Rhode Island Bills

died · Rhode Island · Senate May 21, 2026

SB 3258: AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- PHARMACIES

Strengthens enforcement of the state's pharmacy audit law by clarifying and tightening audit procedures to ensure pharmacy audits are conducted fairly and transparently.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Jessica de la Cruz (R) David Tikoian (D) Pete Appollonio (D) Bridget Valverde (D) Linda Ujifusa (D)

died · Rhode Island · Senate May 21, 2026

SB 3298: AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- HOMELESS BILL OF RIGHTS

SB 3298 amends the Homeless Bill of Rights to require government agencies to give at least 20 days' written notice before forcibly removing homeless encampments from public property. The notice must be posted directly on the encampment and sent to housing officials, though this rule does not apply in cases involving immediate safety risks, active construction sites, environmental hazards, or scheduled infrastructure work. The law defines an encampment as a temporary outdoor shelter with personal belongings and allows people to move their belongings to nearby areas without triggering a new notice period. This legislation applies to all public spaces not intended for human habitation and takes effect on October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Housing

died · Rhode Island · Senate May 21, 2026

SB 3260: AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICES

This bill prohibits pharmacy benefits managers from engaging in specific deceptive trade practices, such as hidden payment reductions, steering patients toward affiliated pharmacies, or using patient data to gain economic control over pharmacies. It directly affects pharmacy benefits managers, pharmacists, pharmacies, and healthcare enrollees by defining and banning actions like spread pricing, unfair inducements, and restrictive refill policies for maintenance medications. The legislation also forbids PBMs from exploiting prescription data for marketing or repackaging drugs to extract price markups without informing patients. Violations of these rules are classified as unfair competition, and each individual transaction involving a prohibited act is considered a separate offense.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

died · Rhode Island · Senate May 21, 2026

SB 3299: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- SUBDIVISION OF LAND

Provides that minor subdivisions include single family infill subdivisions and establishes procedures for single family infill subdivisions within the subdivision of land chapter of the general laws.

died · Rhode Island · House May 21, 2026

HB 8414: AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY -- HEMP GROWTH ACT -- RHODE ISLAND HEMP THC BEVERAGE ACT

Provides a licensed liquor retailer/cannabis retailer/or hemp consumable retailer that received an infused-beverage endorsement from the cannabis control commission the authorization to sell at retail THC infused beverages in accordance with this chapter.

died · Rhode Island · House May 21, 2026

HB 8426: AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- THE EDWARD O. HAWKINS AND THOMAS C. SLATER MEDICAL MARIJUANA ACT

HB 8426 amends the state's medical marijuana law to establish a structured process for licensing compassion centers, which are facilities authorized to cultivate and distribute medical cannabis. The bill mandates that the state health department initially issue a single license, followed by additional licenses over time until a maximum of nine centers are operational. It outlines specific requirements for applications, including a $10,000 fee, security measures, and public input, while also detailing a schedule for accepting new applications and issuing licenses. Additionally, the legislation allows existing cultivators to apply for compassion center licenses, which would merge with their current cultivation permits.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

died · Rhode Island · Senate May 21, 2026

SR 2954: JOINT RESOLUTION RESCINDING ALL PRIOR ARTICLE V CONVENTION APPLICATIONS

This bill would cancel and nullify all previous applications by the Rhode Island General Assembly to call a federal constitutional convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution. It applies to any past applications, whether for limited or general conventions, regardless of when they were adopted or how they are recorded. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send certified copies to federal and state officials within 30 days of passage. If passed, this action would remove Rhode Island's prior requests from the official record of state applications for a constitutional convention.

died · Rhode Island · Senate May 21, 2026

SB 2814: AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- TOURISM AND DEVELOPMENT

Removes the requirement that 5% of the hotel tax generated from regional tourism districts be paid to the Greater Providence-Warwick Convention and Visitors Bureau, and adds that 5% of the hotel tax to the existing tax paid to the RI commerce corporation.

died · Rhode Island · Senate May 21, 2026

SB 2944: AN ACT RELATING TO CORPORATIONS, ASSOCIATIONS, AND PARTNERSHIPS -- RHODE ISLAND BUSINESS CORPORATION ACT

Requires businesses that conduct business to register and maintain required filings with the secretary of state so that consumers and small businesses may readily identify responsible parties, verify good standing, and effectuate service of process.

died · Rhode Island · Senate May 21, 2026

SB 2965: AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- UNIFORM ELECTRONIC TRANSACTIONS ACT

Allows a party to condition a transaction by electronic means on their stated desire to obtain and receive a written copy of the document in English or Spanish before electronic execution of the agreement or performance is required of the party.

died · Rhode Island · Senate May 21, 2026

SB 3015: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE RHODE ISLAND EDUCATION FUNDING AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT

Establishes the Rhode Island education funding and accountability act, which would include a totally revised and revamped formula for funding all levels of public education in Rhode Island.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

died · Rhode Island · Senate May 21, 2026

SB 3040: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- ACTIONS BY AND AGAINST TOWNS

Requires a municipality to disclose on their official website the specific issues, details and costs of any legal action of which the town or city is a named defendant within 60 days after the close of the fiscal year.

Bill results