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Rhode Island Bills

Track legislation and stay informed about the bills that matter to you.

State Legislature US Congress
All 25,118 Active 5 In committee 20,549 Passed 5,917 Signed 4,510 Failed 6,972

Bill results

passed · Rhode Island · House Jun 2, 2025

HB 5250: AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- HOLIDAY BUSINESS

HB 5250 adds Juneteenth National Freedom Day to the list of holidays requiring retail businesses to close in this state. The bill amends the definition of "holiday" in retail business law to include Juneteenth, meaning retail establishments (but not food service businesses) must close on this day starting January 1, 2026. This change directly affects businesses operating under the state's retail holiday regulations. The law takes effect on January 1, 2026, aligning Juneteenth with other established legal holidays like New Year's Day and Independence Day.
Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates retail closures on Juneteenth, granting workers a mandatory day off aligns with labor protections and holiday benefits for employees.85% confidence
Cherie Cruz (D) Nathan Biah (D) David Morales (D) Joshua Giraldo (D) Anthony DeSimone (D)
passed · Rhode Island · House Jun 2, 2025

HB 5603: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- CERTIFICATION OF TEACHERS

HB 5603 allows Rhode Island to issue emergency teaching certificates to individuals without passing required exams for up to five total school years. This extends the current system by permitting a one-year initial certificate plus four annual renewals, totaling five years. It directly affects educators seeking temporary teaching roles without full certification, such as in high-need subject areas or schools facing staffing shortages. The bill modifies existing certification rules to provide a clear, capped timeframe for emergency employment while requiring renewal applications to follow specific regulations.
Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExtends emergency teacher certification to address staffing shortages in high-need areas, supporting educator access and school staffing needs without requiring full exams.90% confidence
Bill O'Brien (D)
passed · Rhode Island · House Jun 2, 2025

HB 5034: AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- OPEN MEETINGS

Allows school committees to add item(s) not appearing in published notice to their agendas for purposes of discussion only if the revised agenda is filed with the secretary of state and posted on district website at least 48 hrs in advance of the meeting.
Mike Chippendale (R) Terri Cortvriend (D) Justine Caldwell (D) Brian Newberry (R) Jay Edwards (D)
passed · Rhode Island · House Jun 2, 2025

HB 5052: AN ACT RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE -- RHODE ISLAND VETERANS' HOME

HB 5052 changes the service requirement for admission to Rhode Island's Veterans' Home from 90 days to two years of honorable service. It specifically prioritizes veterans who served in declared or undeclared wars and earned campaign medals (as documented on their DD-214), placing them on a separate waiting list ahead of other eligible veterans. The bill requires the Veterans' Services Office to maintain two distinct waiting lists - one for "war veterans" and one for others - and prohibits admitting non-war veterans until the war veterans' list is exhausted. This policy directly affects veterans who previously qualified under the 90-day rule but now must meet the longer service standard to access the facility.
Topics ✗ VeteransOpposes VeteransBill increases service requirement from 90 days to 2 years, restricting eligibility for Veterans' Home admission despite prioritizing certain veterans.95% confidence
Deb Fellela (D) Pat Serpa (D) Brian Kennedy (D) Doc Corvese (D) Julie Casimiro (D)
passed · Rhode Island · House Jun 2, 2025

HB 5593: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- COOPERATIVE SERVICE AMONG SCHOOL DISTRICTS

HB 5593 changes how the Urban Collaborative - a partnership of school districts including Providence, Pawtucket, East Providence, and Central Falls - is governed. It requires the Collaborative to be managed by a board of trustees with specific members: the Providence superintendent, superintendents from other participating districts, and appointees from the council on education. The bill also clarifies that participating districts must transfer state and local education funding directly to the Collaborative, treating it like a school district for all funding purposes. This affects the participating school districts and their ability to coordinate services like alternate education programs. The bill takes effect upon passage.
Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates direct transfer of state/local education funding to Collaborative, ensuring coordinated resource management for participating school districts.95% confidence
Nathan Biah (D)
passed · Rhode Island · House Jun 2, 2025

HB 5822: AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- SOLAR SITING ADVISORY TASKFORCE

Creates a taskforce to provide recommendations, advice and guidance to help expedite and provide technical assistance with regard to the development of solar energy systems on property owned by the state.
Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyCreates taskforce to expedite solar development on state property, directly promoting renewable energy infrastructure and technical assistance for solar systems.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill creates taskforce to expedite solar energy development on state property, directly promoting clean energy adoption and reducing fossil fuel reliance, aligning with environmental protection goals.90% confidence
Stephen Casey (D) Alex Finkelman (D) Bob Phillips (D) Earl Read (D) David Morales (D)
passed · Rhode Island · Senate May 29, 2025

SB 825: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- CRIMINAL INJURIES COMPENSATION

Funds the state crime victim compensation program through an additional one dollar ($1.00) fine on traffic violations, exclusive of violations related to the parking of vehicles.
Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds crime victim compensation program via traffic fines, directly supporting victim services within criminal justice system.95% confidence
Matt LaMountain (D) Lou DiPalma (D) Frank Ciccone (D)
passed · Rhode Island · Senate May 29, 2025

SB 908: AN ACT RELATING TO DELINQUENT AND DEPENDENT CHILDREN -- PROCEEDINGS IN FAMILY COURT

Removes the mandatory certification for an individual 16 years or older who was found delinquent for having committed 2 offenses after the age of 16 which would render the person subject to an indictment if the person was an adult.
Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves mandatory adult indictment for juveniles with two offenses, reducing system involvement and aligning with criminal justice reform by diverting cases from adult courts.95% confidence
Matt LaMountain (D) Mark McKenney (D) John Burke (D) Jake Bissaillon (D)
passed · Rhode Island · Senate May 29, 2025

SB 132: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- UNIFORM ACT ON PREVENTION OF AND REMEDIES FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Requires that all monies received from the payment of fines under the Uniform Act on Prevention of and Remedies for Human Trafficking be deposited into the into the violent crimes indemnity account within the general fund.
Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeDirects human trafficking fine revenues to violent crimes indemnity account, funding victim compensation and supporting anti-trafficking efforts within criminal justice.95% confidence
Matt LaMountain (D) Lammis Vargas (D) Pete Appollonio (D) Todd Patalano (D) John Burke (D)
Showing 829 to 840 of 5,917 bills
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