Rhode Island Bill Book

The bill would let certain business tax credits be paid back to owners, reducing the money the state gets from those businesses.

Citizens could see higher taxes or fewer services because the state would have to return money to businesses, while the businesses get a cash boost.

Pass‑through businesses

• Accountability (neutral) — No change to oversight. The bill does not alter accountability mechanisms.
• Rights & Protections (neutral) — No impact on personal rights. The proposal does not affect individual legal rights.
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — Cost shift to taxpayers. Refundable credits reduce state revenue, increasing the fiscal burden on the public.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — Standard legislative process. The bill is introduced and scheduled for hearing without special transparency measures.
• Funding Tilt (hurts) — No new funding, reduces revenue. The measure does not add funding and may lower state income.

• Official text (RI H8187)https://status.rilegislature.gov/
• LegiScan — H8187https://legiscan.com/RI/bill/H8187/2026

The bill would let data centers avoid paying property, sales and use taxes, costing the state money and shifting the burden to everyday taxpayers.

Citizens could lose tax revenue that funds schools and roads, while data center firms gain cheap operating costs; now is the time to speak up before the tax break passes.

Data Centers

• Accountability (hurts) — Reduces oversight of data center finances. Tax breaks may limit public scrutiny of company contributions
• Rights & Protections (neutral) — No direct impact on personal rights. Bill does not change individual legal protections
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — Shifts tax revenue loss to taxpayers. State collects less money for schools, roads, and services
• Process Transparency (neutral) — Bill is still in early stage. Limited public debate so far
• Funding Tilt (hurts) — Reduces state funding for public programs. Tax exemptions lower revenue that could fund public services

Pushing for it: Data Centers
Bearing the cost: Taxpayers

• Official text (RI S2346)https://status.rilegislature.gov/
• LegiScan — S2346https://legiscan.com/RI/bill/S2346/2026

The state would stop collecting a tax from electric and gas companies, which could mean higher utility bills for everyday people.

Citizens should watch this bill because losing tax revenue may force the utility companies to raise rates, costing households more money while the state loses funding for services.

Utilities

• Accountability (hurts) — Tax break reduces oversight of utilities. Companies pay less tax, less public scrutiny
• Rights & Protections (neutral) — No direct change to consumer rights. Bill does not affect legal protections
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — Cost shifts to taxpayers and ratepayers. State loses revenue, likely passed to consumers
• Process Transparency (neutral) — No new transparency measures. Bill follows normal legislative process
• Funding Tilt (hurts) — Revenue tilt away from public services. Tax suspension reduces state funding sources

• Official text (RI H7703)https://status.rilegislature.gov/
• LegiScan — H7703https://legiscan.com/RI/bill/H7703/2026

Doctors could add reasonable admin fees to patient bills, and insurers could not stop them.

The bill lets doctors charge extra fees to cover their costs, which could mean higher bills for patients but may keep doctors in practice and give them more freedom.

Physicians

• Accountability (neutral) — neutral effect on accountability. does not add oversight
• Rights & Protections (helps) — adds doctors' right to charge fees. prevents insurers from restricting reasonable fees
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — potential higher out‑of‑pocket fees. fees added to patient bills
• Process Transparency (neutral) — no new disclosure requirements. does not affect process
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — no funding changes. no money involved

• Official text (RI S2879)https://status.rilegislature.gov/
• LegiScan — S2879https://legiscan.com/RI/bill/S2879/2026

Health insurers would have to create plans that pay for a wide range of pain‑relief services beyond opioids, helping patients get needed care.

Citizens should watch this bill because it could make pain care more affordable and available, but insurers might raise premiums to cover the new costs, so public input matters now.

Everyday People

• accountability (helps) — insurers must plan. adds insurer accountability for pain coverage
• rights & protections (helps) — patient access. improves patient right to pain treatment
• who bears the cost (helps) — cost on insurers. shifts cost to insurers, not consumers
• process transparency (neutral) — early stage. bill just introduced, limited transparency
• funding tilt (neutral) — no funding. does not allocate money

• Official text (RI H7628)https://status.rilegislature.gov/
• LegiScan — H7628https://legiscan.com/RI/bill/H7628/2026

This bill would help people pay for legal costs when they join utility cases.

If this bill passes, more people could afford to speak up in important utility decisions. It's a chance to make sure everyone has a voice.

Everyday People

• Rights & Protections (helps) — Supports participation in legal processes. Helps everyday people afford legal costs.
• Accountability (neutral) — Encourages more voices in utility decisions. May lead to better decision-making.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — No major changes to transparency. Does not directly affect how decisions are made.

