# Rhode Island H7859: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- DOMESTIC INSURANCE COMPANIES . Rhode Island H7859, AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- DOMESTIC INSURANCE COMPANIES ., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Brian Patrick Kennedy (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-06-19 (Signed by Governor — Chapter 200) (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H7859-2026 - 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 H7859 - State: Rhode Island - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- DOMESTIC INSURANCE COMPANIES . - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-02-27 - Last action: 2026-06-19, Signed by Governor — Chapter 200 - Sponsor: Brian Patrick Kennedy (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 7 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 1 (72 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 5 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Updated penalties for insurance violations: mixed, low. The insurance commissioner now uses one standard enforcement law across several areas. Portable electronics insurance, fraternal societies, and certain attorney‑run exchanges are handled under this single system. Some penalties become small civil fines: up to $100 for certain fire‑loss information… - Better governance rules for insurers: mixed, low. All Rhode Island‑domiciled insurers must follow the state’s good corporate governance rules unless the law exempts them. The law takes effect upon passage. - New reciprocity rules for out-of-state insurers: mixed, low. Rhode Island now treats insurers and producers from another state the same way that state treats Rhode Island firms. Business placed in Rhode Island must go through a licensed resident or permitted nonresident producer, with a narrow multi‑state exception only if the other state offers the same acc… - Stronger tools to handle failing insurers: mixed, low. When a Rhode Island insurer is put into court proceedings, the court appoints the state’s business regulation director as receiver. The receiver takes control of the insurer’s assets right away. The commissioner can require a deposit or bond, up to the contract’s one‑year value, when an insurer is… - Hurricane loss commission ended: mixed, low. The state ends the hurricane loss projection commission. Regulators and insurers no longer use this board to review models used in home insurance rate filings. This changes how hurricane risk is reviewed for residential property insurance filings. ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Brian Patrick Kennedy (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Samuel A. Azzinaro (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Grace Diaz (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: John G. Edwards (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: William W. O'Brien (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Robert D. Phillips (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Patricia A. Serpa (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Mary Ann Shallcross Smith (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-05-12 | House | DOMESTIC INSURANCE COMPANIES PASSAGE | pass | 72 | 0 | | ## Actions (15) - 2026-06-19: Signed by Governor — Chapter 200 (Governor) - 2026-06-16: Transmitted to Governor (Governor) - 2026-06-09: Senate passed Sub A in concurrence (Senate) - 2026-06-05: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar (06/09/2026) (Senate) - 2026-05-19: Committee recommends passage of Sub A in concurrence - 2026-05-15: Scheduled for consideration (05/19/2026) - 2026-05-15: Referred to Senate Commerce (Senate) - 2026-05-12: House passed Sub A (House) - 2026-05-01: Placed on House Calendar (05/12/2026) (House) - 2026-04-28: Committee recommends passage of Sub A - 2026-04-27: Proposed Substitute - 2026-04-24: Scheduled for consideration (04/28/2026) - 2026-04-02: Committee recommended measure be held for further study - 2026-03-27: Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (04/02/2026) - 2026-02-27: Introduced, referred to House Corporations (House) ## Bill text - H7859 - As Introduced, 2026-02-27: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7859.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7859.pdf) - H7859 - Substitute, 2026-02-27: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7859A.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7859A.pdf) ## Related bills - H8104: AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- MORTGAGES OF REAL PROPERTY . (became law) - H8046: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE--PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- FEES . (became law) - H8025: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION . (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) ## Sources - [H7859 - As Introduced (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7859.htm) - [H7859 - As Introduced (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7859.pdf) - [H7859 - Substitute (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7859A.htm) - [H7859 - Substitute (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7859A.pdf) ## Related - [H8104: AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY -- MORTGAGES OF REAL PROPERTY .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8104-2026) - [H8046: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE--PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- FEES .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8046-2026) - [H8025: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8025-2026) - [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) - [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-H7859-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).