Their bills, from filing to law
Bills Val Lawson 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.
Introduced24
Out of committee21
Passed one chamber21
Passed both chambers19
Became law19
Never left committee3
For comparison, the median Democratic member of the Senate has 10.5 bills that became law this session.
What their bills are about
Labor And Labor Relations 2LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS — RESTRICTIONS ON SELF-SERVICE CHECKOUT STATIONS ACT 1Taxation 1TAXATION — FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYER SAVINGS ACCOUNT ACT 1Motor And Other Vehicles 1MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES — REGISTRATION FEES 1
Expands guaranteed issue rights for Medigap plan enrollees who enroll outside of a plan’s initial enrollment period.
In plain English Expands guaranteed issue rights for people enrolling in Medigap plans outside their initial enrollment period.
Official synopsis: INSURANCE — MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT INSURANCE POLICIES – Expands guaranteed issue rights for Medigap plan enrollees who enroll outside of a plan’s initial enrollment period.
Became lawSigned by Governor · 2026-06-22
Establishes a statewide mobile response and stabilization services program to provide rapid crisis response and short-term stabilization for children and youth in their natural environments.
In plain English Establishes a statewide mobile response program to provide rapid crisis response and short-term stabilization for children and youth in their communities.
Official synopsis: STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT — CHILDREN'S MOBILE RESPONSE AND STABILIZATION SERVICES – Establishes a statewide mobile response and stabilization services program to provide rapid crisis response and short-term stabilization for children and youth in their natural environments.
Became lawSigned by Governor · 2026-06-22
Includes veterans 75 years or older with a combined service connected disability rating of 70% as eligible for disabled veterans license plates.
In plain English Allows veterans age 75 or older with a 70% service-connected disability rating to get disabled veterans license plates.
Official synopsis: MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES — REGISTRATION FEES – Includes veterans 75 years or older with a combined service connected disability rating of 70% as eligible for disabled veterans license plates.
Became lawSigned by Governor · 2026-06-19
Places limits on the number of self-service checkout stations a grocery store can have and on the workload of employees assigned to monitor those checkout stations.
In plain English Limits the number of self-service checkout stations grocery stores can have and restricts how many stations employees must monitor.
Official synopsis: LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS — RESTRICTIONS ON SELF-SERVICE CHECKOUT STATIONS ACT – Places limits on the number of self-service checkout stations a grocery store can have and on the workload of employees assigned to monitor those checkout stations.
Became lawSigned by Governor · 2026-06-18
Establishes the criminal offense of real estate title fraud and allows municipalities to refuse to record “suspicious documents” from persons who are not trusted submitters and creates penalties for real estate title fraud.
In plain English Establishes the crime of real estate title fraud, allows municipalities to refuse recording suspicious documents from untrusted submitters, and sets penalties.
Official synopsis: CRIMINAL OFFENSES — FRAUD AND FALSE DEALING – Establishes the criminal offense of real estate title fraud and allows municipalities to refuse to record “suspicious documents” from persons who are not trusted submitters and creates penalties for real estate title fraud.
Became lawSigned by Governor · 2026-06-10
Ends transaction fees for school lunches in all districts. This act requires at least one no-fee payment method for school lunches and a full disclosure whether fees will be charged by a payment platform.
In plain English Requires school districts to offer at least one free payment method for school lunches and disclose any fees charged by payment platforms.
Official synopsis: EDUCATION — FEDERAL AID – Ends transaction fees for school lunches in all districts. This act requires at least one no-fee payment method for school lunches and a full disclosure whether fees will be charged by a payment platform.
Became lawSigned by Governor · 2026-06-10
JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $4,800,000 TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) EAT WELL, BE WELL REWARDS PROGRAM (This resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of $4,800,000 to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Eat Well, Be Well Rewards Program.)
Passed one chamberReferred to House Finance · 2026-06-04
Expands the benefit definitions of temporary care giver leave to include a grandchild and care recipient and would increase a leave benefits period to 10 weeks for 2027 and twelve 12 weeks for 2028.
In plain English Expands temporary caregiver leave to include grandchildren and care recipients, increasing leave to 10 weeks in 2027 and 12 weeks in 2028.
Official synopsis: LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS — TEMPORARY DISABILITY INSURANCE — GENERAL PROVISIONS – Expands the benefit definitions of temporary care giver leave to include a grandchild and care recipient and would increase a leave benefits period to 10 weeks for 2027 and twelve 12 weeks for…
Passed one chamberReferred to House Labor · 2026-05-29
SENATE RESOLUTION CELEBRATING "NATIONAL HOSPITAL WEEK" ON MAY 10-16, 2026, IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
Became lawSenate read and passed · 2026-05-14
SENATE RESOLUTION EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF ARTHUR PAIVA
Became lawSenate read and passed · 2026-05-07
Allows an individual, who is a first-time homebuyer, to contribute funds to a first-time homebuyer savings account with Rhode Island housing to pay for eligible costs to purchase a home and receive tax deductions and exemptions.
In plain English Allows first-time homebuyers to contribute to a savings account for home purchase costs and receive tax deductions.
Official synopsis: TAXATION — FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYER SAVINGS ACCOUNT ACT – Allows an individual, who is a first-time homebuyer, to contribute funds to a first-time homebuyer savings account with Rhode Island housing to pay for eligible costs to purchase a home and receive tax deductions and exemptions.
Not out of committeeCommittee recommended measure be held for further study · 2026-05-07
SENATE RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING MAY 4, 2026, AS RHODE ISLAND INDEPENDENCE DAY AND THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S HISTORIC ACT OF RENUNCIATION
Became lawSenate read and passed · 2026-04-30
SENATE RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING SANDRA BERUBE ON HER RETIREMENT AFTER 33 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND THE RHODE ISLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY AS A SENIOR STAFF MEMBER WITH THE RHODE ISLAND STATE SENATE
Became lawSenate read and passed · 2026-04-16
SENATE RESOLUTION HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF BASEBALL ICON DAVEY LOPES AND EXPRESSING SYMPATHY ON HIS PASSING
Became lawSenate read and passed · 2026-04-16
SENATE RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE VALIANT INTERVENTION EFFORTS OF SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE JOSEPH J. MCBURNEY AND HEAD OF SECURITY, DANA SMITH ON BEHALF OF HIS COURT INTERN WHO WAS WRONGFULLY IDENTIFIED AND TARGETED BY IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT (ICE) AGENTS
Became lawSenate read and passed · 2026-04-07
“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.