Rhode Island

STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- ENERGY FACILITY SITING ACT - Removes clean coal as a renewable fuel given priority as an energy generation project.

COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- THIRD-PARTY LITIGATION FINANCING CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT - Provides for "litigation financing" regulation by DBR.

HEALTH AND SAFETY -- THE PERSONAL HYGIENE PRODUCT SAFETY AND TOXIC METAL REMOVAL ACT OF 2026 - Sets a clear and enforceable standard for reducing the presence of harmful metals in personal care products, prioritizing public health through testing, labeling, and the development of safer alternatives.

COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- FEES - Establishes a set rate of seventy dollars ($70.00) for certain writs, citations or subpoenas.

STATUTES AND STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION -- EFFECT OF GENERAL LAWS - Directs the office of law revision to identify, on a yearly basis, any decisions or holding of the United States Supreme Court that would require amendments to any state statutes.

TOWNS AND CITIES -- ACTIONS BY AND AGAINST TOWNS - Limits the recovery for personal injuries actions against any town to $3,000 retroactive to all causes of action arising after January 1, 2026, and prohibits the use of subsequent remedial measures in roadway/highway defect cases.

COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- GOVERNMENTAL TORT LIABILITY - Caps damages at $100,000 in tort actions against Rhode Island, cities, towns, or fire districts, except for willful misconduct or extreme recklessness. It also exempts them from § 9-21-10.

INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES -- THE MATTHEW FEDERICO DIABETIC SAFETY ACT - Requires health plans that provide prescription benefits to cover at least one type of glucagon auto-injector, nasal spray, or formulation that does not require reconstitution to treat hypoglycemia. No copayment or deductible would be required.

ELECTIONS -- MAIL BALLOTS - Requires mail ballots applications to include the RI driving license or state identification number, if unexpired or expired no more than 6 months prior to the election, or the last four digits of the voter’s Soc Sec number.

COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- PRICE GOUGING OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS PROHIBITED - Makes it a felony to price gouge prescriptions or pharmaceuticals in time of a shortage.

CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- GAMBLING AND LOTTERIES - Allows social gaming in private residences and in public taverns or private clubs as long as the gambling is incidental to a bona fide social relationship between the participants and no person other than the participants receive anything of value.

MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE -- BURIAL OF VETERANS - Provides that certain Hmong or Lao veterans who served honorably in military operations in support of the United States as special guerrilla units be granted burial rights at the Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery.

FOOD AND DRUGS -- RHODE ISLAND FOOD, DRUGS, AND COSMETICS ACT - Requires that all cosmetics manufactured, sold, delivered, held or offered for sale contain a label that completely and accurately list all of their component ingredients.

TOWNS AND CITIES -- ACTIONS BY AND AGAINST TOWNS - Exempts recovery claims for damages due to a town's neglect in maintaining highways or bridges from the provisions of chapter 31 of title 9 on governmental tort liability.

PROBATE PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE -- COLLECTION AND MANAGEMENT OF DECEDENT'S ESTATES - Allows a duly authorized administrator or executor of an estate to request decedent's funds on deposit with any financial institution without cost.

INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES - Caps amount payable for 30 day supply of equipment/supplies for insulin administration/glucose monitoring at $25 or equipment designed to last more than 30 days with no deductible commencing January 1, 2027.

COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- JUDGMENTS, ORDERS, AND DECREES - Amends calculations of interest in civil actions a rate determined by average accepted auction price for last auction of 52 week U.S. treasury bills.