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    Advocacy & Members

    How SUMHLC follows policy and represents its member organizations at the State House, and the official tools for following legislation yourself.

    Bills we're following

    Legislation that affects Rhode Island's behavioral health providers and the people they serve, with SUMHLC's position and the latest action.

    • H 71272026 session Signed into Law SUMHLC is monitoring

      FY2027 state budget: $115 million in Medicaid rate increases

      Fully implements the $115 million in Medicaid rate increases recommended by the Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner, adds $900,000 for Medicaid coverage of youth mobile crisis services, and funds the Health Professional Loan Repayment Program, which includes mental health clinicians.

      Latest action, June 12, 2026: Signed by Governor

      Show sponsors and full history

      Official title

      AN ACT MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE STATE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2027

      Sponsors

      • Abney · lead sponsor

      History

      1. · House

        Introduced, referred to House Finance

      2. Scheduled for consideration (05/29/2026)

      3. Committee recommends passage of Sub A

      4. · House

        Placed on House Calendar (06/05/2026)

      5. · House

        Scheduled to be heard and /or considered in anticipation of House passage (06/08/2026)

      6. · House

        House passed Sub A as amended (floor amendment)

      7. · Senate

        Referred to Senate Finance

      8. Committee recommends passage of Sub A as amended in concurrence

      9. · Senate

        Senate passed Sub A as amended in concurrence

      10. · Governor

        Transmitted to Governor

      11. · Governor

        Signed by Governor

      Read the bill H 7127 (PDF)Follow it in the Bill Tracker
    • H 81802026 session Signed into Law SUMHLC supports

      Youth mobile crisis teams become permanent

      Makes Children's Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS) a permanent statewide program, giving children and youth rapid crisis response and short-term stabilization where they live. A companion bill (H 7630) sets a floor for what insurers pay MRSS providers.

      Latest action, June 22, 2026: Signed by Governor

      Show sponsors and full history

      Official title

      AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- CHILDREN'S MOBILE RESPONSE AND STABILIZATION SERVICES

      Sponsors

      • Casimiro · lead sponsor
      • Tanzi
      • Donovan
      • Spears
      • Potter
      • Alzate
      • Stewart
      • McGaw
      • Shallcross Smith

      History

      1. · House

        Introduced, referred to House Finance

      2. Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (05/14/2026)

      3. Committee recommended measure be held for further study

      4. Scheduled for consideration (06/10/2026)

      5. Proposed Substitute

      6. Committee recommends passage of Sub A

      7. · House

        Placed on House Calendar (06/11/2026)

      8. · House

        House passed Sub A as amended (floor amendment)

      9. · Senate

        Placed on Senate Calendar (06/11/2026)

      10. · Senate

        Senate passed Sub A as amended in concurrence

      11. · Governor

        Transmitted to Governor

      12. · Governor

        Signed by Governor

      Read the bill H 8180 (PDF)Follow it in the Bill Tracker
    • S 21972026 session Signed into Law SUMHLC is monitoring

      Rules for artificial intelligence in mental health care

      Sets rules for using artificial intelligence in mental health treatment, including patient consent, decision-making by licensed professionals, and confidentiality.

      Latest action, June 22, 2026: Signed by Governor

      Show sponsors and full history

      Official title

      AN ACT RELATING TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE, DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND HOSPITALS -- OVERSIGHT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TECHNOLOGY IN MENTAL HEALTH CARE ACT

      Sponsors

      • Urso · lead sponsor
      • Tikoian
      • Zurier
      • Burke
      • Gu
      • Paolino
      • DiPalma
      • Famiglietti

      History

      1. · Senate

        Introduced, referred to Senate Artificial Intelligence & Emerging Technol

      2. Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/24/2026)

      3. Committee recommended measure be held for further study

      4. Scheduled for consideration (05/14/2026)

      5. Proposed Substitute

      6. Committee recommends passage of Sub A

      7. · Senate

        Placed on Senate Calendar (05/21/2026)

      8. · Senate

        Senate passed Sub A as amended (floor amendment)

      9. · House

        Referred to House Health & Human Services

      10. Scheduled for consideration (06/04/2026)

      11. Committee recommends passage of Sub A as amended in concurrence

      12. · House

        Placed on House Calendar (06/08/2026)

      13. · House

        House passed Sub A as amended in concurrence

      14. · Governor

        Transmitted to Governor

      15. · Governor

        Signed by Governor

      Read the bill S 2197 (PDF)Follow it in the Bill Tracker
    • H 80402026 session Signed into Law SUMHLC is monitoring

      Recovery residences zoned as homes

      Bars cities and towns from placing zoning restrictions on NARR-certified recovery residences that don't apply to other homes, and from treating them as commercial buildings under fire and building codes.

