HB 5855 — AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- RHODE ISLAND FOOD, DRUGS, AND COSMETICS ACT
Last action — 06/24/2025 Signed by Governor
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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✓Passed House
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✓Passed Senate
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✓To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 28, 2025. Enacted.
Signed by Governor Dan McKee (Democratic) on June 24, 2025.
Odds of enactment
High chanceBased on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.
Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.
A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.
Prognosis
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Enacted
Current position in the legislative process.
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10 sponsors
10 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.
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Single-party support
Sponsorship is currently within one party (10 D).
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Cleared a recorded vote
Passed 2 recorded votes so far.
Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.
Summary
Amends the types of products which pharmacists may prescribe as substitute drugs or products to include "devices and supplies" and "therapeutically equivalent drugs and pharmaceuticals."
Bill Text
We don't have the full text on file for this bill yet.
Read HB 5855 on the official Rhode Island source →Action History
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06/24/2025 Signed by Governor
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06/18/2025 Transmitted to Governor
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06/18/2025 Senate passed Sub A in concurrence
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06/13/2025 Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar (06/18/2025)
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06/12/2025 House passed Sub A
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06/06/2025 Placed on House Calendar (06/12/2025)
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06/03/2025 Committee recommends passage of Sub A
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05/30/2025 Proposed Substitute
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05/30/2025 Scheduled for consideration (06/03/2025)
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03/18/2025 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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03/14/2025 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/18/2025)
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03/08/2025 Committee postponed at request of sponsor (03/13/2025)
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03/07/2025 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration
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02/28/2025 Introduced, referred to House Health & Human Services
Sponsors
- Brandon T. Voas · Primary
- Jennifer A. Stewart · Primary
- Justine A. Caldwell · Primary
- Jenni A. Furtado · Primary
- Jennifer Smith Boylan · Primary
- Arthur Handy · Primary
- Megan L. Cotter · Primary
- Joshua J. Giraldo · Primary
- John G. Edwards · Primary
- Michelle E. McGaw · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →10 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 104 not signed on · 8 voted No
Sponsors (10)
- Brandon T. Voas Democratic
- Jennifer A. Stewart Democratic Voted No
- Justine A. Caldwell Democratic
- Jenni A. Furtado Democratic
- Jennifer Smith Boylan Democratic
- Arthur Handy Democratic
- Megan L. Cotter Democratic
- Joshua J. Giraldo Democratic
- John G. Edwards Democratic
- Michelle E. McGaw Democratic
Co-sponsors (0)
None.
Not signed on (104)
104 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 104 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 56 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Independent | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Republican | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Unaffiliated | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 68 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| % of votes cast | 91% | 1% | 0% | 8% |
How each member voted (75)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Mr. Speaker | — | Yea |
| O'Brien | — | Yea |
| ShallcrossSmith | — | Yea |
| Alex Finkelman | Democratic | Not Voting |
| Alex Marszalkowski | Democratic | Yea |
| Anthony J. DeSimone | Democratic | Yea |
| Arthur Handy | Democratic | Yea |
| Arthur J. Corvese | Democratic | Yea |
| Brandon C. Potter | Democratic | Yea |
| Brandon T. Voas | Democratic | Yea |
| Brian Patrick Kennedy | Democratic | Yea |
| Carol Hagan McEntee | Democratic | Yea |
| Charlene M. Lima | Democratic | Yea |
| Cherie L. Cruz | Democratic | Yea |
| Christopher R. Blazejewski | Democratic | Not Voting |
| David A. Bennett | Democratic | Yea |
| David Morales | Democratic | Yea |
| Deborah A. Fellela | Democratic | Yea |
| Earl A. Read, III | Democratic | Yea |
| Edith H. Ajello | Democratic | Yea |
| Enrique George Sanchez | Democratic | Yea |
| Evan P. Shanley | Democratic | Yea |
| Grace Diaz | Democratic | Yea |
| Gregory J. Costantino | Democratic | Yea |
| Jacquelyn M. Baginski | Democratic | Yea |
| Jason Knight | Democratic | Yea |
| Jenni A. Furtado | Democratic | Yea |
| Jennifer A. Stewart | Democratic | Yea |
| Jennifer Smith Boylan | Democratic | Yea |
| John G. Edwards | Democratic | Yea |
| John J. Lombardi | Democratic | Yea |
| Jose F. Batista | Democratic | Not Voting |
| Joseph J. Solomon, Jr. | Democratic | Yea |
| Joseph M. McNamara | Democratic | Yea |
| Joshua J. Giraldo | Democratic | Yea |
| Julie A. Casimiro | Democratic | Yea |
