Exempts from the sales tax firearm safety equipment, storage devices, gun safes, gun cabinets, gun vaults, gun cases, strong boxes, cable locks, trigger locks and biometric locks.
In plain English Exempts firearm safety equipment and storage devices from sales tax.
Official synopsis: TAXATION — SALES AND USE TAXES — LIABILITY AND COMPUTATION – Exempts from the sales tax firearm safety equipment, storage devices, gun safes, gun cabinets, gun vaults, gun cases, strong boxes, cable locks, trigger locks and biometric locks.
Passed one chamberSenate read and passed · 2026-06-09
Phases out the local meals and beverage tax by January 1, 2030.
In plain English Phases out the local meals and beverage tax by January 1, 2030.
Official synopsis: TAXATION — SALES AND USE TAXES — LIABILITY AND COMPUTATION – Phases out the local meals and beverage tax by January 1, 2030.
Not out of committeeCommittee recommended measure be held for further study · 2026-05-28
Requires the auditor general to conduct performance audits of all state agencies.
In plain English Requires the auditor general to conduct performance audits of all state agencies.
Official synopsis: GENERAL ASSEMBLY — AUDITOR GENERAL – Requires the auditor general to conduct performance audits of all state agencies.
Not out of committeeCommittee recommended measure be held for further study · 2026-05-21
Establishes the first-time home buyer savings program act. Allows modifications to federal adjusted gross income for $50,000 in contributions and $150,000 of interest and dividends included in federal adjusted gross income.
PROPERTY — FIRST-TIME HOME BUYER SAVINGS PROGRAM ACT – Establishes the first-time home buyer savings program act. Allows modifications to federal adjusted gross income for $50,000 in contributions and $150,000 of interest and dividends included in federal adjusted gross income.
Not out of committeeCommittee recommended measure be held for further study · 2026-05-07
Establishes a revolving fund to assist first-time home buyers and veterans to purchase a home in Rhode Island by issuing grants of up to forty thousand dollars ($40,000).
In plain English Establishes a revolving fund to issue grants of up to $40,000 to first-time home buyers and veterans purchasing homes in Rhode Island.
Official synopsis: STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT — RHODE ISLAND HOUSING AND MORTGAGE FINANCE CORPORATION – Establishes a revolving fund to assist first-time home buyers and veterans to purchase a home in Rhode Island by issuing grants of up to forty thousand dollars ($40,000).
Not out of committeeCommittee recommended measure be held for further study · 2026-05-07
Increase the net taxable estate exemption to $3,600,000 on January 1, 2027. This act would also increase the exemption by $1,000,000 on January 1, 2028 and every year thereafter until this section and the tax would sunset and expire on January 1, 2033
In plain English Increases the estate tax exemption to $3.6 million starting in 2027, then by $1 million annually until the tax expires in 2033.
Official synopsis: TAXATION — ESTATE AND TRANSFER TAXES — LIABILITY AND COMPUTATION – Increase the net taxable estate exemption to $3,600,000 on January 1, 2027. This act would also increase the exemption by $1,000,000 on January 1, 2028 and every year thereafter until this section and the…
Not out of committeeCommittee recommended measure be held for further study · 2026-04-30
Requires the PUC to make public notification of any changes in eligibility or production of energy, and would direct the commission to promulgate rules and regulations to allow and facilitate the prompt public disclosure of this information.
In plain English Requires the Public Utilities Commission to publicly notify of changes in renewable energy eligibility or production and create rules for prompt disclosure.
Official synopsis: PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS — RENEWABLE ENERGY STANDARD – Requires the PUC to make public notification of any changes in eligibility or production of energy, and would direct the commission to promulgate rules and regulations to allow and facilitate the prompt public disclosure of this…
Not out of committeeCommittee recommended measure be held for further study · 2026-04-28
Makes a violation using the passing lane on limited access highways when not passing another vehicle.
In plain English Prohibits drivers from using the passing lane on limited access highways except when actively passing another vehicle.
Official synopsis: MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES — PASSING, USE OF LANES, AND RULES OF THE ROAD – Makes a violation using the passing lane on limited access highways when not passing another vehicle.
Not out of committeeCommittee recommended measure be held for further study · 2026-04-09
Repeals daylight savings time in the state and follow the “United States Standard Eastern Time” as provided by an exemption from the advancement of time as provide by the federal Uniform Time Ac of 1966, 15 U.S.C. § 260(a).
In plain English Repeals daylight savings time in Rhode Island and keeps the state on standard Eastern Time year-round.
Official synopsis: STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT — STANDARD AND DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME – Repeals daylight savings time in the state and follow the “United States Standard Eastern Time” as provided by an exemption from the advancement of time as provide by the federal Uniform Time Ac of…
Not out of committeeCommittee recommended measure be held for further study · 2026-04-08
SENATE RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND HONORING THE COURAGE, HEROISM, AND COMPASSION OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO RENDERED AID DURING THE LYNCH ARENA SHOOTING IN PAWTUCKET
Became lawSenate read and passed · 2026-03-31
Requires the director of the Rhode Island emergency management agency and the Rhode Island commerce commission to develop and implement a plan to assist businesses in obtaining flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance program.
In plain English Requires the emergency management director and commerce commission to develop a plan helping businesses get flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance program.
Official synopsis: MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE — EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT – Requires the director of the Rhode Island emergency management agency and the Rhode Island commerce commission to develop and implement a plan to assist businesses in obtaining flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance program.
Not out of committeeCommittee recommended measure be held for further study · 2026-03-31
Expands the duties of the small business ombudsman, by also having the ombudsman serve as the Rhode Island commerce corporation's small business advocate.
In plain English Expands the small business ombudsman's duties to include serving as the Rhode Island commerce corporation's small business advocate.
Official synopsis: STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT — SMALL BUSINESS REGULATORY FAIRNESS IN ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES – Expands the duties of the small business ombudsman, by also having the ombudsman serve as the Rhode Island commerce corporation's small business advocate.
Not out of committeeCommittee recommended measure be held for further study · 2026-03-10
Creates the joint committee of the repealer for a term of six (6) years to compile suggestions for repeal of certain statutes, regulations, and executive orders.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY — JOINT COMMITTEE OF THE REPEALER – Creates the joint committee of the repealer for a term of six (6) years to compile suggestions for repeal of certain statutes, regulations, and executive orders.
Not out of committeeIntroduced, referred to Senate Judiciary · 2026-02-27
Creates a state-run pilot program in Rhode Island that provides paid, low-barrier employment to individuals experiencing homelessness for community beautification and cleanup projects while connecting participants to supportive services.
HUMAN SERVICES — HOMELESSNESS EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM – Creates a state-run pilot program in Rhode Island that provides paid, low-barrier employment to individuals experiencing homelessness for community beautification and cleanup projects while connecting participants to supportive services.
Not out of committeeIntroduced, referred to Senate Labor and Gaming · 2026-02-13
Permits students at failing schools to enroll in any public school and also established the Rhode Island education revitalization fund to provide funding to the school choice program.
EDUCATION — FAILING SCHOOL CHOICE ACT – Permits students at failing schools to enroll in any public school and also established the Rhode Island education revitalization fund to provide funding to the school choice program.
Not out of committeeIntroduced, referred to Senate Education · 2026-02-06
“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.