Rhode Island legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Rhode Island H7094: AN ACT RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE -- DECORATIONS (Establishes the Rhode Island orange heart medal to formally recognize Rhode Island veterans whose service exposed them to toxic herbicides, burn pits, or other hazardous agents.)
Status: Signed into law, June 19, 2026
What the bill says
From the introduced text, January 14, 2026:
2026 -- H 7094 ======== LC003134 ======== STATEOFRHODEISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ ANACT RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE -- DECORATIONS Introduced By: Representatives Azzinaro, Shallcross Smith, Corvese, McNamara, Fellela, Solomon, and Kennedy Date Introduced: January 14, 2026 Referred To: House Veterans` Affairs It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. Chapter 30-8 of the General Laws entitled "Decorations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 30-8-11. Rhode Island orange heart medal. (a) The Rhode Island orange heart medal may be awarded, in the name of the governor, to any person who, while serving as a commissioned officer, warrant officer, or enlisted person of the armed forces of the United States, including the reserve components thereof, or of the Rhode Island national guard while on active state or federal service, meets the criteria described in subsection (b) of this section. (b) To be eligible for the Rhode Island orange heart medal, a service member shall meet all of the following (2) Served on active duty in the armed forces of the United States or Rhode Island national guard at any time on or after December 6, 1941; (3) During service, the individual had documented exposure (ii) Open-air burn pits or similar waste disposal or combustion operations used during military deployments; or …
Sponsors
- Samuel Azzinaro (D) · primary sponsor
- Ann Shallcross Smith, Mary (D, HD-046)
- Arthur Corvese (D, HD-055)
- McNamara, Joseph (D, HD-019)
- Deborah Fellela (D)
- Joseph Solomon (D)
- Brian Kennedy (D, HD-038)
Latest actions
- : Signed by Governor
- : Transmitted to Governor
- : Senate passed in concurrence
- : Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar
- : Committee recommends passage in concurrence
- : Scheduled for consideration
- : Referred to Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs
- : House read and passed
- : Placed on House Calendar
- : Committee recommends passage
Votes
- Senate Committee on Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs: Passage in concurrence (May 21, 2026): 7 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House Seq #134: PASSAGE (April 28, 2026): 68 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House Committee on Veterans` Affairs: Passage (April 14, 2026): 9 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE
Common questions
- What is H7094?
- H7094 is a bill in the Rhode Island Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE -- DECORATIONS (Establishes the Rhode Island orange heart medal to formally recognize Rhode Island veterans whose service exposed them to toxic herbicides, burn pits, or other hazardous agents.).
- What is the status of H7094?
- Signed into law as of June 19, 2026. Latest action: Signed by Governor (June 19, 2026).
- Who sponsored H7094?
- Samuel Azzinaro (D), with 6 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for H7094?
- On the Rhode Island Legislature website: http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7094.pdf
Source: official Rhode Island record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.