Rhode Island Bills

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 20, 2025

HB 5245: AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

HB 5245 creates a new income-sensitive energy assistance program to help low-income households afford home energy costs. It establishes a capped annual charge of up to $10 per customer (electric or gas) to fund credits for households enrolled in LIHEAP or Medicaid, targeting those with income at or below 150% of the federal poverty level. The program requires electric and gas companies to apply these credits to eligible customers' bills, with discounts designed to limit energy costs to 3-6% of household income based on heating source. Annual funding is restricted to $6.5-$7.5 million, and the Public Utilities Commission must approve the charge rates each year.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy ✓ Housing

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 20, 2025

HB 5450: AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS -- ALL-ELECTRIC BUILDING ACT

Provides that no city or town may issue a permit for the construction of new buildings, that are not an all-electric building, if the initial application for a permit was submitted after December 31, 2026, unless certain circumstances apply.

Topics ✓ Energy

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 20, 2025

HB 5068: AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- TERMINATION OF SERVICE TO PERSONS WHO ARE DISABLED, SERIOUSLY ILL, OR IN ARREARS OF PAYMENT

Extends the forbearance of utility terminations for customers with serious illness certifications and would amend various provisions related to the termination of utility services for persons who are disabled, seriously ill, or in arrears.

died · Rhode Island · Senate Mar 20, 2025

SB 282: AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- MAIL BALLOTS

Requires verification of an applicant's date of birth and either a Rhode Island driver's license number or state identification number on all applications seeking mail ballots and emergency mail ballots.

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 20, 2025

HB 5267: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- HOUSING MAINTENANCE AND OCCUPANCY CODE -- NOTICE OF VIOLATIONS

Requires a housing code enforcement officer to give a copy of any housing code violation notice to all tenants of the building affected by a housing code violation along with any hearing dates scheduled for the violation.

Topics ✓ Housing

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 20, 2025

HR 5161: JOINT RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY PUBLIC OWNERSHIP OF PUBLIC UTILITIES

This resolution creates a 15-member commission to study whether Rhode Island should publicly own its electricity and natural gas utilities. The commission includes legislators, utility representatives, consumer advocates, and labor leaders, and will examine models like Nebraska’s "Neighbor’s First" approach, compare public versus private utility performance, and assess costs, renewable energy transition, and governance structures. It will specifically evaluate potential benefits such as lower consumer costs, access to low-cost debt, and cross-subsidization for public services. The commission must report its findings to the legislature by April 16, 2026, before dissolving on May 27, 2026.

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 20, 2025

HR 5970: JOINT RESOLUTION CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE CREATION OF A STATEWIDE WHOLE-HOME REPAIRS PROGRAM

Creates 12-member commission to study and provide recommendations for the creation of a statewide whole-home repairs program, and who would report back to the General Assembly by January 5, 2026, and would expire on March 5, 2026.

died · Rhode Island · Senate Mar 20, 2025

SB 569: AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- CONDUCT OF ELECTION AND VOTING EQUIPMENT, AND SUPPLIES

This bill defines key firearm terms, including "ghost gun" (a firearm without a federal serial number) and "crime gun" (a firearm used in a criminal offense). It mandates that law enforcement submit crime guns to a state crime lab for forensic ballistics testing when seized during criminal investigations. The policy directly affects law enforcement agencies, crime labs, and individuals possessing firearms by requiring standardized testing procedures. This change aims to improve the tracing and investigation of firearms used in crimes.

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 20, 2025

HR 5969: HOUSE RESOLUTION RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE DIVISION OF PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS TAKE ACTION TO ADDRESS HIGH UTILITY BILLS FOR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES IN RHODE ISLAND

This non-binding resolution requests Rhode Island's Division of Public Utilities and Carriers (DPUC) to seek immediate rate relief from Rhode Island Energy for residents and businesses facing high utility costs, particularly low-income households, seniors, and small businesses. It asks the DPUC to take action similar to Massachusetts' approach and report progress by April 22, 2025. The resolution does not change rates but formally urges the regulator to address the financial burden.

Topics ✓ Energy

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 20, 2025

HB 5577: AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION -- 2025 UTILITY COMPANY BILLING TRANSPARENCY ACT

HB 5577, the "2025 Utility Company Billing Transparency Act," requires large electric and gas distribution companies (with over 100,000 customers) to provide clear explanations of charges on consumer bills, addressing confusion about costs like fees and taxes. It mandates that these companies file proposals with the Public Utilities Commission detailing how they will implement revenue decoupling - ensuring they aren’t incentivized to increase sales to boost profits - and includes annual reconciliation for revenue over- or under-recovery. The bill also requires companies to submit annual infrastructure and safety spending plans for commission review, aiming to align costs with service reliability. These changes directly affect major utility providers like Rhode Island Energy and aim to help residential customers better understand and manage their energy costs.

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 20, 2025

HB 5958: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- ZONING ORDINANCES

Municipalities required to amend zoning ordinances, to include special listed provisions, to authorize development incentives to increase development density or dimensional flexibility, identify provisions to promote and regulate commercial developments.

Topics ✓ Housing

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 20, 2025

HB 5018: AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

Provides that effective July 1, 2025, the profit margin of any electric distribution company gas distribution company, would not exceed four percent (4%), in any given calendar year.

Topics ✓ Energy

Bill results