SB 2639 Rhode Island Senate · 2026 Regular Session

AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- SINGLE-USE PLASTIC STRAWS

SB 2639 would allow customers at restaurants and food service businesses to take single-use plastic straws directly from a dispenser instead of needing to request them from staff. This change would directly affect customers seeking straws and food service establishments that currently provide straws only upon request. The bill modifies the default practice for straw distribution without banning plastic straws or imposing new fees. It focuses on streamlining customer access to straws at the point of service.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
May 2026
Senate Passage
May 2026
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 27, 2026 Last action May 6, 2026
Floor votes · Senate May 5, 2026

How they voted

350
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 36
May 5, 2026
D Democratic32
32 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican4
3 Yea 1
75% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
9
Key actions
2
Committee
3
May 6, 2026
Committee
05/06/2026 Referred to House Environment and Natural Resources
lower
May 5, 2026
Upper · Passed
05/05/2026 Senate passed Sub A
upper
Apr 28, 2026
Legislature · Passed
04/28/2026 Committee recommends passage of Sub A
legislature
Mar 24, 2026
Committee
03/24/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
legislature
Feb 27, 2026
Introduced
02/27/2026 Introduced, referred to Senate Commerce
upper
6 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors