# Rhode Island H8128: AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY . Rhode Island H8128, AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY ., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Stephen M. Casey (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-06-23 (Signed by Governor — Chapter 408) (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8128-2026 - 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 H8128 - State: Rhode Island - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY . - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-02-27 - Last action: 2026-06-23, Signed by Governor — Chapter 408 - Sponsor: Stephen M. Casey (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 1 (67 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 16 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Easier cross-state CPA work in Rhode Island: benefit, medium. CPAs licensed in another state can practice in Rhode Island without notice or fees if their main office is elsewhere and they meet set pathways. You and your firm accept Rhode Island Board authority and must follow Rhode Island rules. If your home license lapses, you must stop work here. Any attest… - License path for foreign-trained accountants: benefit, medium. The Board can license accountants who hold a foreign credential that is substantially equivalent. The Board may require a national qualifying exam and a Rhode Island law and ethics test. Licenses follow the same fees, renewals, and continuing education rules. Applicants must list other jurisdiction… - Modernized CPA exam and licensing rules: benefit, low. Students in dual‑degree programs can sit for the CPA exam once they finish bachelor’s requirements, including accounting coursework. The Board can use AICPA/NASBA exam and grading services and hire contractors, and it sets exam rules, fees, grading, passing scores, and cheating penalties. The law a… - Peer review info sharing allowed: benefit, low. Licensees and their employees may share confidential client information with other licensees for peer reviews. They may also share information with a professional association or the Board for ethics investigations. These disclosures are only for peer review or ethics purposes. - Stronger protections in accounting services: benefit, low. Only licensed CPAs, or those using approved mobility, may prepare or sign attest or compilation reports, and their firm must hold a permit or qualify for firm mobility. People without a license cannot hold out as an accountant or auditor. Only IRS‑designated people may use the title “Enrolled Agent… - National standards and stronger board oversight: benefit, low. Rhode Island adopts national standards for audits, reviews, compilations, and related services. The Board has five members: four CPAs in public practice with at least 10 years’ experience and one public‑sector member. Members serve five‑year terms, three form a quorum, and the governor must remove… - Stronger penalties for unlicensed or illegal practice: cost, medium. The Board can quickly hold a hearing (within 10–20 days) and order you to stop unlicensed practice. The Board can get court injunctions without posting a bond, and courts must award the Board attorney fees. After a hearing, fines can reach $1,000 per violation for licensees and $2,500 per violation… - Firm permits, ownership, and supervision rules: cost, medium. Firms that do attest or compilation work for Rhode Island clients, or use the CPA title here, must hold a Rhode Island practice-unit permit. Each Rhode Island office must be listed, and a Rhode Island licensee must be in charge of attest and compilation work. A majority of ownership and voting righ… - Set minimum license fee and stricter renewals: cost, medium. The three‑year CPA license renewal fee is at least $375, paid when you file the renewal. If your practice unit breaks key rules and you were personally and substantially responsible, the Board can refuse to renew your license. - Clear rules on commissions and contingent fees: cost, low. You must disclose in writing when you are paid or expect a commission, or when you accept or pay a referral fee, before or at the time of the referral. An “affiliated entity” means one where you and your firm’s people own more than 20%; those relationships count for disclosure rules. If you take co… - New rules for CPA firm ownership and permits: cost, low. CPA firms must be majority-owned and controlled by licensed accountants. A sole proprietor must hold a Rhode Island CPA or public accountant license and list every Rhode Island office in the permit filing. Practice unit permits last three years and expire on the last day of June; renew by June 30 i… - Title use and non-CPA services clarified: mixed, low. Only licensed CPAs, or those using approved mobility, may use the CPA title or offer attest or compilation services through permitted firms. Non‑licensees may still offer bookkeeping, prepare financial statements and tax returns, and give tax advice, but may not perform or present attest or compila… - Easier cross-state CPA practice, with reporting: mixed, low. Your principal place of business is the office you choose for mobility and reciprocity. If you apply for or hold a reciprocity license, you must list all other states where you applied or are licensed and notify the Rhode Island Board in writing within 30 days of any issuance, denial, suspension, r… - License renewals, reports, and discipline process: mixed, low. CPA licenses last three years and expire June 30; renewal requires proof of continuing education. You must tell the Board in writing within 30 days about out‑of‑state licensing or disciplinary actions. If denied a license or renewal, you may request a Board hearing within 10 days. The Board can sus… - RI license path for out-of-state CPAs: mixed, low. You can get a Rhode Island license by reciprocity if you passed the CPA exam, have at least four years of recent qualifying experience, and meet CPE rules for older licenses. If you plan to make Rhode Island your principal place of business, you must apply for a Rhode Island license before you set… - Board keeps fees in restricted account: mixed, low. All accountancy fees go to the General Treasurer and are kept in a restricted receipt account. The money is used only to pay Board administration and enforcement costs. ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Stephen M. Casey (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-05-26 | House | PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY PASSAGE | pass | 67 | 0 | | ## Actions (11) - 2026-06-23: Signed by Governor — Chapter 408 (Governor) - 2026-06-18: Transmitted to Governor (Governor) - 2026-06-09: Senate passed in concurrence (Senate) - 2026-06-05: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar (06/09/2026) (Senate) - 2026-05-26: House read and passed (House) - 2026-05-22: Placed on House Calendar (05/26/2026) (House) - 2026-05-21: Committee recommends passage - 2026-05-15: Scheduled for consideration (05/21/2026) - 2026-04-28: Committee recommended measure be held for further study - 2026-04-24: Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (04/28/2026) - 2026-02-27: Introduced, referred to House Corporations (House) ## Bill text - H8128 - As Introduced, 2026-02-27: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8128.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8128.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 - [H8128 - As Introduced (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8128.htm) - [H8128 - As Introduced (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8128.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-H8128-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).