Rhode Island

COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- FEES - Establishes a set service rate of seventy dollars ($70.00) for the service of all writs, citations or subpoenas.

PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- DUTIES OF UTILITIES AND CARRIERS - Requires all public utilities to maintain a customer service facility within the state to perform services such as addressing customer inquiries and accepting bill payments.

TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION - Exempts from taxation the real and tangible personal property of Community MusicWorks located in the city of Providence.

TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION - Exempts from taxation the real and tangible personal property of Blithewold, Inc., located at 101 Ferry Road, Bristol, Rhode Island.

PROPERTY -- MAINTENANCE OF PRIVATE EASEMENTS AND RIGHTS-OF-WAY - Repeals certain provisions of the law regarding maintenance of private easements and rights of way.

TOWNS AND CITIES -- DAM MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS - Exempts property that consists of the lake bed and Wilson’s Reservoir in the town of Burrillville from taxes.

Amends a public law regarding the fixing of time for the election of officers at the town of Scituate’s annual financial town meeting.

COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- LIBRARY EBOOK CONTRACTS - Establishes enforcement limitations on contract terms for the licensing of electronic books or digital audiobooks to libraries to preclude the library from being subject to unfair sales practices.

PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- THERMAL ENERGY NETWORK AND JOBS ACT - Establishes the thermal energy network & jobs act facilitating study of the technology to determine if goals can be met by implementing thermal energy networks in Rhode Island/creates a task force of interested parties to be an advisory committee.

Amends a public law regarding the fixing of time for the election of officers in the town of Scituate by requiring prior notice and posting of motions to be made from the floor at the annual financial town meeting of the town of Scituate.

TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION - Exempts from taxation the real and tangible personal property of Blithewold, Inc., located at 101 Ferry Road, Bristol, Rhode Island. Effective retroactively to 12/31/2025.

PROPERTY -- ABANDONED PROPERTY - Amends chapter 44 of title 34 to establish energy storage systems on certain lands consistent with a municipality's comprehensive plan.

TAXATION-PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION -- GLOCESTER -- EXEMPTION OF ELDERLY AND DISABLED PERSONS - Amends the current statute governing exemptions from property taxes for elderly and the disabled in the town of Glocester.

TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION - Exempts from taxation the real and tangible personal property of AS220 located in the city of Providence. Effective retroactively to December 31, 2025 and affects next levy issued by the city or town where property is located.

TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES - Allows the town of Tiverton to apply different tax rates to all classes of property.

PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- THERMAL ENERGY NETWORK AND JOBS ACT - Facilitates the study of thermal energy technology to determine if these goals can be met by the implementation of thermal energy networks in Rhode Island.

MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- RIGHT-OF-WAY - Amends the general law relative to right-of-way of pedestrians to reference the schedule of violations for the adjudication of traffic offenses contained in § 31.41.1-4.

PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- DUTIES OF UTILITIES AND CARRIERS - Requires all public utilities to maintain a customer service facility within the state to perform services such as addressing customer inquiries and accepting bill payments.

TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION - Exempts from taxation the real and tangible personal property of Blackstone Valley Advocacy Center located in the city of Pawtucket. Effective retroactively to December 31, 2025 and affects next levy issued by the city or town where property is located.

COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE IN PARTICULAR ACTION -- SMALL CLAIMS AND CONSUMER CLAIMS - Simplifies the assessment of filing fees required to appeal from small claims and consumer matters adjudicated by the district court.

COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE IN PARTICULAR ACTION -- SMALL CLAIMS AND CONSUMER CLAIMS - Simplifies the assessment of filing fees required to appeal from small claims and consumer matters adjudicated by the district court.

TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION - Exempts from taxation the real and tangible personal property of Community MusicWorks located in the city of Providence.