Criminal Justice (Law Enforcement)

This bill appropriates $100,000 from the state treasury for the Rhode Island Commission on Prejudice and Bias for fiscal year 2026-2027. The funds will support the Commission’s existing work studying prejudice and bias, providing hate crime training to law enforcement and community groups, receiving hate crime reports, and advising state officials. The Commission, established in 1981, serves all Rhode Islanders and has been impacted by reduced federal and state funding. This resolution directly provides financial support to maintain the Commission’s ongoing operations.

HB 7289 prohibits law enforcement from seizing property under controlled substances laws without first obtaining a criminal conviction. This directly affects property owners who might otherwise face asset forfeiture before a court finds them guilty of a crime. The bill modifies existing forfeiture procedures by requiring a criminal conviction before civil forfeiture can proceed, with limited exceptions for vehicles used by common carriers. It changes the process so that assets cannot be taken through civil means until after a criminal case concludes.