Transportation

passed · Rhode Island · Senate May 29, 2026

SB 3098: AN ACT RELATING TO WATERS AND NAVIGATION -- ALCOHOL BOATING SAFETY ACT

Gives the Rhode Island traffic tribunal jurisdiction to hear first offense refusals to submit to a chemical test pursuant to the Alcohol Boating Safety Act.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill enhances boating safety by clarifying jurisdiction for alcohol-related violations, strengthening transportation safety regulations.75% confidence

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signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 5, 2026

SB 3176: AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHWAYS -- CROOK POINT BRIDGE AUTHORITY ACT

This bill creates the Crook Point Bridge Authority, an independent public organization dedicated to maintaining the Crook Point Bascule Bridge and related property in Providence. The authority will be governed by a three-person board appointed by the mayor with city council approval, who manage the bridge's preservation, improvements, and redevelopment without receiving personal compensation. The new authority has the power to enter contracts, manage finances, and issue its own debt, which is legally separate from the city and state and exempt from state taxes.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill creates authority to maintain and improve bridge infrastructure, directly advancing transportation preservation and redevelopment.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Bridges

signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 23, 2026

SB 3002: AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- SIZE, WEIGHT, AND LOAD LIMITS

This bill updates size, weight, and load regulations for commercial and specialized vehicles in Rhode Island. It clarifies exemptions for specific vehicle types, including road machinery in work zones, farm vehicles, articulated public transit buses, and emergency vehicles, while maintaining safety restrictions on weight-restricted infrastructure. The legislation also adjusts maximum vehicle lengths and axle load limits, with corresponding fines for violations, and ensures that vehicles registered for specific weights cannot exceed those limits.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill updates vehicle regulations to enhance safety and clarify exemptions for public transit buses and emergency vehicles, strengthening transportation infrastructure standards.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licensing Freight Public Transit

died · Rhode Island · Senate Apr 2, 2026

SB 3164: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- ASSAULTS

This bill proposes to classify assault on a railroad worker that causes personal injury as a felony offense. The legislation amends existing assault laws to include railroad workers alongside other protected officials, such as police officers and firefighters, when they are performing their duties. If someone strikes or sprays a railroad worker with a noxious chemical and causes bodily harm, they could face up to three years in prison, a fine of $1,500, or both. The law applies only when the railroad worker is on duty and proper identification is shown. This change would take effect immediately upon the bill's passage.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens criminal justice by classifying assault on railroad workers as a felony, enhancing protection for public safety workers and increasing penalties for harmful acts.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill strengthens workplace safety by classifying assault on railroad workers as a felony, protecting workers' rights during duty performance.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill enhances safety for railroad workers by criminalizing assaults, protecting transportation infrastructure personnel and promoting safer rail operations.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Policing Violent Crime Rail

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died · Rhode Island · Senate Apr 7, 2026

SB 2767: AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- RHODE ISLAND UTILITY FAIR SHARE ROADWAY REPAIR ACT

Requires any public utility company that needs to close any state or municipal roadway for work to provide notice to all residential and business property owners located within 1,000 ft of the closed highway at least 48 hrs before the road closure.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill improves road infrastructure by requiring utilities to notify property owners before road closures, enhancing transparency and safety for transportation users.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Roads & Highways

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died · Rhode Island · Senate Mar 31, 2026

SB 2942: AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- SUPER SPEEDER ACCOUNTABILITY ACT

Establishes the Super Speeder Accountability Act to be used as a sentencing option or enhancement for drivers charged with certain driving violations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enhances accountability for dangerous driving through sentencing enhancements, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of protecting public safety and ensuring appropriate consequences for violations.65% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill enhances transportation safety through stricter penalties for speeding, aligning with safety improvement indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing Driver Licensing Traffic Safety

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died · Rhode Island · Senate Apr 9, 2026

SB 3042: AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- MOTOR VEHICLE OFFENSES

Bans street takeovers and violators would be guilty of a felony and punishable by imprisonment for more than one year and be subject to a fine of not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) nor more than five thousand dollars ($5,000).

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill criminalizes street takeovers with felony penalties, strengthening law enforcement response to dangerous criminal activity and enhancing public safety.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill enhances transportation safety by criminalizing street takeovers, a dangerous activity that disrupts traffic flow and endangers road users.85% confidence

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signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 23, 2026

SB 3135: AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- MISCELLANEOUS RULES

Restores law enforcement discretion, allowing officers to issue a verbal warning when appropriate or pursue misdemeanor or felony charges in more egregious cases where a child is left unattended in a motor vehicle.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill restores law enforcement discretion in child safety cases, allowing appropriate responses rather than mandatory prosecution, which supports balanced criminal justice practices.75% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill enhances child safety in vehicles by restoring law enforcement discretion, strengthening transportation safety standards and protecting vulnerable passengers.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

passed · Rhode Island · Senate May 28, 2026

SB 3097: AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES GENERALLY

This bill requires all vehicles operating within Rhode Island to display a permanent U.S. Department of Transportation number starting April 1, 2027. The rule applies to commercial motor vehicles weighing over 10,001 pounds, those transporting hazardous materials, or vehicles designed to carry more than eight passengers for compensation. Several exemptions exist for government-owned vehicles, municipal transit buses, school buses, and driving school vehicles. Violations of the marking requirement or operating a vehicle declared out of service due to safety issues can result in fines.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill enhances transportation safety by requiring DOT numbers on commercial vehicles, improving vehicle identification and regulatory compliance.85% confidence

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died · Rhode Island · House Apr 14, 2026

HB 8315: AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- MOTOR FUEL TAX

Sets the allocation to RIPTA at the greater of $0.1175 per gallon or 29.375% of total proceeds, with $0.005 per gallon derived from the $0.01 per gallon environmental protection fee.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes motor fuel tax allocation to RIPTA, increasing funding for public transit services and fiscal management.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill allocates funds from environmental protection fee to RIPTA, supporting public transit which reduces vehicle emissions and promotes sustainable transportation.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill allocates motor fuel tax proceeds to RIPTA (public transit), directly funding transportation infrastructure and services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Transportation Funding

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