PRETENSES, AND MISAPPROPRIATION

Provides for tiered and reduced penalties for offenses of larceny, and shoplifting. Further provides that offenses of shoplifting or larceny would not be misdemeanors, repeals habitual offender provisions and other fraudulent offenses.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

died · Rhode Island · Senate Mar 25, 2025

SB 376: AN ACT RELATING TO FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS -- DEFINITIONS AND ESTABLISHMENT OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

Amends the definition of "regulated institution", to include non-depository trust companies organized under the law of any state or the United States Government.

died · Rhode Island · Senate Mar 25, 2025

SB 842: AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- INTERCHANGE FEES

SB 842 prohibits payment networks, banks, and processors from charging interchange fees (fees between banks for card transactions) on the tax or gratuity portion of a customer's payment. It directly affects merchants who process credit/debit card payments, requiring them to report tax and gratuity amounts during transaction authorization or settlement to avoid these fees. If merchants don’t report upfront, they can submit documentation within 180 days to receive refunds for improperly charged fees. Violations carry $1,000 penalties per transaction and require fee refunds to merchants. The law takes effect January 1, 2026.

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 25, 2025

HB 5568: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- SMALL EMPLOYER HEALTH INSURANCE AVAILABILITY ACT

HB 5568 amends Rhode Island's Small Employer Health Insurance Availability Act to specifically exempt members of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce from standard premium rate restrictions. This change allows health insurance carriers to offer them different pricing under the law, while excluding the Rhode Island Builders’ Association (which remains subject to standard rules). The bill modifies the existing rate rules by adding this specific group to the list of associations that can be treated differently for premium calculations. It does not alter other provisions of the law regarding age, family composition, or rate limits for most small employers. The exemption applies only to the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce members and affects their health insurance pricing structure under the act.

died · Rhode Island · Senate Mar 25, 2025

SB 384: AN ACT RELATING TO FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS -- THE RHODE ISLAND SPECIAL DEPOSITS ACT

SB 384 establishes the Rhode Island Special Deposits Act, creating a legal framework for specific bank deposits held under written agreements between banks, depositors, and named beneficiaries. It defines key terms like "special deposit" (funds held for escrow, security, or other defined purposes) and requires banks to pay beneficiaries only when a specified condition (contingency) occurs and the bank has knowledge of it. The law protects these deposits from standard creditor actions (like garnishment) during normal legal proceedings, while clarifying that regular deposits and fraudulent transfers remain unaffected. This directly impacts banks, individuals or businesses setting up such deposits, and beneficiaries named in agreements.

died · Rhode Island · Senate Mar 25, 2025

SB 139: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- TRESPASS AND VANDALISM

Changes the community service requirements of a sentence related to the violation of § 11-44-21.1 relating to defacing private residences, offices, businesses or commercial property.

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 25, 2025

HB 5571: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- UNFAIR CLAIMS SETTLEMENT PRACTICES ACT

HB 5571 amends the Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act to increase the damage threshold requiring a licensed appraisal for vehicle repairs from $2,500 to $5,000 and extends the time insurers must complete appraisals from three days to four days. This directly affects car owners filing insurance claims for vehicle damage and auto repair shops handling those claims. The key change requires insurers to use a licensed appraiser (unaffiliated with the repair shop) for claims exceeding $5,000, with the appraisal completed within four business days. The bill does not alter other provisions of the Unfair Claims Practices Act.

Bill results