Rhode Island 2026 Session Status: Enacted 6 D cosponsors

SB 3166 — AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHWAYS -- RHODE ISLAND TURNPIKE AND BRIDGE AUTHORITY

Last action — 06/26/2026 Effective without Governor's signature

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed House
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced March 27, 2026. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Dan McKee (Democratic) on June 26, 2026.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 82% · moderate confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 6 sponsors

    6 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (6 D).

  • 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.

In plain language

This bill allows rental companies to avoid liability for toll violations by showing a rental agreement.

The bill provides that motor vehicle rental companies can establish non-liability for toll violations and associated fees by using the rental agreement as evidence against the renter. This means rental companies may not be held responsible for toll charges incurred by the lessee.

What this means for you
  • Small Business: For rental companies, this means less financial risk associated with toll violations incurred by their customers.

Summary

Provides that motor vehicle rental companies be entitled to establish non-liability for toll violations, administrative fees, registration penalties, and fines by providing a rental or lease agreement as prima facie evidence against a lessee.

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

5 changes Share ↗

Compared against the R.I. General Laws as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill exempts rental companies from liability for toll violations of vehicles they own and modifies the procedure for notifying rental companies about toll violations.

  • R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-12-37

    This provision of this subsection shall not apply to any vehicle owned by a rental company as defined in §31-34.1-1. → This provision of this subsection shall not apply to any vehicle owned by a rental company as defined in §31-34.1-1.

    It clarifies that toll violators from rental companies are not penalized under certain subsections.

  • R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-12-37

    Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, a rental company, as defined in § 31-34.1-1, that is the registered owner of a motor vehicle shall be entitled to establish non-liability for toll violations, administrative fees, and fines by providing to the traffic tribunal a copy of a written rental or lease agreement which shall be prima facie evidence that the lessee was the operator of the vehicle.

    It allows rental companies to avoid liability for toll violations by proving that the lessee was responsible at the time of the violation.

  • R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-12-37

    The issuing authority shall provide to the owner of a rented or leased vehicle a notice, in writing, of each toll violation in which a motor vehicle owned by the rental or leasing company is involved, including the license number of the vehicle and the date and time of the toll violation.

    This mandates that rental companies are notified about toll violations involving their vehicles.

  • R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-12-37

    Upon receipt of this notice, the owner of a rented or leased vehicle shall inform the issuing authority, within twenty (20) days, to the extent available, the operator’s name, home address, employer, employer’s address, and local address, if any.

    This change requires rental companies to provide the identity and address of the renter involved in toll violations.

  • R.I. Gen. Laws § 24-12-37

    The renter or lessee shall not be considered an agent of the owner if the owner is engaged in the business of renting or leasing vehicles.

    It clarifies the legal relationship between the rental company and the renter regarding toll violations.

Action History

  1. 06/26/2026 Effective without Governor's signature

  2. 06/18/2026 Transmitted to Governor

  3. 06/09/2026 House passed Sub A in concurrence

  4. 06/08/2026 Placed on House Calendar (06/09/2026)

  5. 06/08/2026 Committee recommends passage of Sub A in concurrence

  6. 06/05/2026 Scheduled for consideration (06/08/2026)

  7. 06/05/2026 Referred to House Corporations

  8. 06/03/2026 Senate passed Sub A

  9. 05/29/2026 Placed on Senate Calendar (06/03/2026)

  10. 05/28/2026 Committee recommends passage of Sub A

  11. 05/27/2026 Proposed Substitute

  12. 05/26/2026 Scheduled for consideration (05/28/2026)

  13. 05/26/2026 Meeting postponed (05/26/2026)

  14. 05/22/2026 Scheduled for consideration

  15. 04/16/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study

  16. 04/10/2026 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (04/16/2026)

  17. 03/27/2026 Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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6 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 108 not signed on · 1 voted No

Sponsors (6)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (108)

108 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 108 →

"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.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

IN CONCURRENCE

Passed 69 Yea · 1 Nay · 5 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 55105
Independent 1000
Republican 10000
Unaffiliated 3000
Total 69105
% of votes cast 92%1%0%7%
How each member voted (75)
Member Party Vote
Mr. Speaker — Yea
O'Brien — Yea
ShallcrossSmith — 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
Cherie L. Cruz Democratic Yea
David A. Bennett Democratic Yea
David Morales Democratic Not Voting
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 Nay
Grace Diaz Democratic Yea
Gregory J. Costantino Democratic Yea
Jacquelyn M. Baginski Democratic Yea
Jason Knight Democratic Not Voting
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 Yea
Joseph J. Solomon, Jr. Democratic Not Voting
Joseph M. McNamara Democratic Yea
Joshua J. Giraldo Democratic Yea
Julie A. Casimiro Democratic Yea
June Speakman Democratic Yea
Justine A. Caldwell Democratic Yea
K. Joseph Shekarchi Democratic Not Voting
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 Not Voting
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 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 Yea
Robert J. Quattrocchi Republican Yea
Sherry Roberts Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Passage

Passed 38 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 33000
Unaffiliated 2000
Republican 3000
Total 38000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (38)
Member Party Vote
de la Cruz — Yea
Madam President — Yea
Alana M. DiMario Democratic Yea
Ana B. Quezada Democratic Yea
Andrew R. Dimitri Democratic Yea
Brian J. Thompson Democratic Yea
Bridget Valverde Democratic Yea
David P. Tikoian Democratic Yea
Dawn Euer Democratic Yea
Frank A. Ciccone III Democratic Yea
Hanna M. Gallo Democratic Yea
Jacob E. Bissaillon Democratic Yea
John P. Burke Democratic Yea
Jonathon Acosta Democratic Yea
Lammis J. Vargas Democratic Yea
Leonidas P. Raptakis Democratic Yea
Linda L. Ujifusa Democratic Yea
Lori Urso Democratic Yea
Louis P. DiPalma Democratic Yea
Mark McKenney Democratic Yea
Matthew L. LaMountain Democratic Yea
Meghan E. Kallman Democratic Yea
Melissa Murray Democratic Yea
Pamela J. Lauria Democratic Yea
Peter A. Appollonio Jr. Democratic Yea
Robert Britto Democratic Yea
Ryan W. Pearson Democratic Yea
Samuel D. Zurier Democratic Yea
Samuel W. Bell Democratic Yea
Stefano V. Famiglietti Democratic Yea
Tiara T. Mack Democratic Yea
Todd M. Patalano Democratic Yea
V. Susan Sosnowski Democratic Yea
Victoria Gu Democratic Yea
Walter S. Felag Jr. Democratic Yea
Elaine J. Morgan Republican Yea
Gordon E. Rogers Republican Yea
Thomas J. Paolino Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

transportation
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does SB 3166 do?
Provides that motor vehicle rental companies be entitled to establish non-liability for toll violations, administrative fees, registration penalties, and fines by providing a rental or lease agreement as prima facie evidence against a lessee.
Who sponsors SB 3166?
SB 3166 is sponsored by Louis P. DiPalma (Democratic), Walter S. Felag Jr. (Democratic), Brian J. Thompson (Democratic), John P. Burke (Democratic), Robert Britto (Democratic), and Frank A. Ciccone III (Democratic).
What is the current status of SB 3166?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced March 27, 2026. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 3166?
Track SB 3166 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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