• Official text (RI H7890)https://status.rilegislature.gov/
• LegiScan — H7890https://legiscan.com/RI/bill/H7890/2026

This bill would set clear rules on how condo associations and owners split insurance costs and require owners to buy insurance if the association does not.

Condo insurance can be messy when a pipe bursts or a roof leaks. This bill tries to clear up who pays the deductible and who covers unpaid losses. It also makes sure units are insured and lets condo boards handle the insurance money to get repairs done. It is a practical fix to prevent fights between neighbors and their associations.

Everyday People

• Accountability (neutral) — Neutral clarification of rules. The bill sets guidelines for splitting costs but does not change basic legal duties.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Ensures units are insured. Requires owners to carry insurance if the association does not, which protects everyone's property values.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — Clarifies existing cost-sharing. Defines how deductibles and unpaid losses are divided without unfairly shifting new costs onto consumers.
• Process Transparency (helps) — Provides clear rules for handling proceeds. Allows boards to manage insurance payouts specifically to ensure repairs get done.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — No state funding involved. This is a private insurance and property matter.

• Official text (RI H7852)https://status.rilegislature.gov/
• LegiScan — H7852https://legiscan.com/RI/bill/H7852/2026

Health insurers would have to give doctors a clear list of the highest amount they can be paid for each service.

Citizens should watch this bill because it could help doctors negotiate fair pay, which may keep clinics open and keep prices stable for patients.

Physicians

• Accountability (helps) — Insurers must disclose fee schedules. Adds accountability for insurers to be transparent about payments
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Physicians gain information. Improves doctors' right to know maximum reimbursements
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — Administrative burden on insurers. Cost shift is limited to insurers, not consumers
• Process Transparency (helps) — More open pricing data. Increases transparency of insurance payment processes
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — No new funding required. Bill does not allocate or shift money

• Official text (RI H8309)https://status.rilegislature.gov/
• LegiScan — H8309https://legiscan.com/RI/bill/H8309/2026

The bill would make the health insurance commissioner study insurance rules every five years and tell the governor if they raise premiums.

If passed, the state will get regular data on how benefit rules affect costs, giving lawmakers a chance to adjust policies before premiums keep climbing.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — adds oversight. commissioner must report to top officials
• Rights & Protections (helps) — helps monitor consumer costs. analysis of premium impact
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — state bears cost. no new consumer fees
• Process Transparency (helps) — public reporting. report to officials, could be public
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — no new funding. unknown

• Official text (RI H7745)https://status.rilegislature.gov/
• LegiScan — H7745https://legiscan.com/RI/bill/H7745/2026

Insurers would have to cover buprenorphine fully, so patients would not pay any copay or deductible.

This bill could make addiction treatment more affordable for everyday people, but it may push insurance costs onto everyone through higher premiums.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Insurers must pay for medication. Increases insurer responsibility for covering treatment
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Patients get free medication. Ensures access without out‑of‑pocket cost
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — Cost shifts to insurers. Insurers may raise premiums to cover expense
• Process Transparency (neutral) — No new transparency changes. Bill does not alter reporting rules
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — No new funding. No budget changes included

• Official text (RI S2034)https://status.rilegislature.gov/
• LegiScan — S2034https://legiscan.com/RI/bill/S2034/2026

This bill would stop assisted living homes from charging rent for more than seven days after a person leaves, protecting families from unfair bills.

This bill helps families avoid surprise bills after a loved one leaves an assisted living home. It makes sure homes cannot keep charging for an empty room forever. This protection is important for people who might be grieving and dealing with many other things. It is important for citizens to speak up now to make sure this protection becomes real.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Facilities would be held to a clear limit on charging for empty rooms.. The bill would make it a deceptive trade practice to charge rent and fees for more than seven days or until removal of the personal property from the room, whichever occurs first.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Protects families from unfair charges after a loved one leaves an assisted living home.. Limits the facility's ability to charge rent and fees for a maximum of seven days or until removal of the personal property from the room, whichever occurs first.
• Who Bears the Cost (helps) — Families would pay less for empty rooms.. The bill would prevent assisted living facilities from charging rent and fees beyond a maximum of seven days or until removal of the personal property from the room, whichever occurs first, shifting the cost burden away from families.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — No direct impact on transparency.. The bill does not directly address process transparency.
• Funding Tilt (helps) — Favors families over facilities in billing disputes.. By limiting charges, the bill financially benefits families who might otherwise face extended billing for unoccupied rooms.

