Rhode Island

HEALTH AND SAFETY -- BUILDING BENCHMARKING AND REPORTING ACT OF 2026 - Establishes a program for the energy and water benchmarking of large buildings in Rhode Island and a standard for their energy performance.

PROPERTY -- MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE AND SALE - Allows for sending of the notice under power of sale and rights of active military servicemembers by USPS First Class Mail and/or an overnight delivery service, instead of by USPS certified mail return receipt requested.

HEALTH AND SAFETY -- BUILDING BENCHMARKING AND REPORTING ACT OF 2026 - Establishes a program for the energy and water benchmarking of large buildings in Rhode Island and a standard for their energy performance.

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

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

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.

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.

PROPERTY -- MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE AND SALE - Allows for sending of the notice under power of sale and rights of active military servicemembers by USPS First Class Mail and/or an overnight delivery service, instead of by USPS certified mail return receipt requested.

TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION - Exempts from taxation the property of the nonprofit Mount St. Rita Health Centre located in Cumberland, RI. The exemption would be effective as of December 31, 2025.

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.

PROPERTY -- ABANDONED PROPERTY - Provides that energy storage systems located on abandoned or contaminated property be permitted by right as a permitted use and not considered to have negative environmental impacts.

TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION - Exempts from taxation the property of the nonprofit Mount St. Rita Health Centre located in Cumberland, RI. The exemption would be effective as of December 31, 2025.

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.

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.

MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- MISCELLANEOUS RULES - Restores law enforcement discretion, allowing officers to issue a verbal warning when appropriate or pursue misdemeanor or felony charges in more egregious cases where a child is left unattended in a motor vehicle.

Authorizes the city of Pawtucket to issue not more than $2,500,000 general obligation bonds and notes to finance the improvement and replacement of road safety infrastructure and traffic control devices.

HEALTH AND SAFETY -- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH - Commencing January 1, 2027, mandates insurers provide health insurance coverage without cost-share requirements for vaccinations recommended by the DOH and mandates the coverage for the medical assistance program and managed care organizations.

Authorizes the city of Pawtucket to issue not more than $2,500,000 general obligation bonds and notes to finance the improvement and replacement of road safety infrastructure and traffic control devices.

HEALTH AND SAFETY -- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH - Commencing January 1, 2027, mandates insurers provide health insurance coverage without cost-share requirements for vaccinations recommended by the DOH and mandates the coverage for the medical assistance program and managed care organizations.

LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- PAYMENT OF WAGES - Eliminates prescribed timelines for hearing and determination in certain enforcement actions before the department labor and training to align with reasonable practice.

Authorizes the city of Pawtucket to issue not more than $2,000,000 general obligation bonds and notes to finance the construction, reconstruction, repair and equipping of bridges.

BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- VETERINARY PRACTICE - Authorizes veterinarians to establish a client-patient relationship through electronic means, subject to limitations and requirements such as Vet making a good faith effort to determine if care should be provided through telemedicine instead of in person.

ELECTIONS -- LOCAL CANVASSING AUTHORITIES - Requires party chairpersons to submit lists of party voters to the mayor or council president within 30 days of notice of vacancy in a municipal election office and mayor/council president are required to make a replacement nomination within 30 days.

BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- REAL ESTATE BROKERS AND SALESPERSONS - Requires any person in the business of selling, assigning or buying an equitable interest in real estate without taking legal title to such property, to be licensed as a real estate broker or salesperson and to comply with the disclosure requirements.

Authorizes the city of Pawtucket to issue not more than $2,000,000 general obligation bonds and notes to finance the design, construction, reconstruction, repair and equipping of streets and sidewalks.