Rhode Island

HEALTH AND SAFETY -- PESTICIDE CONTROL - Creates rodent integrated pest management pilot programs for municipalities that choose to participate. Reports to be approved by the municipality's mayor or administrator and submitted to the department of environmental management.

TOWNS AND CITIES -- LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSING - Amends the current law on low-income housing to include moderate-income housing and eliminates the income percentages used to determine qualifications for low or moderate income housing.

MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- OPERATORS' AND CHAUFFEURS' LICENSES - Exempts an individual in foster or adoptive homes from the fee associated with drivers education classes at the community college of Rhode Island.

HEALTH AND SAFETY -- THE HOSPITAL CONVERSIONS ACT - Hospital Conversions act amended to authorize AG and DOH to permit expedited review application for hospital insolvency proceedings. Sunsets in one year.

PROPERTY -- RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT - Requires owners or landlords who rent shoreline property to provide their tenants, before the start of the tenancy, with a detailed, written disclosure regarding public shoreline access rights.

PROPERTY -- RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT -- RHODE ISLAND SURVIVOR EARLY LEASE TERMINATION ACT - Grants tenants that are the victim of various forms of abuse including, but not limited to, sexual and domestic abuse and stalking, the right to terminate a lease agreement early without penalty or liability for rent. Effective 7/1/26.

ELECTIONS -- PRIMARIES FOR ELECTION OF DELEGATES TO NATIONAL CONVENTIONS AND FOR PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE - Changes the date for the election of delegates to the conventions from the fourth Tuesday in April to the first Tuesday in March 2028.

HEALTH AND SAFETY -- COMMERCIAL KITCHEN EXHAUST SYSTEM INSPECTION AND CLEANING, LICENSING AND CERTIFICATION ACT - Establishes the commercial kitchen exhaust system inspection and cleaning licensing and certification act. Requires entities inspecting or cleaning commercial exhaust systems to be licensed and insured.

BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- FACILITATING BUSINESS RAPID RESPONSE TO STATE DECLARED DISASTER ACT OF 2024 - Incorporates cable, broadband, Internet, and wireless means into the crime of injuring electric and communication lines and authorizes municipalities to grant zoning relief for the protection of critical infrastructure.

PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES -- RETIREMENT SYSTEM -- CONTRIBUTIONS AND BENEFITS - Allows a police officer to be reemployed by a state agency or department for purposes of working a state-funded detail subject to certain restrictions.

PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- OPERATION OF RAILROADS GENERALLY - Provides that no train or light engine used in connection with the movement of freight be operated unless it had a crew consisting of at least 2 persons and includes the imposition of fines upon a company, individual or business for violations.

PROPERTY -- ESTATES IN REAL PROPERTY - Prohibits restrictive covenants related to grocery stores.

EDUCATION -- COUNCIL ON POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION - Provides any student, who meets the requirements of this section, with an exemption from paying nonresident tuition at Rhode Island public universities, colleges, or community colleges.

PROPERTY -- RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT - Requires owners or landlords who rent shoreline property to provide their tenants, before the start of the tenancy, with a detailed, written disclosure regarding public shoreline access rights.

HEALTH AND SAFETY -- FOOD-AS-MEDICINE PILOT PROGRAM - Establishes a food as medicine pilot program and task force to be administered by the executive office of health and human services.

PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS -- STATE PURCHASES - Defines public-private partnerships and provides the framework to encourage the use of public-private partnerships for proposals for state purchases.

BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- NURSES - Provides and clarify procedures for the administration of deep sedation and general anesthesia by certain types of nurses.

HEALTH AND SAFETY -- PESTICIDE CONTROL - Creates rodent integrated pest management pilot programs for municipalities that choose to participate. Reports to be approved by the municipality's mayor or administrator and submitted to the department of environmental management.

CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS - Requires shooting ranges to post signs in any area in which shooting occurs that contain the following language: “WARNING: If you or a loved one is experiencing distress and/or depression, call the 988 Suicide and Crisis hotline or text “HOME” to 741741”.

PROPERTY -- ESTATES IN REAL PROPERTY - Prohibits restrictive covenants related to grocery stores.

EDUCATION -- HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS - Directs the state department of education to establish an anti-hazing policy in student athletics.

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.

PROPERTY -- RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT -- RHODE ISLAND SURVIVOR EARLY LEASE TERMINATION ACT - Grants tenants that are the victim of various forms of abuse including, but not limited to, sexual and domestic abuse and stalking, the right to terminate a lease agreement early without penalty or liability for rent. Effective 7/1/26.

CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- DISARMING A PEACE OFFICER - Makes it a felony for any person to remove or attempt to remove any firearm or other weapon or any communication device from any peace officer or investigator of the department of attorney general.

CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS - Requires shooting ranges to post signs in any area in which shooting occurs that contain the following language: “WARNING: If you or a loved one is experiencing distress and/or depression, call the 988 Suicide and Crisis hotline or text “HOME” to 741741”.