Proposed Rhode Island Firearm Legislation
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note: Rhode Island has a limited carry over of legislation between sessions
Title: Mental Health Law
Description: Includes licensed advanced practice registered nurses (APRN), certified in psychiatric/mental health, as qualified to certify the need for mental health treatment in certain patients.
Last Action: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Last Action Date: March 1, 2021
Title: Weapons
Description: Requires firearm sellers to require purchaser to execute medical authorization/release form for release of records relating to addiction/alcoholism/mental health illness for a period of five (5) years.
Last Action: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Last Action Date: March 19, 2021
Title: Weapons
Description: Prohibits obtaining/purchasing/transferring a firearm on behalf of another person if other person prohibited from possessing firearm with increase in penalties for those offenses and applications amended to state number of firearms purchased.
Last Action: Signed by Governor
Last Action Date: July 12, 2021
Title: Weapons
Description: Felony to store firearms unlocked.
Last Action: Withdrawn at sponsor's request
Last Action Date: June 28, 2021
Title: Large Capacity Feeding Device Ban Of 2021
Description: Bans firearm magazines that hold ten (10) or more rounds.
Last Action: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Last Action Date: March 19, 2021
Title: The Harold M. Metts School Safety Act Of 2021
Description: Prohibits the possession of firearms on school grounds except for peace officers, retired law enforcement officers, persons under contract to provide school security services, and unloaded firearms in locked containers or a locked rack on motor vehicles.
Last Action: Signed by Governor
Last Action Date: July 12, 2021
Title: Assault Weapons
Description: Bans the possession, sale, and transfer of assault weapons.
Last Action: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Last Action Date: March 19, 2021
Title: Weapons
Description: Provides that any person eighteen (18) years of age who is issued a license may carry a stun gun. This act would also add "tasers" to the definition of "firearm" and would provide for an appeal process for denial of an application for a permit.
Last Action: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Last Action Date: March 19, 2021
Title: Weapons
Description: Allows those persons with concealed carry permits issued by other states to carry upon their person weapons in Rhode Island provided that the issuing state recognizes and gives reciprocity to RI permit holders.
Last Action: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Last Action Date: March 19, 2021
Title: Ordinances
Description: Allows cities and towns to create ordinances to regulate use and sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products.
Last Action: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Last Action Date: March 25, 2021
Title: Weapons
Description: Allows reciprocal concealed carry permits from out of state to be valid in Rhode Island, which is either authorized by the attorney general or subject to other reciprocal restrictions.
Last Action: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Last Action Date: March 19, 2021
Title: Weapons
Description: Defines rifle and shotgun and makes it unlawful to possess a loaded rifle or shotgun in public subject to various exemptions for law enforcement and other authorized individuals.
Last Action: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Last Action Date: March 19, 2021
Title: Weapons
Description: Authorizes the attorney general to enter into a reciprocal agreement with Massachusetts and/or Connecticut for handgun permits.
Last Action: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Last Action Date: March 19, 2021
Title: Weapons
Description: Amends the definition of firearms to include tasers, as well as define taser and stun gun.
Last Action: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Last Action Date: March 19, 2021
Title: Emergency Management
Description: Allows the governor to renew an initial 30 day executive order or proclamation of a state of disaster emergency by the governor for 2 additional 30 day extensions.
Last Action: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Last Action Date: March 24, 2021
Title: Weapons
Description: Prohibits schools from offering employment incentives or bonuses to teachers on the condition that the teacher either is or becomes licensed to carry a weapon.
Last Action: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Last Action Date: March 19, 2021
Title: Weapons
Description: Defines rifle and shotguns as weapons and makes unlawful possession of a loaded rifle/shotgun in public with exceptions punishable up to five (5) years in prison or a $5,000 fine.
Last Action: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Last Action Date: March 19, 2021
Title: Weapons
Description: Increases the age from eighteen (18) to twenty-one (21) years for lawful sale of firearms or ammunition. Full-time law enforcement, state marshals and members of the U.S. military be exempt from these prohibitions.
Last Action: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Last Action Date: March 19, 2021
Title: Weapons
Description: Creates an appeal for applicants denied a concealed firearms permit/firearms transfer with the right to superior court hearing with all records deemed as non-public records.
Last Action: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Last Action Date: March 19, 2021
Title: Weapons
Description: Permits Rhode Island residents, twenty-one (21) years of age or older, to carry a concealed handgun, without a permit.
Last Action: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Last Action Date: March 19, 2021
Title: Weapons
Description: Permits the open and concealed carry of weapons by any person in the act of evacuating the area pursuant to an order of the governor or local authority under chapter 15 of title 30.
Last Action: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Last Action Date: March 19, 2021
Title: Mandatory Vaccination Agreement Prohibited
Description: Prohibits discrimination against individuals who refuse to be vaccinated.
Last Action: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Last Action Date: April 6, 2021
Title: Burglary And Breaking And Entering
Description: Adds a rebuttable defense if any person shall die or sustain a personal injury while committing robbery of the owner, lessor, or occupant of a motor vehicle and that the owner or occupant of the vehicle acted in self defense.
Last Action: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Last Action Date: March 9, 2021
Title: Burglary And Breaking And Entering
Description: Provides a rebuttable defense if any person shall die or sustain a personal injury while committing any violent criminal offense that individual is lawfully in a place they have a right to be, and acted in self-defense and reasonable belief of harm.
Last Action: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Last Action Date: March 9, 2021
Title: Health And Safety Of Pupils
Description: Creates Rhode Island School Security Committee for school security.
