Rhode Island Bills

died · Rhode Island · Senate May 28, 2026

SB 2938: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE--COURTS -- JUDICIAL SELECTION

Permits RI Supreme Court Committee on Racial and Ethnic Fairness, in consultation with RI Bar Association and its Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, to appoint members of JNC and requires judicial candidates to disclose political donations.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Ryan Pearson (D) Jonathon Acosta (D) Meghan Kallman (D) Bridget Valverde (D) Linda Ujifusa (D)

died · Rhode Island · Senate May 28, 2026

SB 2939: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- COURTS-- FAMILY COURT

Requires that the chief judge of the family court in appointing magistrates do so in accordance with the judicial selection and nomination process set forth in chapter 16.1 of title 8.

died · Rhode Island · Senate May 28, 2026

SB 2947: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- COURTS -- JUDICIAL SELECTION

Requires the JNC to establish standardized merit-based selection process and that applications be evaluated according to uniform, job-related criteria adopted in advance and published on the commission's website.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

died · Rhode Island · Senate May 28, 2026

SB 2833: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- RHODE ISLAND LOCAL INVESTMENT TAX CREDIT ACT

This bill creates a tax credit program to encourage investments in small Rhode Island businesses with 99 or fewer employees. Under the new Rhode Island Local Investment Tax Credit Act, eligible taxpayers who invest in qualifying local businesses could receive a 50% tax credit, up to a maximum of $3,000 per business and $3,000 total per year. To qualify, the business must be headquartered in Rhode Island, derive at least 80% of its revenue from state operations, and hold at least 80% of its assets within the state. The state would annually appropriate funds from the general fund to offset any revenue loss from the tax credits, and the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation Strategic Fund would manage the certification process for eligible investments.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

died · Rhode Island · Senate May 28, 2026

SB 3129: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PERSONAL INCOME TAX

Allows a modification to federal adjusted gross income for all public pension benefits administered by the Employees Retirement System of Rhode Island.

passed · Rhode Island · Senate May 28, 2026

SB 3097: AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES GENERALLY

This bill requires all vehicles operating within Rhode Island to display a permanent U.S. Department of Transportation number starting April 1, 2027. The rule applies to commercial motor vehicles weighing over 10,001 pounds, those transporting hazardous materials, or vehicles designed to carry more than eight passengers for compensation. Several exemptions exist for government-owned vehicles, municipal transit buses, school buses, and driving school vehicles. Violations of the marking requirement or operating a vehicle declared out of service due to safety issues can result in fines.

Topics ✓ Transportation

passed · Rhode Island · Senate May 28, 2026

SB 2899: AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- CONDOMINIUM LAW

This bill amends Virginia's condominium law to improve transparency and accountability for condominium associations. It requires associations to hold annual meetings, allows meetings to be conducted electronically with proper notice, and mandates that meeting minutes be made available to owners within 30 days. The bill also establishes a new requirement for independent financial audits every five years for associations governing more than 20 units, with copies available to all unit owners upon request. Additionally, it creates a condominium ombudsman position to assist owners with disputes and clarifies rules for accessing association records like financial statements and contracts.

Topics ✓ Housing

died · Rhode Island · Senate May 28, 2026

SB 2451: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- ESTATE AND TRANSFER TAXES -- ENFORCEMENT AND COLLECTION

Generates an estate tax discharge upon the recording of a statement by the executor or other estate representative that the value of the decedent’s gross estate does not require a state or federal tax filing.

died · Rhode Island · Senate May 28, 2026

SB 2496: AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- OPEN MEETINGS

Allows a pregnant member or member that has given birth in the past six (6) months to appear remotely and permits any member that participates in a meeting remotely to vote at that meeting, provided that the meeting is held in person.

died · Rhode Island · Senate May 28, 2026

SB 2553: AN ACT RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE -- EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

Provides the general assembly make an annual appropriation of not less than eighty thousand dollars ($80,000) to the Rhode Island emergency management agency to assist with emergency communications during major or multiple emergency incidents.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Rhode Island · Senate May 28, 2026

SR 2679: JOINT RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE STATE TO ENTER INTO A FINANCING AGREEMENT RELATING TO SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION IN THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET TO FINANCE RENOVATIONS AND REPAIRS TO SAMUEL SLATER MIDDLE SCHOOL FACILITIES, OR THE ACQUISITION, CONSTRUCTION, IMPROVEMENT, FURNISHING AND EQUIPPING OF A NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL AND SCHOOL FACILITIES AND ALL EXPENSES INCIDENT THERETO INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, COSTS OF DESIGN, DEMOLITION, ATHLETIC FIELDS, LANDSCAPING AND PARKING BY THE ISSUANCE OF NOT MORE THAN $22,500,000 CITY BONDS, CITY NOTES AND/OR OTHER EVIDENCES OF INDEBTEDNESS THEREFOR

SR 2679 authorizes the City of Pawtucket to issue up to $22.5 million in bonds, notes, or other debt instruments to fund renovations, repairs, or construction of Samuel Slater Middle School facilities or a new middle school. This includes costs for design, demolition, athletic fields, landscaping, and parking. The bill directly affects Pawtucket's public school system by providing a financing mechanism for school infrastructure improvements. It is a procedural authorization, not a substantive policy change, and remains pending in the Senate Finance Committee.

Topics ✓ Education

died · Rhode Island · Senate May 28, 2026

SB 2673: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PERSONAL INCOME TAX

Provides modifications for payments of interest on student loans shall be subtracted from federal adjusted gross income to an amount equal to the payments of interest for the satisfaction of outstanding student loans.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill results