Criminal Justice

died · Rhode Island · House Mar 4, 2026

HB 7211: AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- THE RHODE ISLAND COMMUNITY PROTECTION ACT

Bars police from wearing masks or disguises when interacting with the public, require visible ID, allow limited safety and undercover exceptions, and impose criminal penalties and civil liability for violations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires visible police ID during public interactions, enhancing transparency and accountability in law enforcement, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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in committee · Rhode Island · Senate Jan 23, 2026

SR 2236: JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $100,000 FOR THE RHODE ISLAND COMMISSION ON PREJUDICE & BIAS

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $100,000 for Commission on Prejudice & Bias, funding essential state program addressing hate crimes and bias training.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds hate crime training for law enforcement to address bias, aligning with criminal justice reform goals like accountability and reducing prejudice in policing.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Civil Rights Law Enforcement

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in committee · Rhode Island · House Jan 21, 2026

HB 7196: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- CHILDREN

Criminalizes the knowing and intentional failure of a physician, nurse, or other licensed medical person to provide reasonable medical care and treatment to an infant born alive as a felony.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill criminalizes medical professionals' failure to treat born-alive infants as a felony, expanding criminalization per 'oppose' indicator.90% confidence

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died · Rhode Island · House Apr 2, 2026

HB 7203: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- BAIL AND RECOGNIZANCE

Prohibits the courts from setting cash or surety bail on any misdemeanor offense but permits the court to set reasonable non-monetary conditions of bail to assure the defendant's presence in court as required and to protect the community.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits cash bail for misdemeanors, reducing wealth-based detention and aligning with criminal justice reform goals to protect defendant rights and community safety.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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died · Rhode Island · House Mar 18, 2026

HB 7034: AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- RHODE ISLAND FAIR HOUSING PRACTICES ACT

HB 7034 prohibits landlords and housing agents in Rhode Island from asking applicants about prior incarceration or discriminating against them based on that status. It amends the Fair Housing Practices Act to explicitly ban such inquiries and discrimination, protecting individuals who have been released from prison. The bill also maintains existing protections against discrimination based on race, gender, disability, and other factors. This directly affects landlords, rental applications, and formerly incarcerated residents seeking housing.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill prohibits housing discrimination against formerly incarcerated individuals, advancing criminal justice reform by reducing reentry barriers and protecting civil rights per Fair Housing Act amendments.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingProhibits housing discrimination based on prior incarceration, strengthening tenant protections under Rhode Island's Fair Housing Act.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Corrections Tenant Rights

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died · Rhode Island · Senate Mar 10, 2026

SB 2162: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- SENTENCE AND EXECUTION

Requires the courts to consider the parental status of the defendant at the time of sentencing and allows the defendant to present a family impact statement, including testimony, videos and documents relative to their parental status.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires courts to consider parental status at sentencing, promoting individualized sentencing as part of criminal justice reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing

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died · Rhode Island · House Apr 8, 2026

HB 7035: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS

HB 7035 prohibits individuals from purchasing or taking possession of more than one firearm (defined as pistol, rifle, or shotgun) within any 30-day period. This directly affects most private firearm buyers, excluding specific exemptions like law enforcement officers, licensed dealers, government transfers, inheritance through probate, temporary gun range rentals, firearm safety courses, and curio collector transfers. Violations carry misdemeanor penalties for first offenses (up to 1 year in jail or $500 fine) and felony penalties for repeat offenses (up to 3 years in jail or $3,000 fine). The bill takes effect immediately upon passage.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill restricts firearm purchases to reduce gun violence, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of enhancing public safety and preventing firearm-related crimes within the criminal justice framework.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Drug Policy Firearms

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died · Rhode Island · Senate Mar 10, 2026

SB 2127: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- IDENTIFICATION AND APPREHENSION OF CRIMINALS

Requires superior court clerk to automatically seal cases/individual counts of a criminal complaint/indictment that were dismissed, upon request of defendant and serve it upon bureau of criminal identification, police department and counsel of record.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAutomatically seals dismissed cases, reducing barriers for defendants and aligning with criminal justice reform goals to protect civil rights and lower recidivism.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Policing

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died · Rhode Island · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 2144: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION ACT

Permits the court to determine the number of hours a person would have to complete of a batters intervention program and gives the court discretion as to whether that person would be personally financially responsible for the costs thereof.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePermits court discretion in batter's intervention program hours/costs, promoting rehabilitation access and aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence

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died · Rhode Island · House Feb 5, 2026

HB 7194: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION ACT

HB 7194 expands the definition of domestic violence to include animal cruelty committed by a family or household member against another household member. It specifically adds three offenses to the list: unnecessary cruelty to an animal (§ 4-1-3), malicious injury or killing of an animal (§ 4-1-5), and abandonment of an animal (§ 4-1-26). This change directly affects victims who share household animals with an abuser and allows courts to address animal cruelty as part of domestic violence cases. The bill amends the Domestic Violence Prevention Act to explicitly include these animal-related offenses under the same legal framework as other domestic violence crimes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands domestic violence protections to include animal cruelty, enabling courts to address abuse patterns comprehensively and strengthen victim safety measures within criminal justice.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence

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