Sign Up
Home › Rhode Island › Bills
Bills

Rhode Island Bills

Track legislation and stay informed about the bills that matter to you.

State Legislature US Congress
All 25,118 Active 5 In committee 20,549 Passed 5,917 Signed 4,510 Failed 6,972

Bill results

signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jul 2, 2025

SB 792: AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- THE RHODE ISLAND KRATOM ACT

Rhode Island's SB 792, the "Rhode Island Kratom Act," authorizes and regulates the sale and distribution of kratom products within the state. It prohibits selling kratom in food/beverage forms, synthetic alkaloids (like synthetic mitragynine), combustible products, or items appealing to minors, and sets strict limits on heavy metals and concentration levels (e.g., no more than 150mg mitragynine per serving). The law requires all kratom products to be sold in child-resistant packaging and include specific health warnings, dosage information, and FDA disclaimers. It establishes licensing requirements for manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to ensure compliance with these safety and labeling standards. The bill became law after passing both chambers and receiving the Governor's signature on July 2, 2025.
Brian Thompson (D) Matt LaMountain (D) Hanna Gallo (D) John Burke (D) Sue Sosnowski (D)
signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jul 2, 2025

SB 124: AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- LABOR RELATIONS ACT

Expands the definition of "employee," and clarifies that the board may defer a pending unfair labor practice charge to allow for the grievance and arbitration process to move forward pursuant to the charging parties collective bargaining agreement.
Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands employee definition and prioritizes collective bargaining grievance processes, strengthening worker rights under labor relations.95% confidence
Matt LaMountain (D) Andrew Dimitri (D) Todd Patalano (D) John Burke (D) Frank Ciccone (D)
signed · Rhode Island · House Jul 2, 2025

HB 5464: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- PUBLIC HEALTH AND WORKPLACE SAFETY ACT

Repeals the exemption granted to pari-mutuel facilities and casinos from the smoke free workplace requirement and provides for a one time appropriate of $1,000,000 to inform patrons of the smoke free policy within the casino.
Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRepeals casino smoke exemption, enhancing workplace safety for workers - directly strengthens labor safety protections.95% confidence
Joe Shekarchi (D) Mike Chippendale (R) Mary Ann Shallcross-Smith (D) Kathleen Fogarty (D) Jay Edwards (D)
signed · Rhode Island · House Jul 1, 2025

HB 6394: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES

HB 6394 modifies property tax levy limits for cities and towns in Rhode Island, with specific provisions for Providence. It gradually reduces the maximum annual tax increase cap from 5.5% (through 2007) down to 4% (starting 2013), requiring local governments to stay within these limits unless exceptions apply. The bill includes a special provision allowing Providence to exceed its cap in fiscal year 2026 for revenue from Class 2B property tax rates above $28.80 per $1,000 valuation. Exceptions permitting higher taxes include certified revenue shortfalls, emergencies (like health insurance spikes), debt service increases, or major new construction requiring infrastructure spending.
Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill reduces annual property tax levy cap from 5.5% to 4%, restricting local government tax increase authority and limiting fiscal flexibility for municipalities.95% confidence
Scott Slater (D) Nathan Biah (D) Grace Diaz (D) David Morales (D) Jose Batista (D)
signed · Rhode Island · House Jul 1, 2025

HB 5679: AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- PAYMENT OF WAGES

Requires employer, at the start of employment, furnish to their employees a written notice containing employment information relative to wages, rates of pay, allowances, benefits, deductions from pay, and identifying information relative to the employer.
Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates transparent wage disclosure at hire, protecting workers from pay disputes and ensuring informed employment terms per bill's explicit requirements.95% confidence
Karen Alzate (D) Nathan Biah (D) Brandon Potter (D) David Morales (D) Leo Felix (D)
signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jul 1, 2025

SB 1054: AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE BURRILLVILLE LAND TRUST

SB 1054 changes the name of the existing "Burrillville Land Trust" to "Burrillville Land Conservancy" throughout state law, with no substantive policy changes to its operations. The bill updates terminology in the governing ordinance but maintains the same purpose: protecting Burrillville's open space, farmland, wetlands, water resources, and recreational lands through land acquisition and conservation easements. The Trust Conservancy's authority to manage properties, require public access where possible, and remain tax-exempt remains unchanged. This is a procedural name correction affecting only the entity's title, not its mission or powers.
Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMaintains existing land conservation protections for open space, farmland, and wetlands through unchanged operations despite name change.85% confidence
Jessica de la Cruz (R)
signed · Rhode Island · House Jul 1, 2025

HB 6136: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION

Authorizes the town council of West Greenwich to provide an exemption and/or stabilization of tax agreement on qualified property used for residential purposes inclusive of low- and moderate-income housing in the town of West Greenwich.
Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAuthorizes tax exemptions for low/moderate-income housing, providing direct tax relief and supporting affordable housing through reduced property tax burden.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingAuthorizes tax exemptions for low/moderate-income housing properties, directly advancing affordable housing development in West Greenwich.95% confidence
Sherry Roberts (R)
signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jul 1, 2025

SB 1155: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES

Authorizes the town of Glocester to levy a supplemental tax, by voter referendum, that exceeds the current tax cap by three percent (3%) for fiscal year 2026, to fund school operations and avoid the loss of critical town services.
Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAuthorizes supplemental tax increase to fund schools and prevent service cuts, directly advancing budgetary support for public services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill authorizes supplemental tax for school operations funding, directly advancing K-12 school budgets per summary95% confidence
Jessica de la Cruz (R)
signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jul 1, 2025

SB 1116: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES

SB 1116 sets annual limits on how much property taxes can increase for cities and towns, directly affecting local governments and property owners. It gradually reduces the maximum allowable tax increase from 5.5% in 2007 down to 4% annually starting in 2013, with specific exceptions for emergencies, debt service increases, or major infrastructure needs. The bill also includes a special provision for Providence in 2026, allowing limited revenue from certain commercial property tax rates to exceed the cap. Local governments must report tax levies to the state for compliance monitoring, and exceptions require approval by a supermajority vote or specific certifications. The law became effective without the governor's signature on July 1, 2025.
Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesRestricts annual property tax increases for local governments, capping at 4% with exceptions. Directly limits tax growth, aligning with 'oppose' criteria of restricting tax increases.95% confidence
Jake Bissaillon (D)
signed · Rhode Island · House Jul 1, 2025

HB 6408: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- COURTS -- FAMILY COURT

HB 6408 authorizes the town of Smithfield to establish a juvenile hearing board, bypassing local regulations, charters, or ordinances that might otherwise prevent this. The bill amends family court procedures to explicitly allow Smithfield to create such a board under specific statutory provisions. This directly affects Smithfield's local government by expanding its authority to handle juvenile cases through a dedicated board. The bill became effective without the governor's signature on July 1, 2025, following passage by both legislative chambers.
Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnables juvenile hearing board under family court, promoting specialized handling of juvenile cases aligned with reform goals.85% confidence
Greg Costantino (D) Paul Santucci (R)
Showing 577 to 588 of 4,510 bills
Previous 1 … 48 49 50 … 376 Next