Scored 7/10 on whether it helps or hurts everyday people.
The Phone Surcharge Bill
New phone surcharge would fund suicide prevention hotline
Establishes a fund and the operations necessary for a hotline for suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis management. Also instates a monthly surcharge on telephone lines to fund the 988 call center.
Good for everyday people ·
If passed, the bill would add a small monthly charge to phone bills to pay for a 988 suicide‑prevention call center.
Our take
What we think, in plain words.
Citizens could see a tiny increase on their phone bill, but the money would keep a life‑saving hotline running, helping people in crisis.
Take action
Add your name. At 100 signatures we compile this petition and deliver it to the office — and every signer gets a message to send their own representatives.
0 of 100 in‑district signatures
Step 1 · Pick your position
Step 2 · Add your name
Sign in to oppose this billPicking a side above doesn't sign anything yet — a free account records your name on the petition and keeps it one signature per person. We'll bring you straight back here with your choice saved.
The facts
What the bill actually says, no spin.
- The bill creates a fund for a suicide‑prevention hotline.
- It requires a monthly surcharge on telephone lines to finance the fund.
- The surcharge would apply to all telephone service customers in Rhode Island.
In the news
Scanning the news for this bill…
Headlines gathered from across the news, starting points to explore, not endorsements. Always read the official text before acting.
Sources
Read it yourself: the official bill and records.
This bill is in the Rhode Island Bill Book 2026
The best and worst Rhode Island bills of 2026, one page each — our take on the left, the bill on the right, and room for your notes. No email needed.
Get the free PDF →