# Rhode Island H7202: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- CAUSES OF ACTION -- THE RHODE ISLAND FEDERAL CONSTITUTION DEFENSE ACT .

Rhode Island H7202, AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- CAUSES OF ACTION -- THE RHODE ISLAND FEDERAL CONSTITUTION DEFENSE ACT ., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Brandon C. Potter (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-06-22 (Signed by Governor — Chapter 191) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H7202-2026
- 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 H7202
- State: Rhode Island
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- CAUSES OF ACTION -- THE RHODE ISLAND FEDERAL CONSTITUTION DEFENSE ACT .
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-21
- Last action: 2026-06-22, Signed by Governor — Chapter 191
- Sponsor: Brandon C. Potter (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 9
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (94 yes, 16 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Sue for federal rights violations in Rhode Island: mixed, medium. In Rhode Island, you can sue someone acting under color of federal law who violates your U.S. constitutional rights. You can also sue for threats, intimidation, or coercion that interfere with those rights. You can ask for money, an injunction, or other court orders. If you win, the court must awar…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Brandon C. Potter (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Edith H. Ajello (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Cherie L. Cruz (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Joshua J. Giraldo (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Rebecca M. Kislak (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Carol Hagan McEntee (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: David Morales (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Enrique Sanchez (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: June Speakman (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Jennifer A. Stewart (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-06-11 | Senate | COURTS/CIVIL PROCEDURE -- RI FEDERAL CONSTITUTION DEFENSE ACT In Concurrence | pass | 31 | 7 |   |
| 2026-06-10 | House | RI FED. CONST. DEFENSE ACT PASSAGE | pass | 63 | 9 |   |

## Actions (11)

- 2026-06-22: Signed by Governor — Chapter 191 (Governor)
- 2026-06-18: Transmitted to Governor (Governor)
- 2026-06-11: Senate passed in concurrence (Senate)
- 2026-06-10: Placed on Senate Calendar (06/11/2026) (Senate)
- 2026-06-10: House read and passed (House)
- 2026-06-08: Placed on House Calendar (06/10/2026) (House)
- 2026-06-08: Committee recommends passage
- 2026-06-06: Scheduled for consideration (06/08/2026)
- 2026-03-04: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
- 2026-02-27: Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/04/2026)
- 2026-01-21: Introduced, referred to House Judiciary (House)

## Bill text

- H7202 - As Introduced, 2026-01-21: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7202.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7202.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
- [H7202 - As Introduced (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7202.htm)
- [H7202 - As Introduced (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7202.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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H7202-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).