Rhode Island

TAXATION -- SALES AND USE TAXES -- LIABILITY AND COMPUTATION - Exempts new or used bicycles and bicycle parts from sales and use taxes.

INSURANCE -- UNAUTHORIZED INSURANCE BUSINESS -- MEDICAL MALPRACTICE INSURANCE - Provides for greater oversight and regulation by the department of business regulation on medical-malpractice insurance among self-insured entities.

STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT - Provides that the department of environmental management would maintain and repair state owned or operated boat ramps and docks.

PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENT AND DEBT REDUCTION ACT OF 2011 - Effective July 1, 2026, annually allocates twenty percent (20%) of available proceeds in the Rhode Island highway maintenance account to RIPTA for operating expenses.

THE EXETER -- WEST GREENWICH SCHOOL DISTRICT - Amends chapter 80 of the public laws of 1965 with respect to the composition of the regional district school building committee, apportionment of construction and operating costs and amendments to the agreement.

HEALTH AND SAFETY -- SUICIDE PREVENTION -- VOLUNTARY FIREARM RESTRICTIONS ACT - Creates process for individual to voluntarily be either temporarily or indefinitely added to a list restricting their rights to purchase or possess firearms. Adds civil fines and misdemeanor for violations.

DOMESTIC RELATIONS -- DOMESTIC ABUSE PREVENTION - Permits the family court to award possession of household pets to the plaintiff in a domestic abuse complaint, including the enforcement remedy of a restraining order or other injunctive relief.

BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- CERTIFIED SURGICAL FIRST ASSISTANTS ACT - Allows for the licensing of certified surgical first assistants to assist in surgeries through the department of health and a 7 member board of licensure.

STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- THE RHODE ISLAND HEALTH CARE REFORM ACT OF 2004 -- HEALTH INSURANCE OVERSIGHT - Charges the office of the health insurance commissioner to incorporate uncompensated care as a formula-driven numeric adjustment in the methodology used to establish any affordability standard or rate cap, applicable to hospital contracts.

HEALTH AND SAFETY -- THE RHODE ISLAND COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM - Establishes a universal, comprehensive, affordable single-payer health care insurance program and help control health care costs, which would be referred to as, "the Rhode Island Comprehensive Health Insurance Program" (RICHIP).

CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS - Defines suitable person for purposes of concealed carry pistol permit establishes reasons and information needed for applying for the permit, an appeal process and provides that records are not public records.

INSURANCE -- FEE SCHEDULE TRANSPARENCY AND FAIR BILLING ACT - Requires that every insurer providing health coverage insurance provide every physician or physician group with a complete fee schedule seeing for the maximum allowable reimbursement for each covered service.

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION ACT - Provides that a defendant's third and subsequent violation of domestic violence offenses, including both prior felony and misdemeanor convictions, would be punishable as a felony.

CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- WEAPONS - Permits possession or use of device that muffles sound on any firearm longer than 17” in length and permits the use of such a device by any person while hunting provided that they have a valid hunting license.

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- EXPUNGEMENT OF CRIMINAL RECORDS - Allows a law enforcement agency to consider expunged records when issuing a license or permit to carry a pistol or revolver.

CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM -- 2026 BOND REFERENDA - Submits the state's 2026 capital development program relating to green bonds requesting the issuance of general obligation bonds totaling $60,000,000 for approval of the electorate at the general election to be held in November, 2026.

HUMAN SERVICES -- ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN - Expands the definition of "educational program" for purposes of the abused and neglected children general law to include charter schools, parochial schools, after school programs, camps and various other programs involving children.

BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- PHARMACIES - Strengthens enforcement of the state's pharmacy audit law by clarifying and tightening audit procedures to ensure pharmacy audits are conducted fairly and transparently.