Pushing for it: Families of assisted living residents
Bearing the cost: Assisted living facilities

• Official text (RI H7929)https://status.rilegislature.gov/
• LegiScan — H7929https://legiscan.com/RI/bill/H7929/2026

This bill would stop landlords from raising rent more than 4% each year, giving renters a way to take them to court if they break the rules.

This bill would help renters by putting a limit on how much their rent can go up each year. It also gives people a clear way to fight back if their landlord tries to raise the rent too much. Some landlords might say they need to raise rent more to pay for things like taxes or insurance. This bill tries to be fair by letting them ask for special permission for bigger increases if they truly need it. It is important for people to know about this bill now, while it is still being discussed, because it could make housing more steady for many families in Rhode Island.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Landlords would be held accountable for rent increases.. The bill provides tenants with civil remedies for violations, meaning they can take landlords to court if the rules are broken.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Tenants gain protection from large rent increases.. The bill limits annual rent increases to 4% and gives tenants a way to enforce this protection.
• Who Bears the Cost (helps) — Tenants are protected from sudden, large cost increases.. The bill shifts some potential cost burden from tenants by capping rent increases, though landlords can seek exemptions for specific cost increases.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — The bill does not directly address process transparency.. The official text does not include provisions related to how transparent the legislative or enforcement process would be.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — The bill does not involve specific funding or appropriations.. The bill focuses on regulating rent increases and providing civil remedies, not on funding specific programs or entities.

Pushing for it: Renters
Bearing the cost: Landlords

• Official text (RI H8108)https://status.rilegislature.gov/
• LegiScan — H8108https://legiscan.com/RI/bill/H8108/2026

This bill would help make sure health insurance covers mental health and substance use equally as other health issues.

If this bill passes, people will have better access to mental health care. Now is the time to support it for better treatment options.

Everyday People

• Rights & Protections (helps) — Improves mental health coverage. This bill strengthens protections for mental health care.
• Accountability (helps) — Enforces compliance with federal laws. Insurers must comply with existing mental health laws.

• Official text (RI H7946)https://status.rilegislature.gov/
• LegiScan — H7946https://legiscan.com/RI/bill/H7946/2026

This bill would make insurance companies charge you no more than $25 a month for the supplies you need to check your blood sugar and take insulin.

Right now, people with diabetes can pay a lot of money for the tools they need to stay alive. This bill would step in and cap those out-of-pocket costs at $25 for a month of supplies. It also says insurance companies cannot charge a deductible for equipment that lasts longer than a month. If this passes, it will save families a ton of money and force insurers to pick up the tab. Insurance companies might fight this to protect their profits, so it is important to watch what happens next.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Forces insurers to cover more costs. The bill holds insurance companies responsible for covering the bulk of the cost for essential diabetic supplies.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Protects patients from high medical bills. Creates a strict legal limit on how much regular people can be charged for life-saving medical tools.
• Who Bears the Cost (helps) — Shifts burden away from consumers. Moves the financial burden of expensive medical supplies from the patient to the insurance provider.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — Standard legislative process. The bill is moving through normal committee hearings.
• Funding Tilt (helps) — Helps everyday people save money. Directly benefits the wallets of ordinary citizens who rely on these medical supplies.

• Official text (RI H7188)https://status.rilegislature.gov/
• LegiScan — H7188https://legiscan.com/RI/bill/H7188/2026

This bill would make it illegal for life and disability insurers to use your DNA test results to deny you coverage or charge you more money.

Right now, federal law stops health insurers from using your genetic information against you. But life, disability, and long-term care insurers can still snoop on your DNA. If you take a genetic test to learn about your health, these companies could use those results to deny you a policy or jack up your rates. This bill would close that loophole in Rhode Island. It protects your privacy and ensures you are not punished for your genes.

Everyday People

• Rights & Protections (helps) — Strong privacy protection. Gives people the right to keep their genetic information private from life and disability insurers.
• Accountability (helps) — Limits corporate power. Stops insurance companies from using personal DNA data to drop customers or deny them coverage.
• Who Bears the Cost (helps) — Protects consumers from unfair rate hikes. Ensures ordinary people do not have to pay higher insurance premiums just because of their genetics.

• Official text (RI H7861)https://status.rilegislature.gov/
• LegiScan — H7861https://legiscan.com/RI/bill/H7861/2026

This bill would limit how much you pay for diabetes supplies to 25 dollars a month and ban insurance companies from charging a deductible for long-lasting equipment.

