Rhode Island

CORPORATIONS, ASSOCIATIONS, AND PARTNERSHIPS -- RHODE ISLAND BUSINESS CORPORATION ACT - Requires businesses that conduct business to register and maintain required filings with the secretary of state so that consumers and small businesses may readily identify responsible parties, verify good standing, and effectuate service of process.

CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- UNIFORM ACT ON PREVENTION OF AND REMEDIES FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING -- TRAFFICKING OF PERSONS AND INVOLUNTARY SERVITUDE - Provides specific language for signs to be posted at certain establishments notifying people of contact information to the national human trafficking resource center.

COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- DIGITAL ELECTRONICS RIGHT TO REPAIR ACT - Establishes a digital electronics right to repair, which allows for digital electronic equipment and parts that are sold in this state on or after January 1, 2026, to be repaired at an independent repair provider.

COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICES - Deceptive trade practice to sell vehicle used in violent crime or exposed to biohazards without notice to purchaser.

MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- TIRE EFFICIENCY STANDARDS - Establishes efficiency standards for tires intended to increase efficiency and improve emissions standards.

INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES - Amends the current law on health insurance coverage for fertility diagnostic care, standard fertility preservation services, and fertility treatment and requires coverage for any medically necessary ovulation-enhancing drugs and medical services.

COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- INTEREST AND USURY - Allows RI to opt out of the provisions of DIDMCA exempting out of state lenders from interest rate limits which apply to RI lenders. Prevents evasion of statutory interest rate limits and lending rules for loans made in RI.

MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- INSPECTION OF MOTOR VEHICLES - Charges a fee of fifteen dollars ($15.00) for each battery powered elective motor vehicle safety inspection. It would also require any vehicle, regardless of gross vehicle weight rating, to be subject to emissions inspection.

INSURANCE -- UNFAIR CLAIMS SETTLEMENT PRACTICES ACT - Amends unfair claims practices law by requiring an insurance appraisal by a licensed appraiser where damage to a motor vehicle exceeds $5,000 (from $2,500) and eliminates language that prohibits an appraisal based on photos of a damaged motor vehicle.

INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES - Mandates insurance coverage for scalp cooling treatments for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy to prevent hair loss during chemotherapy treatments.

MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- LIGHTING EQUIPMENT AND REFLECTORS - Adds vehicles owned by the Rhode Island Disaster Medical Assistance Team, Inc. to the vehicles to be equipped with flashing lights.

COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- SWIPE FEES - Prohibits the charging of swipe fees on taxes and gratuities.

BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- INTERSTATE MEDICAL LICENSURE COMPACT - Requires the state to implement the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact no later than July 1, 2026.

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 maternal health care and access.

BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- NURSE ANESTHETISTS - Expands the scope of practice for nurse anesthetists with two years’ or more experience to remove the requirement of physician supervision.

Amends the public law incorporating Western Coventry Fire District to require a referendum & affirmative vote of the fire district electors prior to any merge/consolidation of the district with any other district or with the fire department of Coventry.

HUMAN SERVICES -- MEDICAL ASSISTANCE - Requires Rhode Island Medicaid to cover services provided by licensed certified professional midwives and to collect utilization and cost data, while allowing limits consistent with Medicaid rules.

STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- 2021 ACT ON CLIMATE - Requires the governor, when presenting his proposed budget articles for each fiscal year to set forth the climate considerations that were undertaken to move the state towards the mandated goals set forth in the 2021 Act on Climate.

STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- SMALL BUSINESS REGULATORY FAIRNESS IN ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES-ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENTS - Requires agencies preparing economic impact statements for small businesses contain findings that the anticipated compliance costs of a proposed rule scale proportionally with the business size, and do not impose fixed costs that favor larger businesses.

STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- RHODE ISLAND HOUSING RESOURCES ACT OF 1998 - Allows the town of Johnston to receive a one-half (1/2) credit for affordable housing units for manufactured homes in age restricted communities in conformance with all zoning laws and/or ordinances of the town.

INSURANCE -- BENEFIT DETERMINATION AND UTILIZATION REVIEW ACT - Requires insurance companies to prove that a healthcare service or procedure is not medically necessary.