Rhode Island legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Rhode Island H8463: AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- ARREST (Makes it unlawful for a person in the custody of the department of corrections to use any force or weapon to resist a lawful request or directive.)
Status: Signed into law, June 22, 2026
What the bill says
From the introduced text, April 17, 2026:
2026 -- H 8463 ======== LC006330 ======== STATEOFRHODEISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ ANACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- ARREST Introduced By: Representatives Read, Noret, J. Brien, Chippendale, Casey, Corvese, O'Brien, Fascia, Santucci, and Cotter Date Introduced: April 17, 2026 Referred To: House Judiciary It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. Section 12-7-10 of the General Laws in Chapter 12-7 entitled "Arrest" is hereby amended to read as follows: 12-7-10. Resisting legal or illegal arrest Resisting legal or illegal arrest by peace officer-Resisting directive of correctional officer. (a)(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to use force or any weapon in resisting a legal or an illegal arrest by a peace officer, if the person has reasonable ground to believe that he or she is being arrested and that the arrest is being made by a peace officer. (2) It shall be unlawful for any person in custody of the Rhode Island department of corrections to use any force or weapon to resist a lawful request or directive by a corrections officer. (b) Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500) or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or by both fine and imprisonment. SECTION 2. …
Sponsors
- Earl Read (D, HD-026) · primary sponsor
- Thomas Noret (D, HD-025)
- Jon Brien (I)
- Michael Chippendale (R, HD-040)
- Stephen Casey (D, HD-050)
- Arthur Corvese (D, HD-055)
- William O'Brien (D)
- Richard Fascia (R, HD-042)
- Paul Santucci (R)
- Megan Cotter (D, HD-039)
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 #702: (June 11, 2026): 25 yea, 13 nay, passed
- House Seq #483: PASSAGE (June 10, 2026): 64 yea, 5 nay, passed
- House Committee on Judiciary: Passage of Sub A (June 8, 2026): 9 yea, 3 nay, passed
Subjects: CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
Common questions
- What is H8463?
- H8463 is a bill in the Rhode Island Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- ARREST (Makes it unlawful for a person in the custody of the department of corrections to use any force or weapon to resist a lawful request or directive.).
- What is the status of H8463?
- Signed into law as of June 22, 2026. Latest action: Signed by Governor (June 22, 2026).
- Who sponsored H8463?
- Earl Read (D, HD-026), with 9 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for H8463?
- On the Rhode Island Legislature website: http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H8463A.pdf
Source: official Rhode Island record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.