Rhode Island Bills

signed · Rhode Island · House Jul 1, 2025

HB 5619: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- RHODE ISLAND PROGRAM TO ADDRESS ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

Requires the department of health to incorporate information about dementia risk factors and reduction into public education and healthcare provider education materials.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Susan Donovan (D) Mary Ann Shallcross-Smith (D) Megan Cotter (D) Kathleen Fogarty (D) Julie Casimiro (D)

signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jul 1, 2025

SB 1091: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES

SB 1091 adjusts property tax growth limits for cities and towns, gradually reducing the allowable annual increase from 5.5% (through 2007) to 4% (starting in 2013). It permits exceptions for emergencies, revenue losses, debt service increases, or substantial tax base growth from new construction. Crucially, it allows cities to exceed the 4% cap for taxes on new housing units added to the tax base, including newly built homes and converted properties, starting in 2025. The bill also requires cities to report tax levies to the state and sets annual compliance monitoring. This law, signed by the governor on July 1, 2025, directly affects local governments' budgeting for property taxes.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

signed · Rhode Island · House Jul 1, 2025

HB 5801: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSING

HB 5801 updates definitions and procedures for low- and moderate-income housing in Rhode Island municipalities. It clarifies how housing units count toward municipal requirements, specifying that federal rental assistance vouchers now count as whole units (not half-units) for compliance, and mobile homes meeting certain criteria count as half-units if monitored. The bill also refines terms like "affordable housing plan" and "consistent with local needs" to align with housing planning standards. These changes directly affect cities and towns developing housing plans and developers seeking approval for subsidized housing projects.

Topics ✓ Housing

signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jul 1, 2025

SB 519: 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 1088: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSING

SB 1088 amends Rhode Island's definitions and approval procedures for low- and moderate-income housing, directly affecting cities and towns required to meet housing quotas. Key provisions include clarifying how housing units count toward municipal requirements: federal rental assistance voucher units now count as full units (not half) starting July 2024, and mobile homes without subsidies count as half-units if monitored. The bill also defines "affordable housing plan" and refines terms like "infeasible" development conditions for subsidized projects. These changes streamline compliance for local governments while expanding eligibility for housing units counted toward state-mandated affordable housing targets.

Topics ✓ Housing

signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jul 1, 2025

SB 783: AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- SOLICITATION BY CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS

Increases the threshold limit for charitable organizations with an annual gross income of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) to one million dollars ($1,000,000) or more.

signed · Rhode Island · House Jul 1, 2025

HB 5803: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODE

HB 5803 creates a standardized online permitting platform for all state and local building permits, zoning applications, and related services (including environmental and transportation permits) across Rhode Island. It requires local municipalities and state agencies to use this electronic system for processing applications, plan reviews, inspections, and fee collection by December 2013. The bill establishes new fees: 0.1% of construction costs for commercial permits and 0.2% for residential permits (capped at $100), with 50% of residential fees funding contractor training programs for minority businesses. These fees will fund the platform’s development and maintenance, replacing paper-based processes with a uniform statewide system.

signed · Rhode Island · House Jul 1, 2025

HB 6065: AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- TEMPORARY DISABILITY INSURANCE--BENEFITS

Mandates paid leave by allowing qualified employees to take medical leave to undergo donation procedures, medical tests, and recovery related to being a living organ donor, or bone marrow transplant donor.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

signed · Rhode Island · House Jul 1, 2025

HB 5042: AN ACT RELATING TO FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS -- LICENSED ACTIVITIES

HB 5042 repeals the state law that permitted "payday lenders" to operate by removing authorization for "deferred-deposit transactions" (commonly known as payday loans). This directly affects payday lenders, who will no longer be legally allowed to offer short-term loans secured by a customer's check or bank account debit, as the definition of such transactions is deleted from the law. The bill eliminates the specific legal framework enabling these loans, meaning payday lenders can no longer conduct this business under current state law. It does not create new licensing requirements but effectively bans the practice by removing the enabling statute.

signed · Rhode Island · House Jul 1, 2025

HB 5793: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES

HB 5793 allows cities and towns to exceed the previously set maximum local tax levy under specific conditions. It amends the rules governing how local governments can assess and collect property taxes, providing a clearer process for exceeding the standard tax limit. This change directly affects municipal governments seeking to raise revenue beyond existing caps without requiring voter approval for every increase. The bill became law on July 1, 2025, after passing the legislature and being signed by the governor.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jul 1, 2025

SB 1092: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- ZONING ORDINANCES

SB 1092 requires Rhode Island towns and cities to allow residential options beyond single-family homes in areas with available public water and sewer capacity, specifically within designated urban service boundaries on state planning maps. The bill amends zoning ordinance standards to explicitly include "non-single-family residential use" as a required consideration for municipalities. This change applies only to neighborhoods meeting infrastructure conditions, aiming to expand housing diversity without mandating new construction. Municipalities must integrate this requirement into their zoning plans for eligible areas.

Topics ✓ Housing

signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jul 1, 2025

SB 481: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- RHODE ISLAND PROGRAM TO ADDRESS ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

Requires the department of health to incorporate information about dementia risk factors and reduction into public education and healthcare provider education materials.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Bill results