Rhode Island legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Rhode Island H7938: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- REGISTRATION OF NURSING ASSISTANTS -- QUALIFYING LANGUAGE (Requires the examination for
Status: In committee, June 9, 2026
AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- REGISTRATION OF NURSING ASSISTANTS -- QUALIFYING LANGUAGE (Requires the examination for licensing of certified nursing assistants by the department of health to be administered in both English and Spanish.)
What the bill says
From the introduced text, February 27, 2026:
2026 -- H 7938 ======== LC005311 ======== STATEOFRHODEISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ ANACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- REGISTRATION OF NURSING ASSISTANTS -- QUALIFYING LANGUAGE Introduced By: Representatives Biah, Hull, Sanchez, Morales, Diaz, Cruz, Batista, Baginski, Alzate, and DeSimone Date Introduced: February 27, 2026 Referred To: House Health & Human Services It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. Section 23-17.9-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-17.9 entitled "Registration of Nursing Assistants" is hereby amended to read as follows: 23-17.9-5. Qualifying examination. Nursing assistants as defined in § 23-17.9-2 who are employed or have had experience as a nursing assistant prior to the enactment of this chapter, and the effective date of the regulations promulgated in relation to this chapter, shall pass the appropriate level of examination administered by the department approved by the director in lieu of the training program. The examination shall be offered and administered in both English and Spanish. Exempt from the qualifying examination are home health aides/homemakers who have successfully passed the qualifying examination and/or successfully completed an approved home health aide/homemaker program under the provisions of chapter 17.7 of this title and the regulations promulgated in relation to that chapter. Also exempt from the qualifying examination are classes of individuals, regardless of employment setting, who …
Sponsors
- Nathan Biah (D) · primary sponsor
- Raymond Hull (D, HD-006)
- Enrique Sanchez (D, HD-009)
- David Morales (D, HD-007)
- Grace Diaz (D)
- Cherie Cruz (D, HD-058)
- Jose Batista (D, HD-012)
- Jacquelyn Baginski (D, HD-017)
- Karen Alzate (D, HD-060)
- DeSimone, Anthony (D, HD-005)
Latest actions
- : Referred to Senate Health and Human Services
- : House read and passed
- : Placed on House Calendar
- : Committee recommends passage
- : Scheduled for consideration
- : Committee recommended measure be held for further study
- : Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
- : Introduced, referred to House Health & Human Services
Votes
- House Seq #408: PASSAGE (June 9, 2026): 70 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House Committee on Health & Human Services: Passage (June 8, 2026): 14 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: HEALTH AND SAFETY
Common questions
- What is H7938?
- H7938 is a bill in the Rhode Island Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- REGISTRATION OF NURSING ASSISTANTS -- QUALIFYING LANGUAGE (Requires the examination for .
- What does H7938 do?
- AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- REGISTRATION OF NURSING ASSISTANTS -- QUALIFYING LANGUAGE (Requires the examination for licensing of certified nursing assistants by the department of health to be administered in both English and Spanish.)
- What is the status of H7938?
- In committee as of June 9, 2026. Latest action: Referred to Senate Health and Human Services (June 9, 2026).
- Who sponsored H7938?
- Nathan Biah (D), with 9 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for H7938?
- On the Rhode Island Legislature website: http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H7938.pdf
Source: official Rhode Island record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.