Requires pharmacy benefit managers to apply for certificate of authority from the office of health insurance commissioner to operate such a business in this state and empowers the commissioner to oversee pharmacy benefit managers and penalize violations.
In plain English Requires pharmacy benefit managers to obtain a certificate of authority from the health insurance commissioner to operate in the state.
Official synopsis: INSURANCE — PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGERS ACT – Requires pharmacy benefit managers to apply for certificate of authority from the office of health insurance commissioner to operate such a business in this state and empowers the commissioner to oversee pharmacy benefit managers and penalize violations.
Became lawSigned by Governor · 2026-06-22
Establishes the commercial kitchen exhaust system inspection and cleaning licensing and certification act. Requires entities inspecting or cleaning commercial exhaust systems to be licensed and insured.
In plain English Requires entities that inspect or clean commercial kitchen exhaust systems to be licensed and insured.
Official synopsis: HEALTH AND SAFETY — COMMERCIAL KITCHEN EXHAUST SYSTEM INSPECTION AND CLEANING, LICENSING AND CERTIFICATION ACT – Establishes the commercial kitchen exhaust system inspection and cleaning licensing and certification act. Requires entities inspecting or cleaning commercial exhaust systems to be licensed and insured.
Became lawSigned by Governor · 2026-06-18
Exempts an individual in foster or adoptive homes from the fee associated with drivers education classes at the community college of Rhode Island.
In plain English Exempts individuals in foster or adoptive homes from paying fees for driver education classes at the Community College of Rhode Island.
Official synopsis: MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES — OPERATORS' AND CHAUFFEURS' LICENSES – Exempts an individual in foster or adoptive homes from the fee associated with drivers education classes at the community college of Rhode Island.
Became lawSigned by Governor · 2026-06-18
Allows electronic notifications modernize language for notifications, synchronize renewal dates for certain license-types, streamline licensing requirements across several license-types, and update the unlicensed health care practices statute.
In plain English Allows electronic notifications for barber and cosmetology licenses, synchronizes renewal dates, streamlines licensing requirements, and updates unlicensed health care practice rules.
Official synopsis: BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS — BARBERS, HAIRDRESSERS, COSMETICIANS, MANICURISTS, AND ESTHETICIANS – Allows electronic notifications modernize language for notifications, synchronize renewal dates for certain license-types, streamline licensing requirements across several license-types, and update the unlicensed health care practices statute.
Became lawSigned by Governor · 2026-06-10
Requires that before any fire fighter or police officer is eligible to receive benefits for illness or injury sustained off duty, they prove they had reasonable grounds to believe that an emergency existed that required immediate need of their assistance.
In plain English Requires firefighters and police officers to prove they had reasonable grounds to believe an emergency needed their immediate help before receiving benefits for off-duty injuries or illness.
Official synopsis: TOWNS AND CITIES — RELIEF OF INJURED AND DECEASED FIRE FIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS – Requires that before any fire fighter or police officer is eligible to receive benefits for illness or injury sustained off duty, they prove they had reasonable grounds to believe that…
Became lawSigned by Governor · 2026-06-10
Establishes a simplified exemption from state income tax for small-scale Bitcoin transactions up to $5,000 per month, or $20,000 per taxable year.
In plain English Exempts Bitcoin transactions up to $5,000 monthly or $20,000 yearly from Rhode Island state income tax.
Official synopsis: TAXATION — PERSONAL INCOME TAX – Establishes a simplified exemption from state income tax for small-scale Bitcoin transactions up to $5,000 per month, or $20,000 per taxable year.
Not out of committeeCommittee recommended measure be held for further study · 2026-06-08
Adds probation and parole officers to the list of state law enforcement professionals, for purpose of retirement on service allowance.
In plain English Allows probation and parole officers to retire on a service allowance like other state law enforcement professionals.
Official synopsis: PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES — RETIREMENT SYSTEM — CONTRIBUTIONS AND BENEFITS – Adds probation and parole officers to the list of state law enforcement professionals, for purpose of retirement on service allowance.
Not out of committeeCommittee recommended measure be held for further study · 2026-05-14
Changes retired teacher income for drivers ed classes to $25,000 per year from $15,000 per year.
In plain English Increases the annual income limit for retired teachers teaching driver education classes from $15,000 to $25,000.
