Rhode Island legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Rhode Island H7360: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- PROTECT OUR COURTS ACT (Protects people attending Rhode Island court proceedings from civil arrest without a judicial warrant, ensures court access, sets enforcement rules, and provides remedies for violations.)
Status: Signed into law, June 22, 2026
What the bill says
From the introduced text, January 28, 2026:
2026 -- H 7360 ======== LC003707 ======== STATEOFRHODEISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ ANACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- PROTECT OUR COURTS ACT Introduced By: Representatives Batista, Knight, Speakman, Cruz, Felix, Tanzi, Morales, McEntee, Diaz, and Potter Date Introduced: January 28, 2026 Referred To: House Judiciary It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. Title 12 of the General Laws entitled "CRIMINAL PROCEDURE" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter: CHAPTER PROTECT OUR COURTS ACT 12-34-1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Protect Our Courts Act." 12-34-2. Definitions. For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and terms have the following meanings: (1) "Civil arrest" means an arrest that is not: (i) For the sole or primary purpose of preparing the person for criminal prosecution for an alleged violation of the criminal law of this state, another state, or the United States, for which a sentence of imprisonment is authorized by law and which requires an appearance before a judicial officer; or (ii) For contempt of the court in which the court proceeding is taking place or will take place. (2) "Court proceeding" means any appearance in a court of this state before a judge, justice, or magistrate ordered or scheduled by such judicial …
Sponsors
- Jose Batista (D, HD-012) · primary sponsor
- Jason Knight (D, HD-067)
- June Speakman (D, HD-068)
- Cherie Cruz (D, HD-058)
- Leonela Felix (D, HD-061)
- Teresa Tanzi (D, HD-034)
- David Morales (D, HD-007)
- Hagan McEntee, Carol (D, HD-033)
- Grace Diaz (D)
- Brandon Potter (D, HD-016)
Latest actions
- : Signed by Governor
- : Transmitted to Governor
- : Senate passed Sub A as amended in concurrence
- : Placed on Senate Calendar
- : House passed Sub A as amended (floor amendment)
- : Placed on House Calendar
- : Committee recommends passage of Sub A
- : Proposed Substitute
- : Scheduled for consideration
- : Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Votes
- House Seq #447: PASSAGE AS AMENDED (June 10, 2026): 56 yea, 16 nay, passed
- House Seq #446: PASSAGE PASSAGE OF AMENDMENT (June 10, 2026): 68 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House Committee on Judiciary: Passage of Sub A (June 8, 2026): 11 yea, 1 nay, passed
Subjects: CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
Common questions
- What is H7360?
- H7360 is a bill in the Rhode Island Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- PROTECT OUR COURTS ACT (Protects people attending Rhode Island court proceedings from civil arrest without a judicial warrant, ensures court access, sets enforcement rules, and provides remedies for violations.).
- What is the status of H7360?
- Signed into law as of June 22, 2026. Latest action: Signed by Governor (June 22, 2026).
- Who sponsored H7360?
- Jose Batista (D, HD-012), with 9 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for H7360?
- On the Rhode Island Legislature website: http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7360Aaa.pdf
Source: official Rhode Island record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.