Rhode Island

HEALTH AND SAFETY -- REHABILITATION BUILDING AND FIRE CODE FOR EXISTING BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES - Expands the Rhode Island rehabilitation and fire code to include existing one, two, and three-bedroom homes, removing their current exclusion and promoting the continued use and reuse of existing residential buildings.

BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- PHARMACEUTICAL COST TRANSPARENCY - Directs the state board of pharmacy to annually identify up to fifteen prescription drugs with increased costs and provides the list to the attorney general to obtain reasons for the cost increases.

COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- INTERCHANGE FEE RESTRICTION ACT - Creates the interchange fee restriction act prohibiting interchange fees on sales and use tax or excise tax when payment is made with a credit or debit card.

TOWNS AND CITIES -- OPTIONAL RETIREMENT FOR MEMBERS OF POLICE FORCE AND FIREFIGHTERS - Affords an option for police and firefighters to receive retirement allowances, without reduction, who seek retirement after twenty (20) years of service, upon reaching age fifty-seven (57).

COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- PROTECTING RHODE ISLANDERS FROM COERCIVE ECONOMIC TACTICS AT GROCERY STORES - Creates a new chapter to protect Rhode Island consumers from coercive tactics at grocery stores.

CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- GAMBLING AND LOTTERIES - Allows nonprofit organizations to participate in permitted games of chance upon registering with the state police on an annual basis. The nonprofit would be exempt from any required background checks by local law enforcement.

COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICES - Prohibits any person from employing dynamic or surveillance pricing practices in the sale of goods or services to consumers in Rhode Island.

TOWNS AND CITIES -- RETIREMENT OF MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES - Provides for the re-employment of public safety retirees under certain conditions.

STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- THE BODY CAMERAS FOR CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES ACT - Requires correctional staff to wear and activate body cameras, set rules for recording and access, create an independent oversight board, mandate training and reporting, and establish a grant funded pilot program.

COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- UNFAIR SALES PRACTICES - Provides that stores offering food product discounts must provide the same discounts to in-store customers that are offered to customers using electronic digital coupons.

TOWNS AND CITIES -- OPTIONAL RETIREMENT FOR MEMBERS OF POLICE FORCE AND FIREFIGHTERS - Authorizes an annual two and one-half percent (2.5%) escalation for all active and retired police and firefighter's retirement pension allowance, compounded each year on January 1 following the year of retirement and continuing yearly, on that date.

STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- WARRANTLESS PURCHASES OF PERSONAL DATA -- THE 4TH AMENDMENT IS NOT FOR SALE ACT - Prohibits warrantless purchases of personal data in connection with any criminal, civil, or other investigatory or enforcement activity.

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READERS - Provides for municipal and state police authorities to acquire and to utilize automated license plate readers and identify what data may be collected and in what ways the data can be used.

STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- LICENSING AND MONITORING OF CHILD PLACING AGENCIES, CHILD CARING AGENCIES, FOSTER AND ADOPTIVE HOMES, AND CHILDREN'S BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAMS - Authorizes the department of children, youth and families to license mobile response and stabilization services (MRSS).

EDUCATION -- RESIDENCE OF CHILDREN FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES - Ensures any public school with available seats, after completion of the initial enrollment period for students, shall make all open seats available to other students residing within the same school district.

CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- SEXUAL OFFENDER REGISTRATION AND COMMUNITY NOTIFICATION - Makes it a felony for any person required to register as a sex offender to live within three hundred feet (300’) of a school as defined in § 11-37.1-2.

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- RETAIL LICENSES - Repeals § 3-7-19 which prohibits retail liquor licenses within two hundred feet (200') of schools and religious institutions.

COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- INTERCHANGE FEES - Prohibits the charging of interchange fees on taxes and gratuities.

EDUCATION -- MAINTENANCE OF ORDER ON CAMPUS - Mandates arming campus police at public higher educational institutions and includes campus police in the definition of "law enforcement officer" for the purposes of the "Law Enforcement Officers' Bill of Rights."

FOOD AND DRUGS -- CONSUMER-PROVIDED TAKEOUT CONTAINERS - Permits eating and drinking establishments to accept consumer-provided containers to fill or refill with takeout food or beverages.

STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT - Requires the corrections director to adopt body camera policies by January 1, 2027, after stakeholder consultation, setting standards for activation, recording, access, retention, notice, and training,

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- ARREST - Expands the definition of peace officers to include juvenile program workers and shift coordinators at the department of youth, children and families.