      Latest action, June 19, 2026: Signed by Governor

      Show sponsors and full history

      Official title

      AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- ZONING ORDINANCES

      Sponsors

      • Speakman · lead sponsor
      • Edwards
      • Giraldo
      • Cruz

      History

      1. · House

        Introduced, referred to House Municipal Government & Housing

      2. Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/17/2026)

      3. Committee recommended measure be held for further study

      4. Scheduled for consideration (06/03/2026)

      5. Proposed Substitute

      6. Committee recommends passage of Sub A

      7. · House

        Placed on House Calendar (06/11/2026)

      8. · House

        House passed Sub A as amended (floor amendment)

      9. · Senate

        Placed on Senate Calendar (06/11/2026)

      10. · Senate

        Senate passed Sub A as amended in concurrence

      11. · Governor

        Transmitted to Governor

      12. · Governor

        Signed by Governor

      Read the bill H 8040 (PDF)Follow it in the Bill Tracker
    • S 30582026 session Active in Committee SUMHLC is monitoring

      Put 988 and BH Link into state law

      Would set up in state law the operations of the 988 suicide and crisis line and the crisis outreach and stabilization services that respond to it, with full state funding if federal funding lapses.

      Latest action, May 27, 2026: Referred to House Finance

      Show sponsors and full history

      Official title

      AN ACT RELATING TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE, DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND HOSPITALS -- 988 CALL CENTER AND CRISIS OUTREACH AND STABILIZATION SERVICES CENTER OPERATIONS ACT

      Sponsors

      • Murray · lead sponsor
      • Lawson
      • Ciccone
      • Tikoian
      • LaMountain

      History

      1. · Senate

        Introduced, referred to Senate Health and Human Services

      2. Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/24/2026)

      3. Committee recommended measure be held for further study

      4. Scheduled for consideration (05/19/2026)

      5. Proposed Substitute

      6. Committee recommends passage of Sub A

      7. · Senate

        Placed on Senate Calendar (05/26/2026)

      8. · Senate

        Senate passed Sub A

      9. · House

        Referred to House Finance

      Read the bill S 3058 (PDF)Follow it in the Bill Tracker
    • S 21092026 session Active in Committee SUMHLC supports

      No utilization review for addiction medications

      Would stop health insurers and pharmacy benefit managers from requiring or conducting reviews of prescriptions for alcohol or opioid use disorder medications, such as methadone, buprenorphine and naltrexone.

      Latest action, June 4, 2026: Referred to House Health & Human Services

      Show sponsors and full history

      Official title

      AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- BENEFIT DETERMINATION AND UTILIZATION REVIEW ACT

      Sponsors

      • Urso · lead sponsor
      • DiMario
      • Kallman
      • Murray
      • Acosta
      • Rogers
      • Gu
      • Britto

      History

      1. · Senate

        Introduced, referred to Senate Health and Human Services

      2. Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration

      3. Committee postponed at request of sponsor (03/26/2026)

      4. Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (04/09/2026)

      5. Committee recommended measure be held for further study

      6. Scheduled for consideration

      7. Committee postponed at request of sponsor (05/21/2026)

      8. Scheduled for consideration (05/28/2026)

      9. Committee recommends passage

      10. · Senate

        Placed on Senate Calendar (06/03/2026)

      11. · Senate

        Senate passed as amended (floor amendment)

      12. · House

        Referred to House Health & Human Services

      Read the bill S 2109 (PDF)Follow it in the Bill Tracker
    • S 21082026 session Active in Committee SUMHLC is monitoring

      Insurers may not pay below the Medicaid rate

      Would prohibit insurance companies from paying a rate that is less than the approved Medicaid rate set by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. Would take effect January 1, 2027.

