Healthcare

signed · Rhode Island · House Jun 18, 2026

HB 7740: AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- NURSES

HB 7740 clarifies the rules for when registered nurses and nurse practitioners can administer deep sedation or general anesthesia, specifically limiting these actions to emergency situations where delaying care would endanger a patient's health. The bill explicitly prohibits these providers from using general anesthetics for elective, scheduled procedures unless an urgent need arises, while still allowing them to perform minimal or moderate sedation as usual. To enforce these limits, the law requires that any nurse or nurse practitioner who is not a certified registered nurse anesthetist must not initiate, adjust, or maintain general anesthetic medications outside of critical care scenarios. Additionally, the bill mandates that hospitals report specific serious incidents, such as unplanned transitions to deep sedation that result in severe patient outcomes, to the Department of Health within 24 hours.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands nurse emergency sedation authority in life-threatening situations, improving access to critical care during emergencies per bill's specific emergency circumstances language.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Rhode Island · House Jun 18, 2026

HB 7026: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE NATHAN BRUNO AND JASON FLATT ACT

Directs middle and high schools which issue student identification cards to include on those cards on or before September 8, 2026, contact crisis telephone numbers for suicide prevention and substance use disorder prevention.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates inclusion of suicide prevention and substance use disorder crisis numbers on student IDs, directly advancing mental health services as defined in healthcare topic.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Rhode Island · House Jun 18, 2026

HB 7361: AN ACT RELATING TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE, DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND HOSPITALS -- QUALITY SELF-DIRECTED SUPPORTS ACT OF 2026

Ensures that more developmentally disabled adults can self-direct the care they need and want, by incorporating collective bargaining rights into the self-directed supports program.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill enables self-directed care for developmentally disabled adults, expanding patient autonomy and access to behavioral healthcare services through collective bargaining rights in support programs.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentIncorporates collective bargaining rights into self-directed supports program for developmentally disabled adults, advancing workers' rights through collective bargaining mechanisms.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 18, 2026

SB 2350: AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS

Requires the department of elementary and secondary education and DOH to adopt policies, rules and regulations for the administration of seizure rescue medications for children who have been medically identified as having epilepsy/seizure disorder.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires school health policies for seizure medication access, directly enhancing student safety and well-being in K-12 settings.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires policies for administering seizure rescue meds to students with epilepsy, directly improving access to critical healthcare services in schools.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Rhode Island · House Jun 12, 2026

HB 7127: AN ACT MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE STATE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2027

HB 7127 is a state budget bill allocating hundreds of millions of dollars in funding for Rhode Island's fiscal year ending June 30, 2027. It directs specific funding amounts to state agencies and programs, including Central Management, Health Benefits Exchange, Debt Service Payments, and infrastructure projects like building renovations and facility upgrades. The bill establishes concrete funding levels for departments such as Health and Human Services, Education, and Information Technology, with detailed allocations for both general revenue and restricted funds. This legislation directly affects state agencies and programs that will receive these designated funds to operate during the 2027 fiscal year.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates hundreds of millions for state agencies, infrastructure, and essential programs like Health and Human Services, advancing fiscal management and funding public services.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates specific funding to Health Benefits Exchange and Health and Human Services, directly advancing healthcare program funding per budget language.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

passed · Rhode Island · House Jun 11, 2026

HB 7427: AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- THE PRIMARY CARE PRESERVATION ACT

Prohibits health insurance companies or other payors from including in physician participation agreements any provisions that restrict or prevent a physician from charging patients reasonable administrative or operational fees to support overhead.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits insurers from restricting physician fees for overhead, enabling providers to sustain operations and maintain access to care without financial barriers.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

signed · Rhode Island · House Jun 10, 2026

HB 7837: AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- DENTISTS AND DENTAL HYGIENISTS

HB 7837 allows dental hygienists working in public-health settings - such as schools, nursing homes, and community health centers - to receive reimbursement from insurance companies or Medicare, not just Medicaid. Currently, these hygienists could only be paid by Medicaid or state healthcare programs, but the bill removes that restriction. This change expands payment options for preventive dental services provided in community settings without altering the requirement for a written agreement with a dentist or patient consent forms. The bill directly affects dental hygienists and public-health facilities by enabling broader insurance coverage for their services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands reimbursement for dental hygienists in public health settings, increasing access to preventive care through broader insurance/Medicare coverage without restricting Medicaid payments.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

passed · Rhode Island · House Jun 9, 2026

HR 8451: HOUSE RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT TO WORK WITH THE TOWN OF NEW SHOREHAM TO DEVELOP A REGULATORY FRAMEWORK TO REDUCE TICK-BORNE ILLNESS ON BLOCK ISLAND

This bill directs the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management to work with the Town of New Shoreham to create a plan for managing deer populations on Block Island to reduce tick-borne illnesses. The proposed framework would allow the town to apply for special permits to conduct deer management activities, such as licensed hunting or culling, which are currently restricted on the island. Additionally, the plan must include safety protocols, data collection on deer and tick populations, and public education efforts, with a final report due to state leaders within six months.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill aims to reduce tick-borne illnesses by managing deer populations, directly protecting public health and preventing disease spread.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

passed · Rhode Island · House Jun 9, 2026

HB 8545: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- RHODE ISLAND PROGRAM TO ADDRESS ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

Amends law to include all licensed physician assistants with licensed physicians and nurses required, each license renewal period, to complete a minimum of 1 hour of instruction on the diagnosis treatment, and care of patients with cognitive impairments.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates continuing education for healthcare providers on Alzheimer's care, strengthening professional competence and patient support.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · Rhode Island · House Jun 9, 2026

HB 8568: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- RHODE ISLAND PROGRAM TO ADDRESS ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

Amends the current law on Alzheimer’s care by enacting a specific list of protocols to be followed and those healthcare facilities subject to the law.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes protocols for Alzheimer's care facilities, strengthening healthcare standards and patient protection.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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