Rhode Island Votes

Bans the sale of so-called assault weapons.

Bars insurers, pharmacy benefit managers, drug manufacturers, or other payors from discriminating against 340B providers.

Would create a program requiring large buildings in Rhode Island to measure and report their energy and water use and meet state energy-performance standards.

Increases the minimum wage to $16 per hour on January 1, 2026, and then to $17 per hour on January 1, 2027.

Expands collective-bargaining rights for certain employees of the Department of Education.

Prohibits landlords from asking prospective or current tenants about their immigration status.

Allows the state Attorney General to investigate and bring an enforcement action against persistent fraud or illegality in the carrying on, conducting, or transaction of business or governmental activity.

Amends Rhode Island's weapons laws to maintain the prohibition on manufacturing, selling, purchasing, or possessing firearm silencers, while creating an exemption for law enforcement officers.

Amends Rhode Island's mail ballot laws to require that mail ballot drop boxes be accessible to the public starting 35 days prior to state and federal elections, and 20 days prior to special elections.

Establishes the Renewable Ready Program to promote renewable energy development on contaminated or state-owned sites by creating a fund within the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank.

Amends Rhode Island's weapons laws to mandate safe storage of firearms, requiring they be secured in locked containers or equipped with safety devices when not in use.

Establishes regulations in Rhode Island to prohibit the distribution of deceptive synthetic media, such as manipulated images, audio, or videos, within 90 days of an election, to prevent "fraudulent" election communications.

Creates tax credit opportunities for musicals, stage plays, and other productions in Rhode Island until 2027.

Would require companies to create new parking spaces outfitted with electric vehicle chargers.

Makes applicants without "proof of lawful presence" eligible for a Rhode Island driver's license and requires that these IDs "shall not be used as a basis for a criminal investigation, arrest, or detention."

Makes adoption easier for single/nonmarried people and removes several requirements to accommodate LGBT adoption.

Would require insurance companies to provide abortion coverage to residents of Rhode Island.

Expands the number of occupations that qualify for minimum wage and creates new protections for such employees.

Allows the division of motor vehicles to issue "driver privilege cards and permits" to applicants "unable to establish legal presence in the United States."

Grants the ability to apply ex parte for a court order authorizing the "interception of any wire, electronic, or oral communications" based on alleged felony violations of the Uniform Act on Prevention for Human Trafficking.

Permits early voting by mail without an excuse, removes the requirement that mail ballots be signed by a notary public or two witnesses, and directs every municipality to maintain at least one ballot drop box.

Prohibits the possession of firearms on school grounds, except for peace officers, retired law enforcement officers, persons under contract to provide school security services, and unloaded firearms in locked containers or a locked rack in a motor vehicle.

Increases the minimum wage from $11.50 per hour to $15.00 per hour, over a 4-year period.

Mandates a statewide enforceable target of "net-zero" emissions by 2050, including an "equitable transition to climate compliance for environmental justice populations."