Rhode Island legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Rhode Island H7198: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- GENERAL PROVISIONS (Further delineate the definitions of felony, misdemeanor and petty misdemeanor.)
Status: Signed into law, June 22, 2026
What the bill says
From the introduced text, January 21, 2026:
2026 -- H 7198 ======== LC003856 ======== STATEOFRHODEISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ ANACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- GENERAL PROVISIONS Introduced By: Representatives Felix, McEntee, Knight, J. Lombardi, Cruz, Morales, Alzate, Potter, Furtado, and Place Date Introduced: January 21, 2026 Referred To: House Judiciary It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. Section 11-1-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-1 entitled "General Provisions" is hereby amended to read as follows: 11-1-2. Felony, misdemeanor -- Petty misdemeanor, and violation distinguished. (a) Unless otherwise provided, any criminal offense which at any given time may be punished by imprisonment for a term of more than one year, or by a fine of more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), is declared to be a felony; any criminal offense which may be punishable by imprisonment for a term of more than six (6) months and not exceeding one year, or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both, is declared to be three hundred sixty-four (364) days, or solely by a fine of more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both, is declared to be a misdemeanor; any criminal offense which may be punishable by imprisonment for a term not exceeding six (6) months or solely by a fine of not more …
Sponsors
- Leonela Felix (D, HD-061) · primary sponsor
- Hagan McEntee, Carol (D, HD-033)
- Jason Knight (D, HD-067)
- John Lombardi (D, HD-008)
- Cherie Cruz (D, HD-058)
- David Morales (D, HD-007)
- Karen Alzate (D, HD-060)
- Brandon Potter (D, HD-016)
- Jenni Azanero Furtado (D, HD-064)
- David Place (R, HD-047)
Latest actions
- : Signed by Governor
- : Transmitted to Governor
- : Senate passed Sub A in concurrence
- : Placed on Senate Calendar
- : House passed Sub A
- : Placed on House Calendar
- : Committee recommends passage of Sub A
- : Proposed Substitute
- : Scheduled for consideration
- : Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Votes
- Senate Seq #668: (June 11, 2026): 32 yea, 6 nay, passed
- House Seq #443: PASSAGE (June 10, 2026): 63 yea, 9 nay, passed
- House Committee on Judiciary: Passage of Sub A (June 8, 2026): 10 yea, 2 nay, passed
Subjects: CRIMINAL OFFENSES
Common questions
- What is H7198?
- H7198 is a bill in the Rhode Island Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- GENERAL PROVISIONS (Further delineate the definitions of felony, misdemeanor and petty misdemeanor.).
- What is the status of H7198?
- Signed into law as of June 22, 2026. Latest action: Signed by Governor (June 22, 2026).
- Who sponsored H7198?
- Leonela Felix (D, HD-061), with 9 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for H7198?
- On the Rhode Island Legislature website: http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7198A.pdf
Source: official Rhode Island record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.