Rhode Island

TAXATION -- PERSONAL INCOME TAX - Allows a modification to federal adjusted gross income of $25,000 of social security income for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.

EDUCATION -- CERTIFICATION OF TEACHERS - Extends teacher certifications without fee or penalty for three (3) or five (5) years for teachers who hold certifications as of July 1, 2026.

HUMAN SERVICES -- CERTIFICATION OF CHILDCARE AND YOUTH-SERVING WORKERS AND OPERATORS - Commencing July 1, 2026, this act eliminates the provision of this section that requires new applicants for employment under this section to pay the expense for their criminal background checks.

INSURANCE -- LIABILITY INSURANCE -- UNINSURED MOTORIST COVERAGE - Adds property damage to statutory underinsured motor coverage, rather than just uninsured motorist coverage, as it is presently.

HEALTH AND SAFETY -- BORN-ALIVE INFANT PROTECTION ACT - Provides equal Medicare for infants born-alive as a result of abortion procedure/natural delivery with violations subject to criminal penalties for medical personnel/loss of license/civil action for damages.

ELECTIONS -- MAIL BALLOTS - Requires verification of an applicant's date of birth and either a Rhode Island driver's license number or state identification number on all applications seeking mail ballots and emergency mail ballots.

TAXATION -- WEALTH TAX - Imposes a wealth tax on Rhode Island individuals and entities at a rate of one percent (1%) of worldwide wealth.

MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- ADJUDICATION OF TRAFFIC OFFENSES - Prohibits the state, municipalities, or courts from attempting to collect any motor vehicle violation fines or costs, after more than seven (7) years of the fine becoming final.

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.

STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- RECOGNITION OF NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES - Provides a procedure for a Native American tribe to petition the state for recognition.

CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- CHILDREN - Criminalizes the knowing and intentional failure of a physician, nurse, or other licensed medical person to provide reasonable medical care and treatment to an infant born alive as a felony.

HEALTH AND SAFETY -- MEDICAL ETHICS DEFENSE ACT - Establishes the right of healthcare providers and payers to refuse to engage in medical services that violate their conscience.

EDUCATION -- RIGHTS OF PARENTS AND GUARDIANS IN PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL INSTRUCTION ACT - Enables parents to review public school learning materials/object if the parent decides that the material is harmful. Also a parent may withdraw their student from the activity or class where the material is used and request an alternative assignment.

TOWNS AND CITIES -- ZONING ORDINANCES - Amends the zoning ordinances to allow the town to restrict occupancy to one unrelated person per bedroom in a dwelling, up to a five (5) bedroom unit. Units with more than five (5) bedrooms may be limited to five (5) unrelated persons per unit.

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.

LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- E-VERIFY COMPLIANCE - Establishes the E-Verify compliance program which would require all non-governmental employers within the state with 3 or more employees to apply to participate in the federal E-Verify program and to agree to participate in the program, if accepted.

STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- RECOGNITION OF NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES - Recognizes the Seaconke Wampanoag tribe as a Native American Indian tribe for the limited purpose of assisting this tribe in establishing eligibility for federal benefits and privileges.

HEALTH AND SAFETY -- PARENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS ACT - Provides for a parents' bill of rights related to the health, education and welfare of their minor children.

STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- LICENSING AND MONITORING OF CHILD PLACING AGENCIES, CHILD CARING AGENCIES, FOSTER AND ADOPTIVE HOMES, AND CHILDREN'S BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAMS - Requires all out-of-state foster care placement facilities be registered with Medicaid as a Medicaid provider.

COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- CONSUMER PROTECTION FROM INDEMNIFIED - LIABILITY-FREE) PRODUCTS ACT (Prohibits mandating indemnified products to consumers in certain circumstances.