# Rhode Island H7933: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- OFFICE OF STATE MEDICAL EXAMINERS . Rhode Island H7933, AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- OFFICE OF STATE MEDICAL EXAMINERS ., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Brandon C. Potter (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-06-10 (Signed by Governor — Chapter 046); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H7933-2026 - 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 H7933 - State: Rhode Island - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- OFFICE OF STATE MEDICAL EXAMINERS . - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-02-27 - Last action: 2026-06-10, Signed by Governor — Chapter 046 - Sponsor: Brandon C. Potter (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 2 - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 2 (75 yes, 50 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 7 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Help for families after a death: benefit, medium. The medical examiner must promptly release the body after exams. When an autopsy is required by law, the state pays to transport the body to the morgue. Organ and tissue donation is allowed when it does not block finding cause or manner of death. Domestic partners can make arrangements if they meet… - Broader death investigation powers: benefit, medium. The medical examiner can investigate more kinds of deaths, including homicides, suicides, accidents, workplace injuries, drug and toxin deaths, epidemic‑related infections, and sudden unexpected deaths. An examiner’s agent decides jurisdiction, takes custody when accepted, and should not remove a b… - Stronger state medical examiner system: benefit, medium. The law creates a statewide Office of State Medical Examiners inside the health department. The office must earn and keep national accreditation. The chief must be a licensed physician, board‑certified in anatomic and forensic pathology. The office keeps full investigation records and posts an annu… - Faster reporting and scene rules: benefit, low. Anyone who finds a body or possible human remains must report it right away to local police or the medical examiner. Doctors, police, funeral directors, hospitals, and custodial agencies must notify the office when covered deaths happen or when someone dies in custody. Do not disturb a body or near… - Fees and limits on autopsy access: cost, low. The health director sets fees for copies of postmortem records, cremation permissions, expert testimony, and archive searches. State and local government offices do not pay these fees, but others must pay the set amounts. A person arrested and charged with causing a death no longer automatically ge… - End payments; tougher concealment penalties: cost, low. The state ends payments that used to go to people who recovered bodies from state waters. People convicted of hiding a death or knowing about a felony face fines or jail under the state’s sentencing law. - Amend death findings with appeals: mixed, low. A spouse, adult child, parent, adult sibling, grandparent, or guardian can ask to change cause or manner of death within 60 days, except in homicide cases. If denied, you can appeal within 15 days. The health director sends the case to the Postmortem Advisory Commission and then issues a final orde… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Brandon C. Potter (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Susan R. Donovan (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Joshua J. Giraldo (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-05-28 | House | OFFICE / STATE MEDICAL EXAMINERS PASSAGE PASSAGE OF AMENDMENT | fail | 12 | 50 | | | 2026-05-28 | House | OFFICE / STATE MEDICAL EXAMINERS PASSAGE | pass | 63 | 0 | | ## Actions (12) - 2026-06-10: Signed by Governor — Chapter 046 (Governor) - 2026-06-04: Transmitted to Governor (Governor) - 2026-06-04: Senate passed Sub A in concurrence (Senate) - 2026-06-03: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar (06/04/2026) (Senate) - 2026-05-28: House passed Sub A (House) - 2026-05-22: Placed on House Calendar (05/28/2026) (House) - 2026-05-21: Committee recommends passage of Sub A - 2026-05-15: Proposed Substitute - 2026-05-15: Scheduled for consideration (05/21/2026) - 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 - H7933 - As Introduced, 2026-02-27: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7933.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7933.pdf) - H7933 - Substitute, 2026-02-27: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7933A.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7933A.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 - [H7933 - As Introduced (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7933.htm) - [H7933 - As Introduced (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7933.pdf) - [H7933 - Substitute (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7933A.htm) - [H7933 - Substitute (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H7933A.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-H7933-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).