Rhode Island 2026 Session Status: Enacted Bipartisan · 4 D · 1 I cosponsors

HB 7020 — AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- VETERINARY PRACTICE

Last action — 06/23/2026 Signed by Governor

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

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 09, 2026. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Dan McKee (Democratic) on June 23, 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 96% · high confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 5 sponsors

    5 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (4 D · 1 I) — cross-party backing.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 1 recorded vote 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

The bill allows veterinarians to establish client-patient relationships electronically under specific conditions.

This legislation permits veterinarians to create client-patient relationships via electronic communication. However, it requires veterinarians to make a good faith effort to assess whether care can be delivered through telemedicine rather than in person.

What this means for you
  • Families: This means families can potentially interact with veterinarians online for their pets, enhancing convenience.

Summary

Authorizes veterinarians to establish a client-patient relationship through electronic means, subject to limitations and requirements such as Vet making a good faith effort to determine if care should be provided through telemedicine instead of in person.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. 06/23/2026 Signed by Governor

  2. 06/18/2026 Transmitted to Governor

  3. 06/11/2026 Senate passed in concurrence

  4. 06/10/2026 Placed on Senate Calendar (06/11/2026)

  5. 06/09/2026 House read and passed

  6. 06/08/2026 Placed on House Calendar (06/09/2026)

  7. 06/08/2026 Committee recommends passage

  8. 06/06/2026 Scheduled for consideration (06/08/2026)

  9. 01/20/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study

  10. 01/16/2026 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (01/20/2026)

  11. 01/09/2026 Introduced, referred to House Corporations

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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5 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 109 not signed on

Sponsors (5)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (109)

109 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 109 →

"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

PASSAGE

Passed 70 Yea · 0 Nay · 5 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 57004
Independent 1000
Republican 9001
Unaffiliated 3000
Total 70005
% of votes cast 93%0%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 Yea
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 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
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 Not Voting

Official roll call →

Subjects

healthcare technology
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 HB 7020 do?
Authorizes veterinarians to establish a client-patient relationship through electronic means, subject to limitations and requirements such as Vet making a good faith effort to determine if care should be provided through telemedicine instead of in person.
Who sponsors HB 7020?
HB 7020 is sponsored by Charlene M. Lima (Democratic), Patricia A. Serpa (Democratic), Jacquelyn M. Baginski (Democratic), Joseph J. Solomon, Jr. (Democratic), and Jon D. Brien (Independent).
What is the current status of HB 7020?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 09, 2026. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 7020?
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