Rhode Island Bills

signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 23, 2025

SB 324: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY

SB 324 requires Rhode Island's Department of Environmental Management to create a public education program teaching residents and businesses how to properly recycle textiles like clothing, bedding, and fabric. Starting January 1, 2028, private companies collecting textiles must report annual recycling volumes to the state. The program will include an online directory and may offer recycling assistance to help reduce textile waste. This policy aims to decrease landfill use by improving recycling practices, addressing the current annual waste of approximately 28,860 tons of textiles.

Topics ✓ Environment

signed · Rhode Island · House Jun 23, 2025

HB 6060: AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- PHYSICAL THERAPISTS

HB 6060 extends the authorization for licensed physical therapists to order diagnostic imaging (like X-rays or MRIs) beyond the original December 31, 2025, sunset date. The bill modifies existing law to permanently remove the expiration date, allowing physical therapists to continue this practice without further legislative action. It maintains existing requirements, including reporting imaging results to a patient’s primary care physician within seven days (if one exists) and mandating annual utilization reports from healthcare plans to the legislature. This directly affects physical therapists and their patients by preserving current clinical authority.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 23, 2025

SB 636: AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- PUPIL TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES

Amends the definitions of a “pupil transportation vehicle” to a vehicle contrasted to seat not more than ten (10) passengers plus the operator, rather than the existing limit of eight (8) passengers.

signed · Rhode Island · House Jun 23, 2025

HB 5188: AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS -- CORROSION PREVENTION AND MITIGATION WORK REQUIREMENTS

Gives authority to the department of labor and training to enforce violations of the laws relating to corrosion prevention and mitigation work requirements. It also adds civil monetary penalties for violations of those laws.

signed · Rhode Island · House Jun 23, 2025

HB 6319: AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- WORKERS' COMPENSATION -- GENERAL PROVISIONS

HB 6319 clarifies workers' compensation coverage for sworn police and fire department employees in Rhode Island. The bill explicitly excludes most city and town police and fire department members from standard workers' compensation benefits under chapters 29-38, except for appeals related to retirement board orders. However, it specifically includes Rhode Island Airport Corporation police and aircraft rescue firefighting (ARFF) units in coverage for all benefit determinations. This change directly affects municipal police/fire personnel (who lose standard workers' comp access) and airport ARFF staff (who gain consistent coverage), while maintaining existing rules for other employee categories.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 23, 2025

SB 1060: AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- WORKERS' COMPENSATION -- GENERAL PROVISIONS

SB 1060 clarifies which police and firefighters are covered under Rhode Island's workers' compensation system. It specifies that sworn employees of city, town, or regional school district police and fire departments (outside Providence) are generally **not** covered by standard workers' comp benefits for work-related injuries. However, it explicitly includes members of the Rhode Island airport's police and aircraft rescue firefighting (ARFF) units in coverage. The bill also updates definitions related to earnings capacity and disability determinations but does not change coverage for most other workers. This change primarily affects local public safety employees' access to workers' comp benefits for job-related injuries.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 23, 2025

SB 771: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS

SB 771 requires all public schools to create and implement a policy restricting student access to personal electronic devices (like smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches) during the school day and school activities to reduce distractions and protect learning environments. The policy must include parental notification and allow exceptions for students needing assistive technology under IEPs/504 plans, medical monitoring (e.g., glucose checks), or language support for emergent multilingual learners. Schools cannot search devices retained during school hours, and the education department must provide annual guidance to help schools develop these policies. The law takes effect on August 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Education

signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 23, 2025

SB 795: AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- UNIFORM CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT

Increases the maximum fill for non-opioid, non-narcotic controlled substances found in schedule II, so that a ninety-day (90) supply may be dispensed at any one time.

signed · Rhode Island · House Jun 23, 2025

HB 6323: AN ACT RELATING TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY -- PERMANENT JOINT COMMITTEE ON NAMING ALL NEW BUILDINGS, BRIDGES, EDIFICES AND OTHER STATE CONSTRUCTIONS

HB 6323 renames the East Bay Bike Path Bridge in Warren (spanning the Palmer River) as the Cpl. Richard C. Brule Bridge. This bill directly affects the location by changing its official name to honor a specific individual. The legislation is purely procedural, with no policy changes beyond the naming designation. It passed both chambers and was signed into law on June 23, 2025.

signed · Rhode Island · House Jun 23, 2025

HB 6392: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- OUTDOOR DINING ACT

Allows food service businesses to provide temporary outdoor dining whenever building/other structure used for food service rendered uninhabitable by casualty fire/flood for 18 months or the building fit for occupancy sunsetting on 6/30/27.

signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 23, 2025

SB 198: AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- PHYSICAL THERAPISTS

SB 198 extends the authorization for licensed physical therapists to order diagnostic imaging (such as X-rays) as part of their practice beyond December 31, 2025. This bill directly affects physical therapists and their patients by allowing continued access to imaging tests without requiring a separate physician order. Key provisions include requiring therapists to report imaging results to a patient’s primary care physician within seven days (unless no primary care provider exists) and mandating annual utilization reports from health insurance plans to the legislature. The law maintains existing reporting requirements while removing the previous expiration date for this practice.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 23, 2025

SB 1139: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- OUTDOOR DINING ACT

Allows food service businesses to provide temporary outdoor dining whenever building/other structure used for food service rendered uninhabitable by casualty fire/flood for 18 months or the building fit for occupancy sunsetting on 6/30/27.

Bill results