Rhode Island legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Rhode Island H8603: AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- OPERATORS' AND CHAUFFEURS' LICENSES (Exempts an individual in foster or adoptive homes from the fee associated with drivers education classes at the community college of Rhode Island.)
Status: Signed into law, June 18, 2026
What the bill says
From the introduced text, May 29, 2026:
2026 -- H 8603 ======== LC006527 ======== STATEOFRHODEISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ ANACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- OPERATORS' AND CHAUFFEURS' LICENSES Introduced By: Representatives Casimiro, Giraldo, McNamara, Read, Cotter, Donovan, Shallcross Smith, Spears, and Hopkins Date Introduced: May 29, 2026 Referred To: House Finance It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: SECTION 1. Section 31-10-19 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-10 entitled "Operators' and Chauffeurs' Licenses" is hereby amended to read as follows: 31-10-19. Driver education -- Traffic safety education. [Effective until contingency in P.L. 2017, ch. 156 and 160 is met.] (a) The community college of Rhode Island shall provide thirty-three (33) hours of classroom instruction for applicants or prospective applicants, not more than twenty-one (21) years of age for a limited instruction permit or license. The instruction shall include eight (8) hours, specifically for instruction on the effects of alcohol and drugs on a driver, and the instruction shall be given by a person eligible for a teacher's certificate issued under the authority of the state board of regents and which course of instruction shall be approved by the board of governors for higher education. In case of emergency, the president of the community college of Rhode Island may declare, when no certified instructor is available to teach, …
Sponsors
- Julie Casimiro (D, HD-031) · primary sponsor
- Joshua Giraldo (D, HD-056)
- McNamara, Joseph (D, HD-019)
- Earl Read (D, HD-026)
- Megan Cotter (D, HD-039)
- Susan Donovan (D, HD-069)
- Ann Shallcross Smith, Mary (D, HD-046)
- Tina Spears (D, HD-036)
- Marie Hopkins (R, HD-021)
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 #547: (June 10, 2026): 38 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House Seq #393: PASSAGE (June 8, 2026): 66 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House Committee on Finance: Passage of Sub A (June 5, 2026): 11 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES
Common questions
- What is H8603?
- H8603 is a bill in the Rhode Island Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- OPERATORS' AND CHAUFFEURS' LICENSES (Exempts an individual in foster or adoptive homes from the fee associated with drivers education classes at the community college of Rhode Island.).
- What is the status of H8603?
- Signed into law as of June 18, 2026. Latest action: Signed by Governor (June 18, 2026).
- Who sponsored H8603?
- Julie Casimiro (D, HD-031), with 8 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for H8603?
- On the Rhode Island Legislature website: http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText/BillText26/HouseText26/H8603A.pdf
Source: official Rhode Island record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.