# Rhode Island H7923: AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- UNIFORM CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT .

Rhode Island H7923, AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- UNIFORM CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT ., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Matthew S. Dawson (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-06-23 (Signed by Governor — Chapter 314) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H7923-2026
- 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 H7923
- State: Rhode Island
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- UNIFORM CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT .
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-02-27
- Last action: 2026-06-23, Signed by Governor — Chapter 314
- Sponsor: Matthew S. Dawson (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 3 (175 yes, 1 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 4

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Old intractable pain law repealed: cost, medium. The state repeals its prior intractable pain treatment laws (Ch. 5‑37.4 and Ch. 5‑37.5). Patients and providers no longer rely on the special rights or procedures in those chapters. Care now follows the updated Uniform Controlled Substances Act and health department rules.
- New opioid limits and PDMP checks: mixed, medium. The law sets safer opioid prescribing rules. For adults, a first prescription for acute pain is limited to 7 days. For patients under 18, any opioid prescription is capped at 20 doses unless the doctor documents a medical need. Before prescribing, the doctor must discuss risks and non‑opioid option…
- Updated drug definitions and pain terms: mixed, low. Starting January 1, 2023, opioid medications mean FDA‑approved opioid drugs and include partial agonists like buprenorphine. The law defines acute pain (generally under 30 days) and chronic pain (90 days or more). “Chronic intractable pain” must be severe, constant, and supported by a written diagn…
- When the law takes effect: mixed, low. The act takes effect upon passage.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Matthew S. Dawson (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-06-11 | House | UNIFORM CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES AC PASSAGE IN CONCURRENCE | pass | 68 | 0 |   |
| 2026-06-11 | Senate | RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- UNIFORM CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE ACT Passage | pass | 37 | 1 |   |
| 2026-03-26 | House | UNIFORM CONTROLLED SUB. ACT PASSAGE | pass | 70 | 0 |   |

## Actions (17)

- 2026-06-23: Signed by Governor — Chapter 314 (Governor)
- 2026-06-18: Transmitted to Governor (Governor)
- 2026-06-11: House passed Sub A in concurrence (House)
- 2026-06-11: Placed on House Calendar (06/11/2026) (House)
- 2026-06-11: Senate read and passed (Senate)
- 2026-06-10: Placed on Senate Calendar (06/11/2026) (Senate)
- 2026-06-09: Committee recommends passage of Sub A
- 2026-06-08: Proposed Substitute
- 2026-06-05: Scheduled for consideration (06/09/2026)
- 2026-04-03: Referred to Senate Health and Human Services (Senate)
- 2026-03-26: House read and passed (House)
- 2026-03-20: Placed on House Calendar (03/26/2026) (House)
- 2026-03-19: Committee recommends passage
- 2026-03-13: Scheduled for consideration (03/19/2026)
- 2026-03-03: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
- 2026-02-27: Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/03/2026)
- 2026-02-27: Introduced, referred to House Health & Human Services (House)

## Bill text

- H7923 - As Introduced, 2026-02-27: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7923.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7923.pdf)
- H7923 - Substitute, 2026-02-27: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7923A.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7923A.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
- [H7923 - As Introduced (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7923.htm)
- [H7923 - As Introduced (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7923.pdf)
- [H7923 - Substitute (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7923A.htm)
- [H7923 - Substitute (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7923A.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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H7923-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).