| June Speakman | Democratic | Yea |
| Justine A. Caldwell | Democratic | Yea |
| Karen Alzate | Democratic | Yea |
| Katherine S. Kazarian | Democratic | Yea |
| Kathleen A. Fogarty | Democratic | Yea |
| Lauren H. Carson | Democratic | Yea |
| Leonela Felix | Democratic | Yea |
| Marvin L. Abney | Democratic | Yea |
| Mary Duffy Messier | Democratic | Yea |
| Matt S. Dawson | Democratic | Yea |
| Megan L. Cotter | Democratic | Yea |
| Mia A. Ackerman | Democratic | Yea |
| Michelle E. McGaw | Democratic | Yea |
| Nathan W. Biah | Democratic | Yea |
| Patricia A. Serpa | Democratic | Yea |
| Ramon A. Perez | Democratic | Yea |
| Raymond A. Hull | Democratic | Not Voting |
| Rebecca M. Kislak | Democratic | Yea |
| Robert D. Phillips | Democratic | Yea |
| Robert E. Craven, Sr. | Democratic | Yea |
| Samuel A. Azzinaro | Democratic | Yea |
| Scott A. Slater | Democratic | Yea |
| Stephen M. Casey | Democratic | Yea |
| Susan R. Donovan | Democratic | Yea |
| Teresa Ann Tanzi | Democratic | Yea |
| Terri Cortvriend | Democratic | Yea |
| Thomas E. Noret | Democratic | Not Voting |
| Tina L. Spears | Democratic | Yea |
| Jon D. Brien | Independent | Yea |
| Brian C. Newberry | Republican | Yea |
| Christopher G. Paplauskas | Republican | Yea |
| David J. Place | Republican | Yea |
| George A Nardone | Republican | Yea |
| Marie A. Hopkins | Republican | Yea |
| Michael W. Chippendale | Republican | Yea |
| Paul M. Santucci | Republican | Yea |
| Richard R. Fascia | Republican | Nay |
| Robert J. Quattrocchi | Republican | Not Voting |
| Sherry Roberts | Republican | Yea |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 53 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Independent | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unaffiliated | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Republican | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 64 | 9 | 0 | 2 |
| % of votes cast | 85% | 12% | 0% | 3% |
How each member voted (75)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Cardillo | — | Yea |
| Cruz | — | Yea |
| Fenton-Fung | — | Yea |
| Henries | — | Yea |
| Mr. Speaker | — | Yea |
| O'Brien | — | Yea |
| Rea | — | Nay |
| ShallcrossSmith | — | Yea |
| Vella-Wilkinson | — | Yea |
| Alex Finkelman | Democratic | Yea |
| Alex Marszalkowski | Democratic | Yea |
| Anthony J. DeSimone | Democratic | Yea |
| Arthur Handy | Democratic | Yea |
| Arthur J. Corvese | Democratic | Yea |
| Brandon C. Potter | Democratic | Yea |
| Brandon T. Voas | Democratic | Yea |
| Brian Patrick Kennedy | Democratic | Yea |
| Carol Hagan McEntee | Democratic | Yea |
| Charlene M. Lima | Democratic | Yea |
| Christopher R. Blazejewski | Democratic | Yea |
| David A. Bennett | Democratic | Yea |
| David Morales | Democratic | Nay |
| Deborah A. Fellela | Democratic | Yea |
| Edith H. Ajello | Democratic | Yea |
| Enrique George Sanchez | Democratic | Yea |
| Evan P. Shanley | Democratic | Yea |
| Grace Diaz | Democratic | Yea |
| Gregory J. Costantino | Democratic | Not Voting |
| Jacquelyn M. Baginski | Democratic | Yea |
| Jason Knight | Democratic | Nay |
| Jennifer A. Stewart | Democratic | Nay |
| Jennifer Smith Boylan | Democratic | Yea |
| John G. Edwards | Democratic | Yea |
| John J. Lombardi | Democratic | Yea |
| Jose F. Batista | Democratic | Not Voting |
| Joseph J. Solomon, Jr. | Democratic | Yea |
| Joseph M. McNamara | Democratic | Yea |
| Joshua J. Giraldo | Democratic | Yea |
| Julie A. Casimiro | Democratic | Yea |
| June Speakman | Democratic | Yea |
| Justine A. Caldwell | Democratic | Yea |
| Karen Alzate | Democratic | Yea |
| Katherine S. Kazarian | Democratic | Yea |
| Kathleen A. Fogarty | Democratic | Yea |
| Lauren H. Carson | Democratic | Yea |
| Leonela Felix | Democratic | Yea |
| Marvin L. Abney | Democratic | Yea |
| Mary Duffy Messier | Democratic | Yea |
| Matt S. Dawson | Democratic | Yea |
| Megan L. Cotter | Democratic | Yea |
| Mia A. Ackerman | Democratic | Yea |
| Michelle E. McGaw | Democratic | Yea |
| Nathan W. Biah | Democratic | Yea |
| Patricia A. Serpa | Democratic | Yea |
| Ramon A. Perez | Democratic | Yea |
| Raymond A. Hull | Democratic | Yea |
| Rebecca M. Kislak | Democratic | Yea |
| Robert D. Phillips | Democratic | Yea |
| Robert E. Craven, Sr. | Democratic | Yea |
| Samuel A. Azzinaro | Democratic | Yea |
| Scott A. Slater | Democratic | Yea |
| Stephen M. Casey | Democratic | Yea |
| Susan R. Donovan | Democratic | Yea |
| Teresa Ann Tanzi | Democratic | Yea |
| Terri Cortvriend | Democratic | Yea |
| Thomas E. Noret | Democratic | Yea |
| Tina L. Spears | Democratic | Yea |
| Jon D. Brien | Independent | Yea |
| Brian C. Newberry | Republican | Nay |
| David J. Place | Republican | Nay |
| Elaine J. Morgan | Republican | Yea |
| George A Nardone | Republican | Nay |
| Michael W. Chippendale | Republican | Yea |
| Robert J. Quattrocchi | Republican | Nay |
| Sherry Roberts | Republican | Nay |
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does HB 5855 do?
- Amends the types of products which pharmacists may prescribe as substitute drugs or products to include "devices and supplies" and "therapeutically equivalent drugs and pharmaceuticals."
- Who sponsors HB 5855?
- HB 5855 is sponsored by Brandon T. Voas (Democratic), Jennifer A. Stewart (Democratic), Justine A. Caldwell (Democratic), Jenni A. Furtado (Democratic), Jennifer Smith Boylan (Democratic), Arthur Handy (Democratic), Megan L. Cotter (Democratic), Joshua J. Giraldo (Democratic), John G. Edwards (Democratic), and Michelle E. McGaw (Democratic).
- What is the current status of HB 5855?
- This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 28, 2025. Enacted.
- Where can I track HB 5855?
- Track HB 5855 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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