Managing diabetes is incredibly expensive, and the cost of supplies can force people to make impossible choices. This bill would step in to protect patients by forcing insurance companies to pick up more of the tab. If it passes the House, it will bring real financial relief to Rhode Islanders who rely on insulin and glucose monitors to stay alive.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Holds insurers to a strict price limit.. Forces insurance companies to cover the remaining costs of diabetes supplies once the patient pays 25 dollars.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Protects patients from price gouging.. Creates a hard legal cap on what patients can be forced to pay out of pocket for life-saving medical supplies.
• Who Bears the Cost (helps) — Shifts burden away from consumers.. Moves the financial burden of expensive medical equipment from everyday people onto insurance companies.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — Standard legislative process.. The bill is moving through normal committee hearings and floor votes.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — Neutral funding impact.. The bill regulates private insurance rather than spending state taxpayer money.

• Official text (RI S2877)https://status.rilegislature.gov/
• LegiScan — S2877https://legiscan.com/RI/bill/S2877/2026

The bill would make insurance claim arbitration quicker and more fair, and stop insurers from dragging out the process.

If passed, policyholders could get their claims settled faster, avoiding long waits and unfair outcomes; insurers would have to follow clear timelines, which helps people now while the bill is being debated.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — insurers must follow fair, timely arbitration rules. Bill adds rules to stop insurers from delaying or obstructing dispute resolution
• Rights & Protections (helps) — strengthens consumer rights in insurance claims. Improves fairness and timeliness of arbitration and appraisal proceedings
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — no new taxpayer funding required. Bill does not create new spending
• Process Transparency (helps) — makes arbitration process clearer. Improves fairness and timeliness of arbitration and appraisal
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — no funding changes. Bill does not allocate or cut money

• Official text (RI H7516)https://status.rilegislature.gov/
• LegiScan — H7516https://legiscan.com/RI/bill/H7516/2026

Health plans must pay for a glucagon auto‑injector or nasal spray with no copay or deductible, so diabetics can get it quickly.

This bill could save lives by making a life‑saving drug free at the point of use, but it also means insurers will have to cover the cost, which could raise premiums later.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Positive. Insurers must cover a specific life‑saving drug.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Positive. Adds right to get glucagon without out‑of‑pocket cost.
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — Negative. Shifts cost to insurers, potentially affecting premiums.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — Neutral. Bill is still in committee, no vote yet.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — Neutral. No new funding source is created.

• Official text (RI H7075)https://status.rilegislature.gov/
• LegiScan — H7075https://legiscan.com/RI/bill/H7075/2026

This bill would make landlords register details about older homes with the state, letting people see some of that information to help keep them safe.

This bill would make landlords register properties built before 1978 with the Department of Health. Some of this information would be public. This could help people know more about the safety of their homes, especially older ones, by making important details easier to find. It could also help the state keep track of potential health issues in older buildings. Landlords would have new paperwork to do and might have to pay fees to register their properties. This bill is still being studied, so now is the time to speak up if you want more information about your home or if you are a landlord concerned about new rules.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Increases landlord accountability. Landlords would be required to register specific information about older residential properties, making them more accountable for their condition.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Protects tenants with information. Tenants would gain access to information about older properties, potentially helping them make safer housing choices and protecting their health.
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — Landlords bear registration costs. Landlords would incur costs and effort to register their properties with the Department of Health.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — Standard legislative process. The bill has followed a standard legislative path, being introduced and referred to committee, then held for further study.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — No funding details provided. The official text does not specify any new funding or appropriations related to this registry.

Pushing for it: Tenants, public health
Bearing the cost: Landlords (for registration costs)

• Official text (RI H7559)https://status.rilegislature.gov/
• LegiScan — H7559https://legiscan.com/RI/bill/H7559/2026

The bill would raise the income limit to $50,000 and give an $850 tax credit to seniors and disabled renters or owners.

This helps older and disabled people keep more of their money, making housing cheaper for them, so they can stay in their homes longer.

Everyday People

• Accountability (neutral) — neutral. Bill adds a credit but does not change oversight.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — positive. Expands tax relief to more seniors and disabled residents.
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — negative. Tax credit costs state budget, funded by taxpayers.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — neutral. Bill is still in committee, no special transparency measures.
• Funding Tilt (hurts) — negative. Benefit directed to specific groups, funded by general tax revenue.

Pushing for it: taxpayers
Bearing the cost: Unknown

• Official text (RI H7700)https://status.rilegislature.gov/
• LegiScan — H7700https://legiscan.com/RI/bill/H7700/2026