Their bills, from filing to law
Bills Lauren Carson was a primary sponsor of this session. Most bills from either party never leave committee; in Illinois many never get past the Assignments or Rules committee.
Introduced31
Out of committee11
Passed one chamber11
Passed both chambers8
Became law8
Never left committee20
For comparison, the median Democratic member of the House has 6 bills that became law this session.
What their bills are about
Health And Safety 6State Affairs And Government 3HEALTH AND SAFETY — THE RHODE ISLAND MATERNAL HEALTH IMPROVEMENT AND EQUITY ACT OF 2026 2Education 2Motor And Other Vehicles 1MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES — REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES 1
Establishes enforcement limitations on contract terms for the licensing of electronic books or digital audiobooks to libraries to preclude the library from being subject to unfair sales practices.
COMMERCIAL LAW — GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS — LIBRARY EBOOK CONTRACTS – Establishes enforcement limitations on contract terms for the licensing of electronic books or digital audiobooks to libraries to preclude the library from being subject to unfair sales practices.
Became lawEffective without Governor's signature · 2026-06-24
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.
In plain English Requires party chairpersons to submit voter lists within 30 days of a municipal election office vacancy and mayors or council presidents to nominate replacements within 30 days.
Official synopsis: 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…
Became lawSigned by Governor · 2026-06-23
Amends certain provisions relative to school waste recycling and refuse disposal and requires reports of waste audits by educational entities and reports of program participation by vendors.
In plain English Requires schools to report waste audits and vendors to report their participation in school waste recycling programs.
Official synopsis: EDUCATION — SCHOOL WASTE RECYCLING AND REFUSE DISPOSAL – Amends certain provisions relative to school waste recycling and refuse disposal and requires reports of waste audits by educational entities and reports of program participation by vendors.
Became lawSigned by Governor · 2026-06-18
Establishes the Permanent Joint Study Commission on Aging and Multi-Sector Plan on Aging.
In plain English Creates a permanent joint study commission on aging and requires development of a multi-sector plan on aging.
Official synopsis: HUMAN SERVICES — PERMANENT JOINT STUDY COMMISSION ON AGING AND MULTI-SECTOR PLAN ON AGING – Establishes the Permanent Joint Study Commission on Aging and Multi-Sector Plan on Aging.
Passed one chamberReferred to Senate Health and Human Services · 2026-06-09
Authorizes the division of motor vehicles to issue special license plates in recognition and support of the Lime Rock Foundation, Inc.
In plain English Allows the division of motor vehicles to issue special license plates supporting the Lime Rock Foundation, Inc.
Official synopsis: MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES — REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES – Authorizes the division of motor vehicles to issue special license plates in recognition and support of the Lime Rock Foundation, Inc.
Passed one chamberHouse read and passed · 2026-06-04
JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $2,700,000 TO BE USED FOR MATERNAL HEALTH IMPROVEMENT AND EQUITY (Appropriates the sum of $2,700,000 to the department of health for maternal health improvement and equity.)
Not out of committeeCommittee recommended measure be held for further study · 2026-05-14
Provides a definition for "Zero-emission resource" includes nuclear energy resources and large-scale hydro electric facilities and provides that such resources may be used to meet certain clean energy compliance requirements.
PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS — RENEWABLE ENERGY STANDARD – Provides a definition for "Zero-emission resource" includes nuclear energy resources and large-scale hydro electric facilities and provides that such resources may be used to meet certain clean energy compliance requirements.
Not out of committeeCommittee recommended measure be held for further study · 2026-05-12
Establishes a fund within the department of health to support the operation and expansion of women’s, maternal, and infant health and birthing services at Newport Hospital.
HEALTH AND SAFETY — THE NOREEN DREXEL BIRTHING CENTER FUND – Establishes a fund within the department of health to support the operation and expansion of women’s, maternal, and infant health and birthing services at Newport Hospital.
Not out of committeeCommittee recommended measure be held for further study · 2026-05-12
HOUSE RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING MAY 2026, TO BE "OLDER AMERICANS MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
Became lawHouse read and passed · 2026-05-05
HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THAT A CONDITION PRECEDENT BE PLACED ON ALL FUTURE STATE FUNDING OR GRANT ASSISTANCE TO BROWN UNIVERSITY HEALTH AND AFFILIATED ENTITIES TO ENSURE MAINTENANCE OF THE NEWPORT HOSPITAL BIRTHING CENTER (This resolution would condition the distribution of any state funds to Brown University Health on the continued operation of a birthing center in the city of Newport.)
Not out of committeeCommittee recommended measure be held for further study · 2026-04-09
Establishes the Rhode Island Maternal Health Improvement and Equity Act of 2026, to establish permanent statewide support for maternal health and to implement the maternal health strategic plan improving maternal health care and access.
HEALTH AND SAFETY — THE RHODE ISLAND MATERNAL HEALTH IMPROVEMENT AND EQUITY ACT OF 2026 – Establishes the Rhode Island Maternal Health Improvement and Equity Act of 2026, to establish permanent statewide support for maternal health and to implement the maternal health strategic plan improving…
Not out of committeeCommittee recommended measure be held for further study · 2026-04-09
Prohibits the closure or significant reduction of services of a birthing center without notice, application, financial disclosure, public hearing, and approval by the department of health.
HEALTH AND SAFETY — THE HOSPITAL CONVERSIONS ACT – Prohibits the closure or significant reduction of services of a birthing center without notice, application, financial disclosure, public hearing, and approval by the department of health.
Not out of committeeCommittee recommended measure be held for further study · 2026-04-09
Enacts the State of Rhode Island interior design practice act to control and regulate the professional practice of interior designers.
BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS — STATE OF RHODE ISLAND INTERIOR DESIGN PRACTICE ACT – Enacts the State of Rhode Island interior design practice act to control and regulate the professional practice of interior designers.
Not out of committeeCommittee recommended measure be held for further study · 2026-04-02
Distinguishes residential and commercial short-term rental properties for tax purposes.
STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT — TOURISM AND DEVELOPMENT – Distinguishes residential and commercial short-term rental properties for tax purposes.
Not out of committeeCommittee recommended measure be held for further study · 2026-03-31
Adds a representative of an aging adult organization and a member of a statewide disability advocacy organization who is sixty (60) years of age or older to the state planning council.
In plain English Adds two members to the state planning council: a representative from an aging adult organization and a member age 60 or older from a disability advocacy organization.
Official synopsis: GENERAL ASSEMBLY — JOINT COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE SERVICES – Adds a representative of an aging adult organization and a member of a statewide disability advocacy organization who is sixty (60) years of age or older to the state planning council.
Passed one chamberReferred to Senate Housing and Municipal Government · 2026-03-27
“In plain English” lines are written by ThePolitibase with AI (Claude), from the official synopsis only; the synopsis is the authoritative text. Descriptions are the legislature’s own synopsis. Bill data from LegiScan, CC BY 4.0.