Rhode Island legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Rhode Island H7173: AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- FACILITATING BUSINESS RAPID RESPONSE TO STATE DECLARED DISASTER ACT OF 2024 (Incorporates broadband, internet, and wireless means into the crime of injuring electric and communication lines and authorizes municipalities to grant zoning relief for the protection of critical infrastructure.)
Status: Signed into law, June 18, 2026
What the bill says
From the introduced text, January 21, 2026:
2026 -- H 7173 ======== LC004181 ======== STATEOFRHODEISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ ANACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- FACILITATING BUSINESS RAPID RESPONSE TO STATE DECLARED DISASTER ACT OF 2024 Introduced By: Representatives Kennedy, Cotter, Fellela, Serpa, Diaz, Ackerman, Edwards, Solomon, Azzinaro, and O'Brien Date Introduced: January 21, 2026 Referred To: House Corporations It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. Section 5-94-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-94 entitled "Facilitating Business Rapid Response to State Declared Disaster Act of 2024" is hereby amended to read as follows: 5-94-2. Definitions. As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings: (1) "Critical infrastructure" means property and equipment located in this state that is owned or used by communications networks, cable, video, wireless or broadband networks; gas and electric distribution systems and water pipelines, railways, public roads and bridges and related support facilities that service multiple customers or citizens including, but not limited to, real and personal property such as buildings, offices, lines, poles, pipes, structures, and equipment. (2) "Declared state disaster or emergency" means a disaster or emergency event for which a governor's state of emergency proclamation has been issued or for which a presidential declaration of a federal major disaster or emergency has been issued. (3) "Disaster or …
Sponsors
- Brian Kennedy (D, HD-038) · primary sponsor
- Megan Cotter (D, HD-039)
- Deborah Fellela (D)
- Patricia Serpa (D, HD-027)
- Grace Diaz (D)
- Mia Ackerman (D, HD-045)
- John Edwards (D, HD-070)
- Joseph Solomon (D)
- Samuel Azzinaro (D)
- William O'Brien (D)
Latest actions
- : Signed by Governor
- : Transmitted to Governor
- : Senate passed as amended in concurrence
- : Placed on Senate Calendar
- : Committee recommends passage as amended in concurrence
- : Scheduled for consideration
- : Referred to Senate Judiciary
- : House passed as amended (floor amendment)
- : Placed on House Calendar
- : Committee recommends passage
Votes
- Senate Seq #503: (June 9, 2026): 36 yea, 1 nay, passed
- Senate Committee on Judiciary: Passage as amended in concurrence (May 28, 2026): 9 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House Seq #123: PASSAGE AS AMENDED (April 28, 2026): 68 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House Seq #122: PASSAGE PASSAGE OF AMENDMENT (April 28, 2026): 69 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House Committee on Corporations: Passage (April 7, 2026): 15 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS
Common questions
- What is H7173?
- H7173 is a bill in the Rhode Island Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- FACILITATING BUSINESS RAPID RESPONSE TO STATE DECLARED DISASTER ACT OF 2024 (Incorporates broadband, internet, and wireless means into the crime of injuring electric and communication lines and authorizes municipalities to grant zoning relief for the protection of critical infrastructure.).
- What is the status of H7173?
- Signed into law as of June 18, 2026. Latest action: Signed by Governor (June 18, 2026).
- Who sponsored H7173?
- Brian Kennedy (D, HD-038), with 9 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for H7173?
- On the Rhode Island Legislature website: http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7173aa.pdf
Source: official Rhode Island record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.