Last Action: Withdrawn at sponsor's request (03/31/2021)
Last Action Date: March 28, 2021
Title: Courts
Description: Removes references to minors in certain sections relative to domestic assault protective orders as the family court currently has jurisdiction over protective orders involving minors.
Last Action: Signed by Governor
Last Action Date: July 2, 2021
Title: Weapons
Description: Defines "electric arm" subjects to various protections of firearms/removes stun gun from the prohibited weapons list.
Last Action: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Last Action Date: March 19, 2021
Title: Weapons
Description: Repeals authority to local authorities to issue concealed carry permits to, repeals provisions allowing minors to carry firearms, requires national background check for permit, repeals provisions allowing permits to be issued to law enforcement officers.
Last Action: Introduced, referred to House Judiciary
Last Action Date: March 17, 2021
Title: Weapons
Description: Prohibits the sale or transfer of ammunition unless the purchaser successfully undergoes a background check.
Last Action: Introduced, referred to House Judiciary
Last Action Date: June 29, 2021
Title: The Harold M. Metts School Safety Act Of 2021
Description: Prohibits possession of firearms on school grounds except for peace officers, retired law enforcement officers, persons under contract to provide school security services, and unloaded firearms in locked containers or a locked rack on motor vehicles.
Last Action: Signed by Governor
Last Action Date: July 12, 2021
Title: Weapons
Description: Repeals authority to local authorities to issue concealed carry permits to, repeals provisions allowing minors to carry firearms, requires national background check for permit, repeals provisions allowing permits to be issued to law enforcement officers.
Last Action: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Last Action Date: April 12, 2021
Title: Weapons
Description: Amends the definition of firearms to include tasers, as well as define taser and stun gun.
Last Action: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Last Action Date: April 12, 2021
Title: Procedure Generally - Causes Of Action
Description: Provides for a cause of action against an individual or entity that prohibits the possession of firearms on real property, except residences, by an individual that is authorized and licensed to carry a firearm.
Last Action: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Last Action Date: April 12, 2021
Title: Emergency Management
Description: Limits the governor to one thirty (30) day renewal of a declaration of emergency without a joint resolution of the general assembly.
Last Action: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Last Action Date: April 15, 2021
Title: Weapons
Description: Felony to store firearms unlocked.
Last Action: Meeting postponed (06/28/2021)
Last Action Date: June 28, 2021
Title: Large Capacity Feeding Device Ban Of 2021
Description: Bans firearm magazines that hold ten (10) or more rounds.
Last Action: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Last Action Date: April 12, 2021
Title: Assault Weapons
Description: Bans the possession, sale, and transfer of assault weapons. Assault weapons owned on the effective date of this act would be "grandfathered" subject to certain registration provisions.
Last Action: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Last Action Date: April 12, 2021
Title: Weapons
Description: Prohibits obtaining/purchasing/transferring a firearm on behalf of another person if other person prohibited from possessing firearm with increase in penalties for those offenses and applications amended to state number of firearms purchased.
Last Action: Signed by Governor
Last Action Date: July 12, 2021
Title: Weapons
Description: Defines rifle and shotguns as weapons and makes unlawful possession of a loaded rifle/shotgun in public with exceptions punishable up to five (5) years in prison or a $5,000 fine.
Last Action: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Last Action Date: April 12, 2021
Title: Weapons
Description: Defines "electric arm" subjects to various protections of firearms/removes stun gun from the prohibited weapons list.
Last Action: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Last Action Date: April 12, 2021
Title: Weapons
Description: Permits Rhode Island residents, twenty-one (21) years of age or older, to carry a concealed handgun, without a permit.
Last Action: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Last Action Date: April 12, 2021
Title: Weapons
Description: Allows an individual to lawfully possess a device that would silence the sound of a natural report of a rifle or shotgun to hunt game, as long as the host rifle or shotgun is allowed.
Last Action: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Last Action Date: April 12, 2021
Title: Weapons
Description: Allows reciprocal concealed carry permits from out of state to be valid in Rhode Island, which is either authorized by the attorney general or subject to other reciprocal restrictions.
Last Action: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Last Action Date: April 12, 2021
Title: Weapons
Description: Prohibits the sale or possession of firearm silencers unless the person complies with federal law in the sale, possession and use.
Last Action: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Last Action Date: April 12, 2021
Title: Weapons -- Access To Public Records
Description: Amends various laws related to firearms.
Last Action: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Last Action Date: April 12, 2021
Title: Access To Public Records
Description: Exempts from "public records" availability, all those documents, evidence and records of proceedings considered by the "relief from disqualifiers board and appellate courts" involving request for relief from firearm prohibitions.
Last Action: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Last Action Date: April 15, 2021
Title: Burglary And Breaking And Entering
Description: Adds a rebuttable defense if any person shall die or sustain a personal injury while committing robbery of the owner, lessor, or occupant of a motor vehicle and that the owner or occupant of the vehicle acted in self defense.
Last Action: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Last Action Date: March 25, 2021
Title: Burglary And Breaking And Entering
Description: Provides a rebuttable defense if any person shall die or sustain a personal injury while committing any violent criminal offense that individual is lawfully in a place they have a right to be, and acted in self-defense and reasonable belief of harm.
Last Action: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Last Action Date: March 25, 2021
Title: Weapons
Description: Authorizes the police authority making a background check of an applicant to invoice the seller of concealable weapons, rifles or shotguns a twenty-five dollar ($25.00) fee per non-disqualifying background check.
Last Action: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Last Action Date: April 12, 2021
Title: Weapons
Description: (Includes the chief inspector and inspector as those exempt from carrying a firearm without a permit and defines them as peace officers.
Last Action: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Last Action Date: April 12, 2021