Rhode Island Bills

signed · Rhode Island · House Jul 1, 2025

HB 5098: AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES

HB 5098 creates a new vehicle registration category for "forestry vehicles" used in forest product operations. It requires these vehicles (like logging trucks or equipment used for harvesting, processing, or delivering wood products on public roads) to get special farm plates marked with a forestry symbol, instead of standard registration. The bill applies only to forestry businesses with annual revenue under $2.5 million, excluding commercial hauling services like sand/gravel transport. This change simplifies registration for small forestry operations conducting their own forest product activities.

Mike Chippendale (R) Susan Donovan (D) Tina Spears (D) Lauren Carson (D) Megan Cotter (D)

signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jul 1, 2025

SB 70: 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 & Employment

signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jul 1, 2025

SB 1140: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- COURTS -- FAMILY COURT

SB 1140 authorizes the town of Smithfield to establish a juvenile hearing board for handling certain youth-related cases under Family Court rules. This bill directly affects Smithfield by allowing it to create this local board, overriding any conflicting town regulations, charters, or ordinances. The key provision removes barriers to Smithfield’s ability to set up this specialized hearing body, which would handle juvenile matters within the town’s jurisdiction. The bill does not change existing state juvenile court procedures but provides a specific local option for Smithfield.

signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jul 1, 2025

SB 944: AN ACT VALIDATING AND RATIFYING AMENDMENTS TO THE HOME RULE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF WOONSOCKET

Validates and ratifies the amendments to the Woonsocket Home Rule Charter which were approved by the electors of the city of Woonsocket on November 5, 2024.

signed · Rhode Island · House Jul 1, 2025

HB 6321: AN ACT VALIDATING AND RATIFYING AMENDMENTS TO THE HOME RULE CHARTER OF THE TOWN OF HOPKINTON

Validates and ratifies amendments to the Home Rule Charter of the town of Hopkinton, which amendments were adopted and approved by the electors of the town of Hopkinton.

signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jul 1, 2025

SB 1147: AN ACT RELATING TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY -- PERMANENT JOINT COMMITTEE ON NAMING ALL NEW BUILDINGS, BRIDGES, EDIFICES AND OTHER STATE CONSTRUCTIONS

SB 1147 names the Rhode Island Senate Chamber in the State House as the "President Dominick J. Ruggerio Senate Chamber." This bill directly affects the official designation of a state government building used by legislators. It requires the chamber's name to be updated to honor Ruggerio, who previously served as Senate President. As a purely ceremonial naming resolution with no policy changes or funding impacts, it has no broader legislative effect beyond the chamber's official title.

signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jul 1, 2025

SB 926: AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- THE GOOD SAMARITAN OVERDOSE PREVENTION ACT OF 2016

SB 926 extends existing "Good Samaritan" protections to cover violations of bail conditions. It ensures that people seeking emergency medical help for an overdose (or those assisting them) won’t face criminal charges for drug possession, alcohol-related offenses, or violating bail terms if the evidence comes from that emergency. The bill directly affects individuals experiencing overdoses, their helpers, and people on bail/probation who seek medical assistance during an overdose. This change makes it safer for people to call for help without fear of additional legal penalties related to their current legal status.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jul 1, 2025

SB 120: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES

Increases insurance coverage for hearing aids from one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) to one thousand seven hundred fifty dollars ($1,750), per ear, for all people regardless of age effective January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Rhode Island · House Jul 1, 2025

HB 5841: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- OFFENSES PERTAINING TO SCHOOLS

Prohibits discrimination on the basis of race by expanding the definition of race to include traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protected hairstyles.

Topics ✓ Education

signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jul 1, 2025

SB 229: AN ACT RELATING TO FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS -- LICENSED ACTIVITIES

SB 229 repeals the legal authorization for "deferred-deposit transactions," commonly known as payday loans, by removing the specific definition that allowed these services in the state. This directly affects payday lenders operating within the state, ending their ability to legally offer short-term cash advances secured by personal checks or future account debits. The bill eliminates the regulatory framework enabling these transactions, which were previously defined under "deferred-deposit transactions" and "payday loans" in the licensing statutes. The law was signed by the governor on July 1, 2025, making it effective immediately.

signed · Rhode Island · House Jul 1, 2025

HB 5562: AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- SOLICITATION BY CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS

Provides that charitable organizations with a gross income of one million dollars ($1,000,000) or less can meet the required reporting and records requirements by providing either an IRS Form 900 or other approved financial statements.

signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jul 1, 2025

SB 17: AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICES

SB 17 requires retailers to clearly disclose all mandatory fees and rebate amounts at the point of purchase when advertising goods. It directly affects retailers who advertise products with rebates or additional fees, mandating they state the full price including rebate details in advertisements and provide the rebate amount to consumers at checkout. The bill amends deceptive trade practices law to prohibit advertising net prices (after rebates) without confirming rebate availability at purchase, shifting the burden to retailers to redeem manufacturer rebates. This takes effect January 1, 2026.

Bill results