Rhode Island

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- IDENTIFICATION AND APPREHENSION OF CRIMINALS - Administratively seals, upon request of the defendant following the conclusion of the matter in district court, individual counts of any criminal complaints dismissed pursuant to Rule 48(a) that were filed on or after October 1, 2026.

BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- CONFIDENTIALITY OF HEALTH CARE COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION ACT - Provides conditions under which BHDDH has the authority to compel certain healthcare providers to finish requested healthcare records without violating The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.

ELECTIONS -- NOMINATION OF PARTY AND INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES - Amends several statutes relating to elections and the dates for primaries and dates within which to file nomination papers and object to nomination papers.

CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- IDENTITY THEFT PROTECTION ACT OF 2015 - Amends the Identity Theft Protection Act by eliminating current definitions and establishing new definitions. This act also raises the penalty provisions for violations.

CORPORATIONS, ASSOCIATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS -- RHODE ISLAND BUSINESS CORPORATION ACT -- THE RHODE ISLAND BUSINESS CLIMATE REFORM ACT - Establishes the Rhode Island Business Climate Reform Act.

HEALTH AND SAFETY -- RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS-VEHICLE SAFETY BARRIERS - Requires commercial property owners to install vehicle barriers at their retail establishments when new construction or renovations are being done and permits insurers to consider the installation to provide a discount on the owner's insurance policy.

EDUCATION -- REGIONAL VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS - Provides for better communication between sending and receiving districts regarding students receiving CTE or pathways education.

PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION - Requires the public utilities commission to provide for a classification of service for retail electricity consumers that are large energy use facilities.

PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS -- THE GREEN BUILDINGS ACT - Creates the green buildings act commission to consist of 17 members, responsible for the implementation of the green buildings act.

TOWNS AND CITIES -- COUNCILS AND GOVERNING BODIES - Requires a corporation created under this statute to be regulated by the Rhode Island department of business regulation.

COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- EVIDENCE - Provides that evidence of life or work expectancy be based on statistical data using blended statistics and provides a chart with "completed age" and "expectation" which shall be used by courts as evidence and not be based on race, ethnicity or sex.

ELECTIONS -- REGISTRATION OF VOTERS - Allows automatic voter registration for Rhode Islanders applying for hunting and fishing licenses.

EDUCATION -- THE SAVE RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL LIBRARIES ACT - Creates the Save Rhode Island School Libraries Act.

ELECTIONS -- GENERAL PROVISIONS - Allows citizens of a city or town who are at least sixteen (16) years of age to register to vote and to vote in school committee elections in municipalities where school committees are elected entities.

EDUCATION -- ESTABLISHMENT OF CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS - Requires all certified independent or district charter schools upon application for a renewal of said charter or an application for a new charter school to provide a union neutrality clause in the charter.

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- BAIL AND RECOGNIZANCE - Provides for release of misdemeanor arrestees without financial conditions, except for domestic violence or flight risk or obstruct of justice risk.

EDUCATION -- EDUCATION MENTORSHIP PROGRAM ACT - Requires that student mentors in public schools be certified support educators, ensuring mentors have professional training, established student relationships, and access to skills and information needed to support student success.

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.

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- SENTENCE AND EXECUTION - Requires the courts to consider the parental status of the defendant at the time of sentencing and allows the defendant to present a family impact statement, including testimony, videos and documents relative to their parental status.

CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE - Makes it a felony to file a false police report of a crime carrying a sentence of imprisonment of not less than five (5) years.

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- SENTENCE AND EXECUTION - Requires courts to presume release for most probation violations, set reasonable bail or non-monetary conditions, limit detention to cases of risk or danger, require prompt hearings, and mandate written reasons for detention.