Rhode Island legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Rhode Island H8365: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH COLLABORATION (Authorizes the department of health to partic
Status: In committee, June 9, 2026
AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH COLLABORATION (Authorizes the department of health to participate in international public-health collaboration networks.)
What the bill says
From the introduced text, March 27, 2026:
2026 -- H 8365 ======== LC006207 ======== STATEOFRHODEISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ ANACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH COLLABORATION Introduced By: Representatives Fogarty, Handy, Bennett, Donovan, Spears, Cotter, Carson, Speakman, McGaw, and Craven Date Introduced: March 27, 2026 Referred To: House Health & Human Services It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. Legislative findings. The general assembly finds that: (1) Infectious disease outbreak occurring anywhere in the world may rapidly impact the health and safety of residents of Rhode Island. (2) Early detection and coordinated response are essential to preventing the spread of emerging infectious diseases. (3) International public health collaboration networks facilitate rapid communication, surveillance, and deployment of expertise during outbreaks. (4) Participation by the state in such networks can enhance preparedness, training, and global surveillance capacity. SECTION 2. Title 23 of the General Laws entitled "HEALTH AND SAFETY" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter: CHAPTER INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH COLLABORATION 23-106-1. Definitions. As used in this chapter: (1) "Department" means the Rhode Island department of health. (2) "Global outbreak response network" means an international collaboration of public health institutions coordinated by the World Health Organization or similar international public health authority for the purpose of disease surveillance and outbreak response. (3) "Public health collaboration …
Sponsors
- Kathleen Fogarty (D, HD-035) · primary sponsor
- Arthur Handy (D, HD-018)
- David Bennett (D, HD-020)
- Susan Donovan (D, HD-069)
- Tina Spears (D, HD-036)
- Megan Cotter (D, HD-039)
- Lauren Carson (D, HD-075)
- June Speakman (D, HD-068)
- McGaw, Michelle (D, HD-071)
- Robert Craven (D)
Latest actions
- : Referred to Senate Health and Human Services
- : 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
- : Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
- : Introduced, referred to House Health & Human Services
Votes
- House Seq #226: PASSAGE (June 2, 2026): 58 yea, 9 nay, passed
- House Committee on Health & Human Services: Passage of Sub A (May 28, 2026): 13 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: HEALTH AND SAFETY
Common questions
- What is H8365?
- H8365 is a bill in the Rhode Island Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH COLLABORATION (Authorizes the department of health to partic.
- What does H8365 do?
- AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH COLLABORATION (Authorizes the department of health to participate in international public-health collaboration networks.)
- What is the status of H8365?
- In committee as of June 9, 2026. Latest action: Referred to Senate Health and Human Services (June 9, 2026).
- Who sponsored H8365?
- Kathleen Fogarty (D, HD-035), with 9 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for H8365?
- On the Rhode Island Legislature website: http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H8365A.pdf
Source: official Rhode Island record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.