# Rhode Island H7922: AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY AND AUDIOLOGY . Rhode Island H7922, AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY AND AUDIOLOGY ., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Arthur Handy (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-06-10 (Signed by Governor — Chapter 040) (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H7922-2026 - 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 H7922 - State: Rhode Island - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY AND AUDIOLOGY . - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-02-27 - Last action: 2026-06-10, Signed by Governor — Chapter 040 - Sponsor: Arthur Handy (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 1 (64 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 10 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Licenses and limits for assistants: benefit, medium. The law creates licenses for speech‑language pathology assistants and audiology aides. SLPAs must complete one of the listed education paths, plus 25 hours of observation and 100 supervised clinical hours. Audiology aides need a high school diploma and intensive on‑the‑job training. Assistants cann… - How to become a licensed SLP: benefit, low. To get an SLP license, you must have good moral character and apply with the required fee. You must finish supervised clinical practicum that meets ASHA or board standards and pass a national exam. You must show a Certificate of Clinical Competence (or equivalent) and verify any out‑of‑state licens… - What SLPs and audiologists can do: benefit, low. The law lists the services these providers may offer. Audiologists can do prevention, screening, hearing aid services, vestibular tests, cerumen removal, and more. SLPs can do prevention, evaluation, rehab, aural rehab, and help choose and teach augmentative communication systems. Both may use shor… - Stronger discipline and hearing rights: cost, high. The board can deny, suspend, or revoke licenses for fraud, unsafe or impaired practice, violating rules, certain crimes, or not meeting CE. The board must mail at least 15 days’ notice before a hearing. You have the right to appear, have a lawyer, present evidence, and cross‑examine. The board may… - License renewals and SLP provisional rules: mixed, high. Full licenses last two years and expire July 1 in even‑numbered years. If a license lapses, you must apply, pay renewal and late fees, and show CE hours from the past two years to reinstate. You may go inactive without fees for up to two licensing periods; after that, the license ends. A provisiona… - Who qualifies to be an audiologist: mixed, high. For applicants on or after January 1, 2008, the law requires a doctorate in audiology, a board‑approved national exam, and at least 12 months of full‑time supervised experience. It also requires good moral character, an application and fee, and license verification from other states when relevant.… - ASHA ethics no longer named in law: mixed, low. The law removes the section that adopted the 2016 ASHA Code of Ethics by name. This changes which written code the statute cites for ethics. Other board rules and standards still apply under this chapter. - Telepractice allowed, but RI license needed: mixed, low. The law allows speech and hearing care by telepractice. Remote care must match in‑person quality and follow ASHA ethics and scopes. Out‑of‑state providers who treat Rhode Islanders by telepractice must hold a Rhode Island license. Audiologists may practice in person or by telepractice. - License and title rules; hearing‑aid limits: mixed, low. You cannot practice or call yourself an SLP or audiologist without a license. People licensed under other state credentials may work only within that credential’s scope. Hearing‑aid sellers are allowed only if they do not charge a separate fee for hearing tests and do not claim to be audiologists.… - New state board and rules in place: mixed, low. The law repeals the old speech and hearing chapter and puts a new system in place. It creates a five‑member board under the Health Department to oversee licensing and enforcement. Members include two SLPs, one audiologist, one ENT doctor, and one consumer. The board can investigate, hold hearings,… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Arthur Handy (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-16 | House | LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY AND AUDIOLOGY PASSAGE | pass | 64 | 0 | | ## Actions (14) - 2026-06-10: Signed by Governor — Chapter 040 (Governor) - 2026-06-04: Transmitted to Governor (Governor) - 2026-06-04: Senate passed in concurrence (Senate) - 2026-06-03: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar (06/04/2026) (Senate) - 2026-05-28: Committee recommends passage in concurrence - 2026-05-26: Scheduled for consideration (05/28/2026) - 2026-05-01: Referred to Senate Health and Human Services (Senate) - 2026-04-16: House read and passed (House) - 2026-04-10: Placed on House Calendar (04/16/2026) (House) - 2026-03-30: Committee recommends passage - 2026-03-26: Scheduled for consideration (03/30/2026) - 2026-03-19: Committee recommended measure be held for further study - 2026-03-13: Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/19/2026) - 2026-02-27: Introduced, referred to House Health & Human Services (House) ## Bill text - H7922 - As Introduced, 2026-02-27: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7922.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7922.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 - [H7922 - As Introduced (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7922.htm) - [H7922 - As Introduced (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7922.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-H7922-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).