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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

signed · Rhode Island · House Jun 25, 2024

HR 8332: JOINT RESOLUTION RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING HEALTHSOURCE RI

This bill requests HealthSource RI to form a working group that studies how to make health insurance more affordable for Rhode Islanders in the individual market. The group will examine options to lower monthly premiums and out-of-pocket costs, particularly as federal financial support is set to expire in 2025. Members of the working group will include government officials, insurance companies, healthcare providers, and consumer advocates. The group must submit its recommendations and proposed funding sources to state leaders by January 31, 2025.

signed · Rhode Island · House Jun 25, 2024

HB 7297: AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- OPTICIANS -- QUALIFICATIONS

HB 7297 creates a new pathway for individuals to become licensed opticians by completing a registered apprenticeship program of at least 4,100 hours over two years, alongside the existing requirement to graduate from an accredited two-year school. The bill also removes the previous mandate that applicants demonstrate "good moral character" and adjusts licensing requirements for those already licensed in other states to include a one-year history of practicing opticianry. These changes allow more people to enter the profession through hands-on training rather than solely through formal education, while maintaining standards for passing national and practical competency exams.

signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 25, 2024

SB 2780: AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- MAIL BALLOTS

This bill mandates that mail ballot drop boxes in Rhode Island remain open for 35 days before regular state, statewide, and federal elections, and for 20 days before special elections. It requires these secure containers to be accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week when located outside municipal buildings, while also ensuring they are available during business hours if placed inside city or town facilities. The legislation establishes specific rules for labeling, video surveillance, accessibility for people with disabilities, and the public posting of drop box locations on official websites. Additionally, it sets procedures for when drop boxes must be locked on election day and outlines how local boards will manage the collection and transport of ballots.

signed · Rhode Island · House Jun 25, 2024

HB 7424: AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- FILING OF ASSUMED NAME

Changes the term "assumed name" to "trade name" and centralizes the filing, administration and regulation process of trade names to the secretary of state and requires an annual renewal of the trade name.

signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 25, 2024

SB 2993: AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- RHODE ISLAND HOUSING RESOURCES ACT OF 1998

This bill amends the Rhode Island Housing Resources Act to explicitly include mobile and manufactured homes as a form of affordable housing under specific conditions. To qualify, these homes must serve as a primary residence, be located on land owned by the occupant or a resident-owned community, have been built after June 15, 1976, and meet federal safety standards. The legislation also updates the state's strategic housing plan to address the needs of various populations, including low-income families, students, and older citizens, while defining affordable housing based on income thresholds relative to area median income. By broadening the definition of eligible housing types, the law aims to expand the inventory of affordable options available to residents without changing the core funding mechanisms for housing development.

signed · Rhode Island · House Jun 25, 2024

HB 7570: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS

Allows law enforcement to utilize mufflers, silencers, or other devices for deadening or muffling the sound of a firearm while acting within the scope of their official duties under the supervision of the police chief or colonel of the state police.

signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 25, 2024

SB 2995: AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION

Requires, by January 1, 2026, the creation of an online, publicly available, comprehensive statewide geographic information system of land related resources to include information from all towns and cities.

signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 25, 2024

SB 2999: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- ZONING ORDINANCES

This bill updates Rhode Island's inclusionary zoning law to require that developments with ten or more units include at least 15% affordable housing, which must remain affordable for 30 years. It allows municipalities to offer density bonuses, such as adding two market-rate units for every affordable unit, or to accept alternative methods like off-site construction, land donations, or fee payments instead of on-site affordable units. However, projects that choose to pay fees rather than build affordable housing directly are not eligible for these density bonuses. The law also sets a minimum fee amount for fee-in-lieu options and mandates that collected funds be used exclusively to create new affordable housing within the community.

signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 25, 2024

SB 2758: AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- RYAN'S LAW

This bill, known as Ryan's Law, updates regulations for healthcare professionals who prescribe controlled substances by introducing stricter penalties for overprescribing that leads to death. Under the new rules, any provider found guilty of this specific offense must face a mandatory three-year probationary period, during which any further related violations could result in license suspension or revocation. In addition to this probation, the law allows licensing boards to impose fines of up to $1,000 for a second offense and up to $5,000 for each subsequent offense, while also permitting the assessment of administrative costs against the licensee. The legislation applies to all professionals regulated by boards that oversee the prescribing of controlled substances and takes effect immediately upon passage.

signed · Rhode Island · House Jun 25, 2024

HB 7983: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODE

Amends various provisions relative to the duties of the state building commissioner and establishes a building code education and training unit to educate building officials and inspectors statewide.

signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 25, 2024

SB 2609: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- DENSE BREAST NOTIFICATION AND EDUCATION

This bill updates Rhode Island's laws to require healthcare facilities to inform patients about their breast density using specific national standards after a mammogram. It mandates that reports sent to patients must include a standardized message explaining that dense tissue can make it harder to detect cancer and may suggest additional screening options like ultrasounds or MRIs. The law applies to all facilities performing mammograms and requires them to provide this information starting October 1, 2014, with the goal of encouraging patients to discuss their results with their doctors.

signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 25, 2024

SB 2379: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- LACTATION COUNSELORS PRACTICE ACT OF 2024

Specifies the requirements and procedures for licensing lactation counselors as well as the renewal, expiration, termination, refusal, revocation and suspension of licenses.