Rhode Island legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Rhode Island S2054: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- EVIDENCE (Provides that statements by a health care prov
Status: In committee, June 4, 2026
AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- EVIDENCE (Provides that statements by a health care provider regarding the unanticipated outcome of a patient's medical care and treatment shall be inadmissible as evidence of an admission of liability or as evidence of an admission.)
What the bill says
From the introduced text, January 9, 2026:
2026 -- S 2054 ======== LC003658 ======== STATEOFRHODEISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ ANACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- EVIDENCE Introduced By: Senators Lauria, Lawson, Euer, LaMountain, Zurier, Pearson, McKenney, DiMario, Murray, and Gallo Date Introduced: January 09, 2026 Referred To: Senate Judiciary It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. Chapter 9-19 of the General Laws entitled "Evidence" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 9-19-45. Statements or conduct expressing apology, regret, condolence by health care provider -- Admissibility. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following words shall have the following meanings: (1) "Healthcare facility" means any institutional health service provider licensed pursuant to the provisions of chapter 17 of title 23. (2) "Healthcare provider" or "provider" shall have the same meaning as the meaning contained in § 5-37.3-3. (3) "Relative" means a patient's spouse, parent, grandparent, stepparent, child, grandchild, brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister, uncle, aunt, adopted children of parent, or spouse's parents, whether by whole or half blood, adoption or marriage. (4) "Representative" means a legal guardian, attorney, health care representative or any person recognized in law or custom as a patient's agent. (5) "Unanticipated outcome" means the outcome of a medical treatment or procedure that differs from an expected result of such …
Sponsors
- Pamela Lauria (D, SD-032) · primary sponsor
- Valarie Lawson (D, SD-014)
- Dawn Euer (D, SD-013)
- Matthew LaMountain (D, SD-031)
- Samuel Zurier (D, SD-003)
- Ryan Pearson (D, SD-019)
- Mark McKenney (D, SD-030)
- DiMario, Alana (D, SD-036)
- Melissa Murray (D, SD-024)
- Hanna Gallo (D, SD-027)
Latest actions
- : Referred to House Judiciary
- : Senate passed Sub A
- : Placed on Senate Calendar
- : Committee recommends passage of Sub A
- : Proposed Substitute
- : Scheduled for consideration
- : Committee recommended measure be held for further study
- : Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
- : Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary
Votes
- Senate Seq #331: (June 3, 2026): 32 yea, 5 nay, passed
- Senate Committee on Judiciary: Passage of Sub A (May 26, 2026): 10 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate Committee on Judiciary: Passage (May 26, 2026): 10 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate Committee on Judiciary: Passage (May 7, 2026): 9 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE
Common questions
- What is S2054?
- S2054 is a bill in the Rhode Island Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- EVIDENCE (Provides that statements by a health care prov.
- What does S2054 do?
- AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- EVIDENCE (Provides that statements by a health care provider regarding the unanticipated outcome of a patient's medical care and treatment shall be inadmissible as evidence of an admission of liability or as evidence of an admission.)
- What is the status of S2054?
- In committee as of June 4, 2026. Latest action: Referred to House Judiciary (June 4, 2026).
- Who sponsored S2054?
- Pamela Lauria (D, SD-032), with 9 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for S2054?
- On the Rhode Island Legislature website: http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/SenateText26/S2054A.pdf
Source: official Rhode Island record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.