      Latest action, May 28, 2026: Referred to House Health & Human Services

      Show sponsors and full history

      Official title

      AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES

      Sponsors

      • Bissaillon · lead sponsor
      • Ciccone
      • Tikoian
      • Gallo
      • Murray
      • DiMario

      History

      1. · Senate

        Introduced, referred to Senate Health and Human Services

      2. Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (04/16/2026)

      3. Committee recommended measure be held for further study

      4. Scheduled for consideration (05/21/2026)

      5. Committee recommends passage

      6. · Senate

        Placed on Senate Calendar (05/27/2026)

      7. · Senate

        Senate passed as amended (floor amendment)

      8. · House

        Referred to House Health & Human Services

      Read the bill S 2108 (PDF)Follow it in the Bill Tracker
    • S 24672026 session Held for Study SUMHLC is monitoring

      No prior authorization for mental health and addiction care

      Would prohibit health insurers from requiring prior authorization for in-network mental health or substance use disorder services, starting January 1, 2027.

      Latest action, March 24, 2026: Committee recommended measure be held for further study

      Show sponsors and full history

      Official title

      AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR MENTAL ILLNESS AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS

      Sponsors

      • Ujifusa · lead sponsor
      • Ciccone
      • Tikoian
      • de la Cruz
      • DiMario
      • Kallman
      • Mack
      • Lauria
      • Valverde
      • Murray

      History

      1. · Senate

        Introduced, referred to Senate Health and Human Services

      2. Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/24/2026)

      3. Committee recommended measure be held for further study

      Read the bill S 2467 (PDF)Follow it in the Bill Tracker
    • S 26872026 session Held for Study SUMHLC is monitoring

      Protect Mental Health Act

      Would require health insurers to comply with federal mental health parity laws, prevent discriminatory treatment limits, and ensure meaningful mental health and substance use coverage in every benefit category.

      Latest action, April 16, 2026: Committee recommended measure be held for further study

      Show sponsors and full history

      Official title

      AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- THE PROTECT MENTAL HEALTH ACT

      Sponsors

      • DiMario · lead sponsor
      • Lauria
      • Gallo
      • Valverde
      • Mack
      • Murray
      • Kallman

      History

      1. · Senate

        Introduced, referred to Senate Health and Human Services

      2. Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (04/16/2026)

      3. Committee recommended measure be held for further study

      Read the bill S 2687 (PDF)Follow it in the Bill Tracker
    • H 71422026 session Held for Study SUMHLC is monitoring

      Oversight of certified community behavioral health clinics

      Would require CCBHCs to send annual audited financial reports (including executive pay and overhead) and performance measures to EOHHS and a new legislative oversight committee.

      Latest action, March 19, 2026: Committee recommended measure be held for further study

      Show sponsors and full history

      Official title

      AN ACT RELATING TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE, DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND HOSPITALS -- CERTIFIED COMMUNITY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CLINICS ACCOUNTABILITY AND OVERSIGHT ACT

      Sponsors

      • Casimiro · lead sponsor
      • Brien
      • Fascia
      • Chippendale
      • Paplauskas
      • Place
      • Hopkins
      • Alzate
      • Solomon

      History

      1. · House

        Introduced, referred to House Health & Human Services

      2. Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/19/2026)

      3. Committee recommended measure be held for further study

      Read the bill H 7142 (PDF)Follow it in the Bill Tracker

    Status and history from Open States, checked . It updates every hour.

    Official State Legislative Resources

    The Rhode Island General Assembly's own tools for following bills, hearings and votes.

    • Bill tracking

      RI Bill Tracker System

      Log in to follow specific bills and get an email alert each time one is updated, including when it's scheduled for a committee hearing or vote.

    How to weigh in on a bill

    Anyone can share their view with the committee hearing a bill.

    1. Track the bill

      Add it to the Bill Tracker. You'll get an email when it's scheduled for a committee hearing.

    2. Check the hearing agenda

      The posted agenda says when and where the hearing is, and how to submit written testimony.

    3. Share your view

      Email written testimony to the address on the committee's agenda, or testify in person at the hearing.

    From the General Assembly's Getting Started guide , which explains more about bills, hearings and testimony.

    For member organizations

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