Rhode Island legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Rhode Island H7158: AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES -- INSURANCE BENEFITS (Provides that adjunct faculty members at any state colle
Status: Failed, April 30, 2026
AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES -- INSURANCE BENEFITS (Provides that adjunct faculty members at any state college or university who teach at least 50% of the hours regularly worked by full-time faculty in a semester would be eligible for the same medical benefits as other state employees.)
What the bill says
From the introduced text, January 16, 2026:
2026 -- H 7158 ======== LC004182 ======== STATEOFRHODEISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ ANACT RELATING TO PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES -- INSURANCE BENEFITS Introduced By: Representatives Hull, J. Lombardi, Speakman, Tanzi, Fogarty, Handy, Shallcross Smith, Alzate, Ackerman, and McNamara Date Introduced: January 16, 2026 Referred To: House Finance It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. Sections 36-12-1 and 36-12-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 36-12 entitled "Insurance Benefits" are hereby amended to read as follows: 36-12-1. Definitions. The following words, as used in §§ 36-12-1 -- 36-12-14, shall have the following meanings: (1) "Employer," means the state of Rhode Island. (2) "Employee," means all persons who are classified employees as the term "classified employee" is defined under § 36-3-3, and all persons in the unclassified and non-classified service of the state, including adjunct facility members at any state community college, state college or state university who teach at least fifty percent (50%) of the faculty load worked by regular fulltime faculty in an academic semester; provided, however, that the following shall not be included as "employees" under §§ 36-12-1 -- 36-12-14: (i) Part-time personnel whose work week is less than twenty (20) hours a week and limited period and seasonal personnel; (ii) Members of the general assembly, its clerks, doorkeepers, and pages. …
Sponsors
- Raymond Hull (D, HD-006) · primary sponsor
- John Lombardi (D, HD-008)
- June Speakman (D, HD-068)
- Teresa Tanzi (D, HD-034)
- Kathleen Fogarty (D, HD-035)
- Arthur Handy (D, HD-018)
- Ann Shallcross Smith, Mary (D, HD-046)
- Karen Alzate (D, HD-060)
- Mia Ackerman (D, HD-045)
- McNamara, Joseph (D, HD-019)
Latest actions
- : Committee recommended measure be held for further study
- : Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
- : Introduced, referred to House Finance
Subjects: PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES
Common questions
- What is H7158?
- H7158 is a bill in the Rhode Island Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES -- INSURANCE BENEFITS (Provides that adjunct faculty members at any state colle.
- What does H7158 do?
- AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES -- INSURANCE BENEFITS (Provides that adjunct faculty members at any state college or university who teach at least 50% of the hours regularly worked by full-time faculty in a semester would be eligible for the same medical benefits as other state employees.)
- What is the status of H7158?
- Failed as of April 30, 2026. Latest action: Committee recommended measure be held for further study (April 30, 2026).
- Who sponsored H7158?
- Raymond Hull (D, HD-006), with 9 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for H7158?
- On the Rhode Island Legislature website: http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7158.pdf
Source: official Rhode Island record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.