Imposes a seventy-five cent (0.75) surcharge on fares charged by rideshare companies as well as an account to benefit RIPTA from the payment of sales taxes collected from rideshares.
SB 2392 requires school departments to make GPS data about the real-time location and speed of school buses available electronically to parents or guardians of students transported by those buses. This directly affects families whose children ride school buses, allowing them to track bus movements during transportation. The bill mandates that all new school buses (starting July 1, 2027) and all school buses (by July 1, 2032) must include this GPS data capability alongside video monitoring systems. The law ensures this data access complies with privacy laws and does not interfere with law enforcement.
Requires the PUC to produce yearly reports beginning on January 1, 2027 on the ability of the current electric grid to handle electrification loads needed to power cars, buildings, and heating of homes within the state.
Limits municipal minimum lot sizes for residential use to 2,500 sq ft near transit, 5,000 sq. ft with water/sewer, and 1 acre otherwise, while protecting farmlands, forests, and wetlands, and requiring zoning updates to comply.
SB 2286 requires all motorcycle operators in Rhode Island to wear a helmet of an approved type, regardless of age. This directly affects every motorcycle, motor scooter, and motor-driven cycle rider on public roads. The bill removes previous age exemptions for helmet use and adds a one-year helmet requirement for new riders during their first year of licensing. Violations carry fines that fund highway safety education programs promoting helmet use. The law takes effect upon passage.
HB 7354 permits motorcycles to legally "lane filter" - passing stopped or very slow-moving vehicles (under 10 mph) in the same lane - under specific conditions. It requires motorcycle riders to filter at speeds no faster than 20 mph, only when lanes are wide enough for safe passing, and when road conditions allow continued safe operation. The bill directly affects motorcycle riders and drivers on roads where this practice is permitted, modifying existing traffic rules to explicitly allow this maneuver. It takes effect upon passage and does not change general speed limits or traffic laws beyond this specific provision.
SB 2028 imposes a tiered sales tax on digital advertising services sold within Rhode Island, affecting large digital advertising companies based on their global revenue (2.5% for $100M-$1B revenue, 5% for $1B-$5B, 7.5% for $5B-$15B). The tax revenue will be distributed annually to specific state funds: 10% to public transit (RIPTA), 15% to climate resiliency, 5% to university research, 20% to housing, 10% to school lunches, 20% to municipal resilience, and 20% to the general fund. The tax applies to purchases of digital ads within Rhode Island and takes effect on July 1, 2026. It does not allow companies to add the tax as a separate fee on customer invoices but requires clear disclosure of the amount.
SB 2095 directs 20% of annual revenue from Rhode Island's highway maintenance account to fund the Rhode Island Public Transportation Authority (RIPTA) starting July 1, 2026, for its operating costs. Previously, RIPTA received 5% (2015-2025), then 10% (2025-2026), with a fixed $5 million annual allocation (except during federal relief funding periods). The bill gradually increases transit funding from the highway fund to support RIPTA's operations without requiring new taxes. This policy change specifically affects RIPTA's budget and Rhode Island's transportation infrastructure funding structure.
SB 2402 increases penalties for drivers convicted of causing death or serious injury through reckless driving or driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs. The bill raises maximum prison sentences (e.g., from 10 to 20 years for causing death while driving recklessly), fines (e.g., from $10,000 to $20,000 for first-time DUI causing death), and license suspension periods. It also adds requirements for alcohol/drug treatment programs and longer financial responsibility proof before license reinstatement. This bill directly affects drivers convicted under sections 31-27-1, 31-27-1.1, 31-27-2.2, and 31-27-2.6 of the state’s motor vehicle laws. The bill is currently in committee (introduced January 30, 2026) and has not yet passed.
SB 2146 creates a regulatory framework for peer-to-peer car sharing through apps (like Turo), requiring specific insurance coverage for rentals. It directly affects users who rent vehicles via these apps and owners who list their cars for rent. The bill prescribes minimum insurance standards to cover liability during rentals, ensuring both renters and vehicle owners have protection under the program.
