Rhode Island

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- BAIL AND RECOGNIZANCE - Prohibits the courts from setting cash or surety bail on any misdemeanor offense but permits the court to set reasonable non-monetary conditions of bail to assure the defendant's presence in court as required and to protect the community.

INSURANCE -- LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES AND RESERVES - Prohibits the use of genetic information for purposes of determining eligibility, setting premium rates, or imposing preexisting condition exclusions for life insurance, disability insurance, or long-term care insurance.

EDUCATION -- SAFE SCHOOL TECHNOLOGY ACT OF 2026 - Establishes the Safe School Technology Act of 2026.

MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- MOTOR FUEL TAX - Sets the allocation to RIPTA at the greater of $0.1175 per gallon or 29.375% of total proceeds, with $0.005 per gallon derived from the $0.01 per gallon environmental protection fee.

COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- UNFAIR SALES PRACTICES - Requires that retailers retain money received for gift certificates in a separate account, until the gift certificate is used or redeemed.

TOWNS AND CITIES -- ZONING ORDINANCES - Permits but not directs a municipality to establish, by ordinance, certain requirements regarding accessory dwelling units regarding ownership for 5 years, non-family ADUs to be rented at affordable rates and limit size to 1,000 sq. ft.

EDUCATION -- MAINTENANCE OF ORDER ON CAMPUS - Mandates arming campus police at public higher educational institutions and would include campus police in the definition of "law enforcement officer" for the purposes of the "law enforcement officers' bill of rights".

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- EXPUNGEMENT OF CRIMINAL RECORDS - Reduces the time for expungements to 3 years for a single misdemeanor and 5 years for felonies and multiple misdemeanors.

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- ELECTRONIC INFORMATION AND DATA PRIVACY ACT - Requires law enforcement agencies to obtain search warrants for electronic information, data, location information and other identifying information of subscribers and customers, except in specified circumstances.

CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- THREATS AND EXTORTION - Adds school superintendents, central office officials, school principals, and all other school employees, to the definition of a “public official” for purposes of the criminal prohibition against making threats to public officials.

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- EXPUNGEMENT OF CRIMINAL RECORDS -- THE RHODE ISLAND CLEAN SLATE ACT - Authorizes the automatic expungement of eligible conviction records by operation of law, initiated and completed by state agencies through electronic processes established within the judicial system.

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- EXPUNGEMENT OF CRIMINAL RECORDS - Makes persons convicted of petty misdemeanors eligible to have their records expunged one year after imposition of their sentence.

BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- CONFIDENTIALITY OF HEALTHCARE COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION ACT - Allows patients to authorize providers to email medical notes or records, requires written consent acknowledging risks, and ensures compliance with HIPAA while expanding delivery options beyond fax or in-person pickup.

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- BAIL AND RECOGNIZANCE - Creates a 10 member bail task force to study the need of monetary conditions of bail and to consider other methods for ensuring an accused’s appearance in court, enhance public safety and honor the presumption of innocence and to file report by 1/1/2028.

INSURANCE -- HEALTHCARE ACCESSIBILITY AND QUALITY ASSURANCE ACT - Prohibits unilateral modification of healthcare provider contracts.

PROPERTY -- CONDOMINIUM LAW - Requires condominium associations to charge a reduced fee to update a condominium resale certificate after issuance of the initial certificate.

HEALTH AND SAFETY -- VEHICLE BARRIERS -- THE CHARLOTTE A. VACCA ACT - Requires commercial property owners to install vehicle barriers at their retail establishment locations as part of any new construction.

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- SEARCH WARRANTS - Dictates the length a search warrant involving a tracking device would be valid and provide a process to extend the time frame of the tracking device for good cause.

Allows eligible individuals serving sentences of imprisonment to seek sentence reductions from the superior court, individuals serving life without parole or minimum mandatory sentences pursuant to law, would not be eligible for such relief.

INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES - Requires that any private short-term disability insurance (STDI) carrier that bids to provide coverage to Rhode Island state employees must cover all eligible employees, regardless of age.

TOWNS AND CITIES -- LOW AND MODERATE INCOME HOUSING -- PROCEDURE FOR APPROVAL OF CONSTRUCTION - Restores the requirement that a local review board issue findings for denial in reviewing a comprehensive permit request and clarifies that affordable housing units shall be included in each town and city when the building permits for units are granted.