Rhode Island Bills | MyRepTracker

signed · Rhode Island · House Jun 23, 2026

HB 8004: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE--COURTS -- SUPERIOR COURT

HB 8004 amends Rhode Island's Comprehensive Planning and Land Use Act to require cities and towns to align their zoning ordinances and maps with locally adopted comprehensive plans. It sets a 12-year update cycle for comprehensive plans, mandates that land use decisions follow these plans, and establishes rules for temporary moratoriums during plan implementation (up to 12 months, extendable by 90 days). The bill directly affects all Rhode Island municipalities by clarifying enforcement standards, ensuring zoning consistency with planning goals, and protecting natural resources while promoting housing diversity. It does not create new programs but refines existing land use governance to improve coordination between planning and development decisions.

signed · Rhode Island · House Jun 23, 2026

HB 7477: AN ACT RELATING TO CORPORATIONS, ASSOCIATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS -- UNIFORM PARTNERSHIP ACT -- THE RHODE ISLAND LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY ACT

HB 7477 replaces Rhode Island's current Limited Liability Company Act (Chapter 7-16) with an updated model act. It requires registered limited liability partnerships (RLLPs) providing professional services to carry liability insurance covering negligence or misconduct, calculated as $50,000 per professional employee (minimum $100,000, maximum $500,000). RLLPs may instead set aside $500,000 in a segregated trust account or escrow as an alternative to insurance. The bill repeals all existing provisions of the Rhode Island Limited Liability Company Act, replacing them with the new model framework.

signed · Rhode Island · House Jun 23, 2026

HB 7625: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Commencing January 1, 2027, mandates insurers provide health insurance coverage without cost-share requirements for vaccinations recommended by the DOH and mandates the coverage for the medical assistance program and managed care organizations.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Rhode Island · House Jun 23, 2026

HR 7579: JOINT RESOLUTION REPEALING RHODE ISLAND'S RATIFICATION OF THE CORWIN AMENDMENT

This bill (HR 7579) formally rescinds Rhode Island's 1861 ratification of the Corwin Amendment, a proposed constitutional amendment from the Civil War era. The Corwin Amendment aimed to protect slavery by prohibiting future constitutional amendments that could interfere with "domestic institutions" like slavery in states. Rhode Island's ratification is being repealed because the amendment was never adopted by enough states, became obsolete after the 13th Amendment abolished slavery, and has no current legal effect. The resolution is purely procedural, correcting a historical record without changing any existing law or constitutional provisions.

signed · Rhode Island · House Jun 23, 2026

HB 8005: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- ZONING ORDINANCES

HB 8005 changes how local governments in Rhode Island can set parking requirements for new housing. It amends zoning rules to adjust standards for permitted parking spaces in dwelling units, particularly affecting towns and cities that create zoning ordinances. The key change modifies Section 45-24-33's provisions about parking areas (subsection 4[vi]), clarifying how municipalities may limit or require parking based on development type. This directly impacts developers building new residential projects and local officials drafting zoning rules. The bill does not eliminate parking requirements but refines how they are applied within zoning codes.

Topics ✓ Housing

signed · Rhode Island · House Jun 23, 2026

HB 7869: AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- SIZE, WEIGHT, AND LOAD LIMITS

HB 7869 amends vehicle size, weight, and load regulations in Rhode Island, primarily updating exemptions for specific vehicle types. It adds exemptions for Rhode Island public transit articulated buses (allowing greater length/weight on designated routes), clarifies natural gas vehicle weight allowances (accounting for fuel system differences), and refines exemptions for farm vehicles, emergency vehicles, and covered tow trucks. The bill directly affects commercial truck operators, transit authorities, farmers, and emergency services by modifying which vehicles are exempt from standard weight and size limits. These changes clarify existing rules without creating new restrictions, focusing on practical operational allowances for designated vehicle classes.

Topics ✓ Transportation

signed · Rhode Island · House Jun 23, 2026

HB 8001: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODE -- ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT

Authorizes municipalities to make an emergency declaration under limited circumstances to allow for the construction and use of SAFE Units on a temporary basis which have specialized requirements and exemptions from the state fire and building codes.

signed · Rhode Island · House Jun 23, 2026

HB 7870: AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- DEFINITIONS AND GENERAL CODE PROVISIONS

Clarifies when mobile equipment can travel on a public highway as an incidentally permitted practice limited to the active participation in an active work zone.

signed · Rhode Island · House Jun 23, 2026

HB 7923: AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- UNIFORM CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT

Revises sections of the uniform controlled substances act to remove specific opioid dosage requirements and revises the uniform controlled substances act in accordance with current standards of professional practice.

signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 23, 2026

SB 2176: AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES

SB 2176 creates a special motor vehicle registration plate for the "Friends of the Historic Narragansett Towers," a group dedicated to preserving a historic site. The bill directly affects vehicle owners who choose to purchase this specialized plate. It provides no other policy changes or mechanisms beyond this plate designation, as it is a procedural measure. The bill was introduced in the Senate on January 16, 2026, and referred to the Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs committee.

signed · Rhode Island · Senate Jun 23, 2026

SB 2136: AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTIONS -- LOCAL CANVASSING AUTHORITIES

Requires party chairpersons to submit lists of party voters to the mayor or council president within 30 days of notice of vacancy in a municipal election office and mayor/council president are required to make a replacement nomination within 30 days.

signed · Rhode Island · House Jun 23, 2026

HB 7020: AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- VETERINARY PRACTICE

Authorizes veterinarians to establish a client-patient relationship through electronic means, subject to limitations and requirements such as Vet making a good faith effort to determine if care should be provided through telemedicine instead of in person.