# Rhode Island H7638: AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- RIGHT-OF-WAY .

Rhode Island H7638, AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- RIGHT-OF-WAY ., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Earl A. Read, III (Democratic); status became law, last action 2026-06-24 (Effective without Governor's signature — Chapter 322) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H7638-2026
- 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 H7638
- State: Rhode Island
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- RIGHT-OF-WAY .
- Status: became law
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-02-11
- Last action: 2026-06-24, Effective without Governor's signature — Chapter 322
- Sponsor: Earl A. Read, III (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 4
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (102 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Pedestrian right-of-way fines follow schedule: cost, low. The law removes the old $75 maximum fine for pedestrian right-of-way violations. If you are convicted of these violations, your fine now follows the state traffic fine schedule. This means penalties match the amounts in that schedule instead of a fixed cap. The change takes effect upon passage.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Earl A. Read, III (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Arthur J. Corvese (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Marie A. Hopkins (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Jon D. Brien (Independent), House
- Cosponsor: Thomas E. Noret (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-06-09 | Senate | RELATING TO MOTOR/OTHER VEHICLES -- RIGHT-OF-WAY In Concurrence Passage | pass | 36 | 0 |   |
| 2026-06-04 | House | VEHICLES - RIGHT-OF-WAY PASSAGE | pass | 66 | 0 |   |

## Actions (11)

- 2026-06-24: Effective without Governor's signature — Chapter 322 (Governor)
- 2026-06-16: Transmitted to Governor (Governor)
- 2026-06-09: Senate passed in concurrence (Senate)
- 2026-06-05: Placed on Senate Calendar (06/09/2026) (Senate)
- 2026-06-04: House read and passed (House)
- 2026-05-29: Placed on House Calendar (06/04/2026) (House)
- 2026-05-26: Committee recommends passage
- 2026-05-22: Scheduled for consideration (05/26/2026)
- 2026-04-28: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
- 2026-04-24: Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (04/28/2026)
- 2026-02-11: Introduced, referred to House Judiciary (House)

## Bill text

- H7638 - As Introduced, 2026-02-11: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7638.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7638.pdf)

## Related bills

- H8025: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION . (became law)
- H8046: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE--PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- FEES . (became law)
- H7866: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- UNFAIR CLAIMS SETTLEMENT PRACTICES ACT . (became law)
- H7642: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- DISTRICT COURT PRACTICE . (became law)
- S3363: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION . (became law)
- S3353: JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO PAY CERTAIN CLAIMS . (became law)

## Sources
- [H7638 - As Introduced (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7638.htm)
- [H7638 - As Introduced (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7638.pdf)

## Related
- [H8025: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8025-2026)
- [H8046: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE--PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- FEES .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8046-2026)
- [H7866: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- UNFAIR CLAIMS SETTLEMENT PRACTICES ACT .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H7866-2026)
- [H7642: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- DISTRIC…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H7642-2026)
- [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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H7638-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).