New Rhode Island laws 2027: laws taking effect in Rhode Island in 2027
8 new Rhode Island laws on insurance, employment, healthcare, AI, alcohol and beverage and rental housing take effect in 2027. Each is listed below with its date, what it does and a link to the official text.
- 7 laws take effect on 1 January 2027.
- Later in 2027: 1 on 1 April 2027.
- By topic: insurance 3, employment 2, healthcare 2, AI 1, alcohol and beverage 1 and rental housing 1.
Updated 25 October 2026
One-line summaries are drafted by software from the bill text and are not reviewed by an attorney.
New Rhode Island insurance laws in 2027
HB 8579: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGERS ACT
Requires pharmacy benefit managers to obtain a certificate of authority from the health insurance commissioner to operate in Rhode Island and subjects violators to penalties and restitution.
HB 8582: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- PHARMACY FREEDOM OF CHOICE--FAIR COMPETITION AND PRACTICES
Requires pharmacy benefit managers to register as third-party administrators, prohibit certain drug substitutions without prescriber approval, allow pharmacists to disclose pricing information, and establish dispute resolution processes for generic drug pricing.
HB 7520: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- LIABILITY INSURANCE -- UNINSURED MOTORIST COVERAGE
Requires insurers to offer underinsured motorist property damage coverage for private passenger automobiles, effective 1 April 2027.
Next year's insurance laws are bills now. Follow them in every state with the Insurance Tracker.
New Rhode Island employment laws in 2027
HB 7290: AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- RESTRICTIONS ON SELF-SERVICE CHECKOUT STATIONS ACT
HB 7364: AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- WAREHOUSE WORKER PROTECTION ACT
Requires warehouse employers with at least 100 employees at one location to provide written quota descriptions to workers upon hire, including potential adverse employment actions.
Next year's employment laws are bills now. Follow them in every state with the Employment and Labor Legislation Tracker.
New Rhode Island healthcare laws in 2027
HB 8579: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGERS ACT
Requires pharmacy benefit managers to obtain a certificate of authority from the health insurance commissioner to operate in Rhode Island and subjects violators to penalties and restitution.
HB 8582: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- PHARMACY FREEDOM OF CHOICE--FAIR COMPETITION AND PRACTICES
Requires pharmacy benefit managers to register as third-party administrators, prohibit certain drug substitutions without prescriber approval, allow pharmacists to disclose pricing information, and establish dispute resolution processes for generic drug pricing.
Next year's healthcare laws are bills now. Follow them in every state with the Healthcare Legislation Tracker.
New Rhode Island AI laws in 2027
HB 7350: AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW--GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE COMPANION MODELS
Operators of AI companion models must include safety protocols addressing suicidal ideation and physical harm, notify users they are not speaking with humans, and file annual safety reports beginning 1 July 2027.
Next year's AI laws are bills now. Follow them in every state with the AI Legislation Tracker.
New Rhode Island alcohol and beverage laws in 2027
HB 7975: AN ACT RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- RETAIL LICENSES
Requires licensed retailers authorized to sell intoxicating beverages to provide a drink lid to customers upon request starting 1 January 2027.
Next year's alcohol and beverage laws are bills now. Follow them in every state with the Alcohol and Beverage Tracker.
New Rhode Island rental housing laws in 2027
HB 8110: AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT
Requires landlords renting shoreline property to provide tenants with a written disclosure before tenancy begins explaining public access rights to the shoreline.
Next year's rental housing laws are bills now. Follow them in every state with the Rental Housing Tracker.
Questions about new Rhode Island laws in 2027
When do new laws take effect in Rhode Island in 2027?
Most take effect on 1 January 2027. Of the 8 laws listed here, 7 start on 1 January 2027 and 1 start on 1 April 2027.
What new laws take effect on 1 January 2027 in Rhode Island?
7 laws in insurance, employment, healthcare, AI, alcohol and beverage and rental housing, including Rhode Island HB 7290 (AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- RESTRICTIONS ON SELF-SERVICE CHECKOUT STATIONS ACT), Rhode Island HB 7350 (AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW--GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE COMPANION MODELS), Rhode Island HB 7364 (AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- WAREHOUSE WORKER PROTECTION ACT), Rhode Island HB 7975 (AN ACT RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- RETAIL LICENSES) and Rhode Island HB 8110 (AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD AND TENANT ACT). The full list, with what each one does, is above.
Is this legal advice?
No. Dates and the one-line summaries are drafted by software from the bill text and are not reviewed by an attorney. Each law links to the legislature’s own record: check the text before relying on it.
Know 2028's new laws while they are still bills
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