Rhode Island Bills

died · Rhode Island · House Apr 9, 2026

HB 7641: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- COURTS -- JUDICIAL SELECTION

Requires individuals seeking a judicial nomination to reapply to JNC every 3 years and make those individuals selected as finalists, eligible only for the court in which they applied and were chosen during the five years following their selection.

died · Rhode Island · House Apr 9, 2026

HB 7696: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP TAX CREDIT

HB 7696 establishes a tax credit for Rhode Island businesses transitioning to employee ownership structures. It provides up to 50% of eligible conversion costs (capped at $100,000 for worker-owned co-ops or employee ownership trusts, $25,000 for alternate structures) and up to 50% of expansion costs (capped at $25,000) for qualified businesses expanding existing employee ownership models. The credit applies to income tax years 2026-2028 for businesses converting to or expanding employee ownership trusts, employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), worker-owned cooperatives, or defined "alternate equity structures" that meet specific participation and allocation requirements. This directly affects qualifying businesses seeking to shift ownership to employees while retaining community investment.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

died · Rhode Island · House Apr 9, 2026

HB 7756: AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- UNIFORM CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT

Amends current law on controlled substances to permit psilocybin to be cultivated within a person's residence for personal use and contingent on the US FDA's program, mandate that RI department of health establish rules regulations.

died · Rhode Island · House Apr 9, 2026

HB 7804: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- CIGARETTE, OTHER TOBACCO PRODUCTS, AND ELECTRONIC NICOTINE-DELIVERY SYSTEM PRODUCTS

Reduces the cigarette tax imposed by 75% for any modified risk tobacco product as defined in § 21 U.S.C. 387 k as a tobacco product sold/distributed to reduce the harm/risk of tobacco-related disease associated with commercially marketed tobacco products.

died · Rhode Island · House Apr 9, 2026

HB 7808: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- SALES AND USE TAXES -- LIABILITY AND COMPUTATION

HB 7808 exempts energy storage systems (as defined in § 39-33-1) from Rhode Island's sales and use taxes. This change directly affects businesses that manufacture, install, or purchase these systems, removing a tax burden on their transactions. The bill amends Section 44-18-30 of the General Laws to add energy storage systems as a new category of exempt gross receipts. The exemption applies to sales, storage, use, or consumption of these systems within the state, aligning them with existing tax-exempt categories like school meals or newspapers. The bill is currently in the introduction stage (referred to House Finance on 2/12/2026).

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy

died · Rhode Island · Senate Apr 9, 2026

SB 2615: AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- PASSING, USE OF LANES, AND RULES OF THE ROAD

SB 2615 prohibits drivers from occupying the extreme left lane on limited access highways when not passing another vehicle. This rule directly affects drivers traveling on multi-lane highways, requiring them to move right if they are not overtaking slower traffic. The bill amends existing law to clarify that using the left lane for cruising (rather than passing) is a violation subject to existing fines. It takes effect upon passage and applies specifically to highways with multiple lanes where passing is the only permitted use of the left lane.

Topics ✓ Transportation

died · Rhode Island · Senate Apr 9, 2026

SB 2569: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- DETERMINATION OF NEED FOR NEW HEALTHCARE EQUIPMENT AND NEW INSTITUTIONAL HEALTH SERVICES

Requires all major hospitals within the state constructed or substantially renovated or expanded on or after 1/1/2028 to use renewable energy sources for power.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

died · Rhode Island · Senate Apr 9, 2026

SB 2574: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- GENERAL POWERS

SB 2574 prohibits cities and towns from banning or restricting the sale, ownership, or use of powered landscaping equipment (like leaf blowers, lawn mowers, and trimmers) based solely on its fuel or power source (e.g., gasoline, electric, or battery). The law allows municipalities to still enforce reasonable noise regulations, equipment usage hours, or safety rules that don’t target specific power types. Existing local bans on such equipment based on power source remain valid if in place before the law takes effect, but new or amended rules restricting equipment by power type are void. This directly affects landscaping businesses, property owners, and municipal governments regulating outdoor equipment use.

Topics ✓ Energy

died · Rhode Island · House Apr 9, 2026

HB 7721: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- RHODE ISLAND BAN ON THE CORPORATE PRACTICE OF MEDICINE ACT

HB 7721 establishes Rhode Island's first statewide ban on the corporate practice of medicine, prohibiting non-licensed entities (like corporations or management services organizations) from owning medical practices or interfering with physicians' clinical decisions. It requires that medical practices be majority-owned and controlled by licensed physicians, with physicians holding the majority of voting shares, board seats, and key leadership roles. The law also bans restrictive contracts, noncompete agreements, and advertising by non-physician entities that could undermine physician autonomy over patient care. This directly affects medical practices partnering with corporate management entities, ensuring doctors maintain control over clinical operations, staffing, and patient care standards.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

died · Rhode Island · House Apr 9, 2026

HB 7720: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- RHODE ISLAND HEALTHCARE TRANSACTION OVERSIGHT ACT

Requires a healthcare entity to submit written notice to the attorney general and the department of health of any material change transaction at least 180 days prior to that transaction.

died · Rhode Island · House Apr 9, 2026

HB 7821: AN ACT RELATING TO DOMESTIC RELATIONS -- DIVORCE AND SEPARATION

Creates the rebuttable presumption that joint legal custody and shared placement is in the best interest of the child and create a mechanism in constructing a parenting plan should the court deviate from equal parenting time.

died · Rhode Island · House Apr 9, 2026

HB 7820: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- EXPUNGEMENT OF CRIMINAL RECORDS

HB 7820 allows individuals convicted of crimes 40 or more years ago to petition courts to clear their criminal records, provided they have no recent charges or convictions and have paid all court fees. The bill creates a new eligibility window (40 years post-conviction) for expungement, excluding violent crimes like murder, sexual assault, and certain robberies or child abuse offenses. This change directly affects older individuals with clean records for decades, removing barriers to employment and housing while requiring court approval based on rehabilitation and public safety considerations.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill results