PRIA Logo™
Rhode IslandH71492026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- RELIEF OF INJURED AND DECEASED FIRE FIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS .

Sponsored By: Earl A. Read, III (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.

PTSD presumed job-related for police and firefighters

The law presumes PTSD is a line‑of‑duty injury for police and firefighters. You must have a diagnosis from an independent, licensed mental health professional with a master’s degree. The PTSD must come from job exposures or from helping in Rhode Island while off‑duty. Employers can rebut this with stronger evidence. The presumption does not apply if the PTSD stems from discipline, job reviews, transfers, layoffs, demotions, terminations, or similar actions.

Stricter disability-application deadlines for injured responders

If you get injured‑on‑duty pay, you must apply for accidental disability retirement on time. The deadline is the later of 18 months after your injury or 60 days after your doctor says you reached maximum medical improvement. For clear, permanent injuries, you must apply within 60 days after a doctor or independent examiner certifies permanency. Missing the deadline ends injured‑on‑duty payments. If you apply on time, payments continue: for state employees, until the state retirement board makes a final decision; for non‑state employees under the board, until a final workers’ compensation court ruling allows accidental disability benefits. For injuries before July 1, 2019, special 90‑day grace rules applied starting July 1, 2019.

New proof rules for off-duty injuries

To claim benefits for an off‑duty rescue in Rhode Island, you must prove to your employer you reasonably believed an emergency required immediate help to protect or rescue human life. You must give a sworn statement with the date, time, place, what happened, and how you were hurt. Any available witness must also give a sworn statement. These statements include a penalty‑of‑perjury line.

State cases move to workers' comp court

Beginning July 1, 2025, most state employees must bring new petitions about disability status, injury, maximum medical improvement, causation, and related fees to the workers’ compensation court. Sworn Rhode Island state police are excluded. The court can appoint impartial medical examiners and enforce its orders. This changes where cases are decided, not the benefit amounts.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Earl A. Read, III

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Stephen M. Casey

    Democratic • House

  • Julie A. Casimiro

    Democratic • House

  • Richard R. Fascia

    Republican • House

  • Raymond A. Hull

    Democratic • House

  • Thomas E. Noret

    Democratic • House

  • William W. O'Brien

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 71 • No: 0

House vote • 5/5/2026

RELIEF OF INJURED FIRE/ POLICE PASSAGE

Yes: 71 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by Governor — Chapter 056

    6/10/2026Governor

  2. Transmitted to Governor

    6/4/2026Governor

  3. Senate passed in concurrence

    6/4/2026Senate

  4. Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar (06/04/2026)

    6/3/2026Senate

  5. Committee recommends passage in concurrence

    5/20/2026

  6. Scheduled for consideration (05/20/2026)

    5/15/2026

  7. Referred to Senate Labor and Gaming

    5/15/2026Senate

  8. House read and passed

    5/5/2026House

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

    5/1/2026House

  10. Committee recommends passage

    4/29/2026

  11. Scheduled for consideration (04/29/2026)

    4/24/2026

  12. Committee recommended measure be held for further study

    3/24/2026

  13. Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/24/2026)

    3/20/2026

  14. Introduced, referred to House Municipal Government & Housing

    1/16/2026House

Bill Text

  • H7149 - As Introduced

    1/16/2026

    HTMLPDF

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation