# Rhode Island H7173: AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- FACILITATING BUSINESS RAPID RESPONSE TO STATE DECLARED DISASTER ACT OF 2024 . Rhode Island H7173, AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- FACILITATING BUSINESS RAPID RESPONSE TO STATE DECLARED DISASTER ACT OF 2024 ., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Brian Patrick Kennedy (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-06-18 (Signed by Governor — Chapter 143) (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H7173-2026 - As of: 2026-11-01 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Rhode Island H7173 - State: Rhode Island - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- FACILITATING BUSINESS RAPID RESPONSE TO STATE DECLARED DISASTER ACT OF 2024 . - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-01-21 - Last action: 2026-06-18, Signed by Governor — Chapter 143 - Sponsor: Brian Patrick Kennedy (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 9 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 3 (173 yes, 1 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 3 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Criminal penalties for damaging broadband gear: benefit, low. Beginning January 1, 2027, willfully damaging broadband, Internet, or wireless equipment is a crime. The penalty stays the same: up to a $3,000 fine, up to two years in jail, or both. Lawful work by authorized crews is still allowed. - Stricter scrap metal rules for dealers: cost, medium. Beginning January 1, 2027, licensed scrap metal dealers must hold certain items for three days and keep them separate. They must immediately tell local police when they receive those items. Before paying, they must tell the seller that the seller must notify police. Parts of wired or wireless commu… - Zoning tools to protect broadband and utilities: mixed, low. Beginning January 1, 2027, wireless and broadband equipment counts as critical infrastructure. A city or town may grant zoning relief to protect it. Relief is allowed when the site faced or faces vandalism, theft, trespass, or extreme weather or climate damage. Standard local notice and hearing rul… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Brian Patrick Kennedy (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Mia A. Ackerman (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Samuel A. Azzinaro (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Megan L. Cotter (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Grace Diaz (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: John G. Edwards (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Deborah A. Fellela (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: William W. O'Brien (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Patricia A. Serpa (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Joseph J. Solomon, Jr. (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-06-09 | Senate | BUSINESSES/PROFESSIONS -- STATE DECLARED DISASTER ACT OF 2024 In Concurrence Passage | pass | 36 | 1 | | | 2026-04-28 | House | STATE DECLARED DISASTER ACT 2024 PASSAGE PASSAGE OF AMENDMENT | pass | 69 | 0 | | | 2026-04-28 | House | STATE DECLARED DISASTER ACT 2024 PASSAGE AS AMENDED | pass | 68 | 0 | | ## Actions (14) - 2026-06-18: Signed by Governor — Chapter 143 (Governor) - 2026-06-16: Transmitted to Governor (Governor) - 2026-06-09: Senate passed as amended in concurrence (Senate) - 2026-06-05: Placed on Senate Calendar (06/09/2026) (Senate) - 2026-05-28: Committee recommends passage as amended in concurrence - 2026-05-26: Scheduled for consideration (05/28/2026) - 2026-05-01: Referred to Senate Judiciary (Senate) - 2026-04-28: House passed as amended (floor amendment) (House) - 2026-04-24: Placed on House Calendar (04/28/2026) (House) - 2026-04-07: Committee recommends passage - 2026-04-03: Scheduled for consideration (04/07/2026) - 2026-02-03: Committee recommended measure be held for further study - 2026-01-30: Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (02/03/2026) - 2026-01-21: Introduced, referred to House Corporations (House) ## Bill text - H7173 - As Amended, 2026-01-21: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7173aa.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7173aa.pdf) - H7173 - As Introduced, 2026-01-21: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7173.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7173.pdf) ## Related bills - S3363: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION . (became law) - S3353: JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO PAY CERTAIN CLAIMS . (became law) - S3337: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION . (became law) - S3315: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES . (became law) - S3333: AN ACT RELATING TO THE NORTH TIVERTON FIRE DISTRICT . (became law) - S3293: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION . (became law) ## Sources - [H7173 - As Amended (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7173aa.htm) - [H7173 - As Amended (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7173aa.pdf) - [H7173 - As Introduced (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7173.htm) - [H7173 - As Introduced (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7173.pdf) ## Related - [S3363: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3363-2026) - [S3353: JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO PAY CERTAIN CLAIMS .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3353-2026) - [S3337: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3337-2026) - [S3315: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3315-2026) - [S3333: AN ACT RELATING TO THE NORTH TIVERTON FIRE DISTRICT .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3333-2026) - [S3293: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3293-2026) - [Rhode Island bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/rhode-island/bills) - [Rhode Island state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/rhode-island) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H7173-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).