# Rhode Island H7227: AN ACT RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- RETAIL LICENSES .

Rhode Island H7227, AN ACT RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- RETAIL LICENSES ., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by John J. Lombardi (Democratic); status became law, last action 2026-05-06 (Effective without Governor's signature — Chapter 023) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H7227-2026
- 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 H7227
- State: Rhode Island
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: AN ACT RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- RETAIL LICENSES .
- Status: became law
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-21
- Last action: 2026-05-06, Effective without Governor's signature — Chapter 023
- Sponsor: John J. Lombardi (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 2
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 1 (64 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Local boards can waive distance limits: benefit, low. Local boards and councils named in the law can approve case-by-case exemptions to the distance and objection rules for specific parcels and zones. You must apply to the local board, and they may set conditions like being current on state and local taxes. In Providence, the board can allow a Class B…
- Pre-1978 Class B and C licenses protected: benefit, low. Class B or C licenses issued before January 1, 1978 are not subject to these distance and objection rules. The law also bars using these rules to block a license transfer when the licensed site existed before the nearby school or place of worship.
- Distance limits for new liquor licenses: cost, medium. The law blocks new Retailers’ Class B, C, N, and I licenses for buildings within 200 feet of any public, private, or parochial school or place of worship. It also blocks these licenses when the owner of most land within 200 feet files an objection. In East Providence, Retailers’ Class A licenses ar…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: John J. Lombardi (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Raymond A. Hull (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Enrique Sanchez (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-31 | House | ALCOHOLIC -- RETAIL LICENSES PASSAGE | pass | 64 | 0 |   |

## Actions (14)

- 2026-05-06: Effective without Governor's signature — Chapter 023 (Governor)
- 2026-04-28: Transmitted to Governor (Governor)
- 2026-04-28: Senate passed in concurrence (Senate)
- 2026-04-16: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar (04/28/2026) (Senate)
- 2026-04-15: Committee recommends passage in concurrence
- 2026-04-10: Scheduled for consideration (04/15/2026)
- 2026-04-03: Referred to Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs (Senate)
- 2026-03-31: House read and passed (House)
- 2026-03-27: Placed on House Calendar (03/31/2026) (House)
- 2026-03-24: Committee recommends passage
- 2026-03-20: Scheduled for consideration (03/24/2026)
- 2026-01-27: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
- 2026-01-23: Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (01/27/2026)
- 2026-01-21: Introduced, referred to House Municipal Government & Housing (House)

## Bill text

- H7227 - As Introduced, 2026-01-21: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7227.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7227.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
- [H7227 - As Introduced (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7227.htm)
- [H7227 - As Introduced (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7227.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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H7227-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).