Rhode Island 2026 Session Status: Enacted 1 D cosponsors

HB 7608 — AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- OPERATION OF RAILROADS GENERALLY

Last action — 06/18/2026 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 February 11, 2026. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Dan McKee (Democratic) on June 18, 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 72% · moderate confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (1 D).

  • 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

Requires trains moving freight to have a crew of at least two persons.

This bill mandates that any train or light engine moving freight must be operated by a crew of at least two people. It also introduces fines for companies that violate this requirement.

What this means for you
  • Workers: This means workers will likely have greater job security as more crew members are required for train operation.
  • Consumers: Consumers could see impacts on freight delivery times as companies adjust to the new crew requirements.
  • Small Business: Small businesses relying on freight services may experience changes in service availability due to the crew requirement.

Summary

Provides that no train or light engine would be used in connection with the movement of freight could be operated unless it had a crew consisting of at least 2 persons, would also include the imposition of fines upon a company for violation of the act.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. 06/18/2026 Signed by Governor

  2. 06/16/2026 Transmitted to Governor

  3. 06/09/2026 Senate passed in concurrence

  4. 06/05/2026 Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar (06/09/2026)

  5. 05/28/2026 Committee recommends passage in concurrence

  6. 05/26/2026 Scheduled for consideration (05/28/2026)

  7. 05/15/2026 Referred to Senate Housing and Municipal Government

  8. 05/12/2026 House read and passed

  9. 05/01/2026 Placed on House Calendar (05/12/2026)

  10. 04/28/2026 Committee recommends passage

  11. 04/24/2026 Scheduled for consideration (04/28/2026)

  12. 03/03/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study

  13. 02/27/2026 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/03/2026)

  14. 02/23/2026 Meeting postponed (02/24/2026)

  15. 02/19/2026 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration

  16. 02/11/2026 Introduced, referred to House Corporations

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 113 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (113)

113 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 113 →

"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 72 Yea · 0 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democratic 58003
Independent 1000
Republican 10000
Unaffiliated 3000
Total 72003
% of votes cast 96%0%0%4%
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 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 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 Not Voting
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 →

Subjects

public-safety 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 HB 7608 do?
Provides that no train or light engine would be used in connection with the movement of freight could be operated unless it had a crew consisting of at least 2 persons, would also include the imposition of fines upon a company for violation of the act.
Who sponsors HB 7608?
HB 7608 is sponsored by Matt S. Dawson (Democratic).
What is the current status of HB 7608?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 11, 2026. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 7608?
Track HB 7608 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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