Official synopsis: PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES — RETIREMENT SYSTEM — CONTRIBUTIONS AND BENEFITS – Changes retired teacher income for drivers ed classes to $25,000 per year from $15,000 per year.
Not out of committeeCommittee recommended measure be held for further study · 2026-05-14
Requires anyone engaged in the sale of goods or services, and who offers a discount to its customers’ for utilizing automatic payment systems, via ACH or EFT or similar payment systems, provide the same discount to any person who is sixty-five (65).
In plain English Requires businesses offering discounts for automatic payments to provide the same discount to customers age sixty-five and older.
Official synopsis: COMMERCIAL LAW — GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS — SENIOR SAVINGS PROTECTION ACT – Requires anyone engaged in the sale of goods or services, and who offers a discount to its customers’ for utilizing automatic payment systems, via ACH or EFT or similar payment systems, provide the…
Not out of committeeCommittee recommended measure be held for further study · 2026-04-14
Mandates arming campus police at public higher educational institutions and would include campus police in the definition of "law enforcement officer" for the purposes of the "law enforcement officers' bill of rights".
In plain English Requires campus police at public colleges to carry firearms and grants them law enforcement officer protections.
Official synopsis: EDUCATION — MAINTENANCE OF ORDER ON CAMPUS – Mandates arming campus police at public higher educational institutions and would include campus police in the definition of "law enforcement officer" for the purposes of the "law enforcement officers' bill of rights".
Not out of committeeCommittee recommended measure be held for further study · 2026-04-02
Strengthens consumer protections in insurance claims by expanding definitions of unfair claims settlement practices and clarifies an insured’s right to pursue bad-faith remedies.
COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE — PROCEDURE GENERALLY — CAUSES OF ACTION – Strengthens consumer protections in insurance claims by expanding definitions of unfair claims settlement practices and clarifies an insured’s right to pursue bad-faith remedies.
Not out of committeeCommittee recommended measure be held for further study · 2026-03-31
Strengthens consumer protections by including definitions related directly to deceptive trade practices inherent in the insurance claim process.
In plain English Adds definitions of deceptive trade practices related to the insurance claim process.
Official synopsis: COMMERCIAL LAW — GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS — DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICES – Strengthens consumer protections by including definitions related directly to deceptive trade practices inherent in the insurance claim process.
Not out of committeeCommittee recommended measure be held for further study · 2026-03-31
Strengthens consumer protections in insurance claims by improving the fairness and timeliness of arbitration and appraisal proceedings, and preventing insurers from delaying or obstructing the dispute resolution process.
In plain English Requires insurers to conduct fair and timely arbitration and appraisal proceedings without delaying or obstructing dispute resolution in insurance claims.
Official synopsis: COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURES — PROCEDURE IN PARTICULAR ACTIONS — ARBITRATION – Strengthens consumer protections in insurance claims by improving the fairness and timeliness of arbitration and appraisal proceedings, and preventing insurers from delaying or obstructing the dispute resolution process.
Not out of committeeCommittee recommended measure be held for further study · 2026-03-31
Amends Rhode Island's standard fire insurance policy by codifying uniform, transparent appraisal procedures and payment obligations that reflect contemporary claim-handling practices while preserving long-standing consumer protections.
In plain English Requires fire insurance policies to use uniform appraisal procedures and payment obligations reflecting current claim-handling practices.
Official synopsis: INSURANCE — FIRE INSURANCE POLICIES AND RESERVES – Amends Rhode Island's standard fire insurance policy by codifying uniform, transparent appraisal procedures and payment obligations that reflect contemporary claim-handling practices while preserving long-standing consumer protections.
Not out of committeeCommittee recommended measure be held for further study · 2026-03-12
Expands various definitions relative to contractors, home inspectors, and claim adjusters to provide clarity regarding licensed and unlicensed vendors, consultants, or third-party representatives.
In plain English Expands definitions of contractors, home inspectors, and claim adjusters to clarify rules for licensed and unlicensed vendors and representatives.
Official synopsis: BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS — CONTRACTORS' REGISTRATION AND LICENSING BOARD – Expands various definitions relative to contractors, home inspectors, and claim adjusters to provide clarity regarding licensed and unlicensed vendors, consultants, or third-party representatives.
Not out of committeeCommittee recommended measure be held for further study · 2026-03-10
“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.