# Rhode Island H8230: AN ACT RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- RETAIL LICENSES .

Rhode Island H8230, AN ACT RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- RETAIL LICENSES ., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by no sponsor on record; status became law, last action 2026-06-11 (Effective without Governor's signature — Chapter 076) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8230-2026
- 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 H8230
- State: Rhode Island
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: AN ACT RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- RETAIL LICENSES .
- Status: became law
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-03-04
- Last action: 2026-06-11, Effective without Governor's signature — Chapter 076
- Sponsors: no sponsor on record
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 1 (64 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 23

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Bristol waivers for three plat 10 lots: benefit, low. Bristol’s board can waive the distance rule for Class B licenses at plat 10, lots 3, 18, and 19, after you apply. The lots are as shown on Dec. 31, 2007. Decisions are local and not automatic.
- Central Falls waivers for two parcels: benefit, low. Central Falls can exempt Class B licenses at Plat 5 Lot 188 and Plat 1 Lot 164, after you apply. Decisions are local and case-by-case.
- East Bay towns: address-based license waivers: benefit, low. Town boards in Newport, Bristol, Barrington, Warren, Middletown, and East Providence can waive distance rules for listed sites after you apply. Examples: Bristol plat 10, lot 34 (as of Dec. 31, 1999) and 499 Hope St.; Barrington 305 Sowams Rd.; Warren 4 Market St.; Middletown Plat 107 NW, Lot 55 (a…
- East Greenwich site-specific Class B waivers: benefit, low. East Greenwich’s Board of Licenses can waive distance rules for Class B licenses at named sites after you apply. This includes 219 Main St. and several other listed addresses on or near Main St. and 2 Academy Court. Each approval is discretionary and tied to the exact address and map/lot in the law.
- East Providence waivers at two addresses: benefit, low. East Providence can waive the distance rule for Class B licenses at 332 Bullock Point Ave and 136 Taunton Ave, after you apply. This does not change the city’s 500‑foot rule for Class A stores. Each request is reviewed case-by-case.
- Jamestown waiver at 53 Narragansett Ave: benefit, low. Jamestown’s board can exempt a Class BVL license at 53 Narragansett Avenue (Plat 9, Lot 9207), after you apply. Approval is case-by-case.
- License waivers in Central Falls and nearby: benefit, low. Local boards in Central Falls, Cumberland, Lincoln, and North Providence can waive distance rules for named parcels after you apply. Examples: 913–915 Dexter St. and Plat 1, Lot 171 in Central Falls; 88 Broad St. (Plat 2, Lots 32, 51, 52) in Cumberland; Plat 10, Lot 108 in Lincoln (as of the 2015 a…
- Little Compton beer and wine site: benefit, low. Little Compton’s town council can exempt a Class B license limited to beer and wine from the rule that applies to places of worship, at Plat 30, Lot 33. The parcel is as shown on Dec. 31, 2004. You must apply to the council.
- Newport waivers near Broadway area: benefit, low. Newport’s board can exempt Class B licenses in a small area near Broadway and Courthouse Square, after you apply. The waiver only applies inside that described area.
- North Providence waivers for two parcels: benefit, low. North Providence’s board can exempt Class B licenses at Plat 23A Lot 98 and Plat 22A Lot 336, after you apply. Decisions are local and not automatic.
- Pawtucket waivers for set areas and lots: benefit, low. The Pawtucket board can waive the distance rule after you apply. Inside a defined zone, Class B, C, or I licenses may be exempt. On listed plats and lots that existed March 1, 2021, Class B, C, or N licenses may be exempt. These options only apply to the zone and parcels named.
- Portsmouth waiver for one parcel: benefit, low. Portsmouth’s board can waive the distance rule for a Class B license at Plat 37, Lot 69, after you apply. Approval is case-by-case.
- Providence address-specific alcohol license waivers: benefit, low. Providence’s Board of Licenses can waive distance rules for listed sites after you apply. Covered classes vary by site and can include B, BV, C, I, BX, P, and BL. Examples include 819 Westminster St. (also directly allowed), 94 Carpenter St., 79 Ives St., 1230 Elmwood Ave., 865 Westminster St., 102…
- Providence can waive license distance rules: benefit, low. Rhode Island keeps a distance rule for new alcohol licenses. In Providence, the Board of Licenses can approve exemptions after you apply. It covers many listed parcels and two small downtown areas. Some addresses are limited to Class BL or Class BV. Approval is case-by-case and no new state fees ar…
- Smithfield renewals and one parcel waiver: benefit, low. In Smithfield, the town council can approve exemptions after you apply. Class B or C licenses at Plat 6, Lot 54 (as of Dec. 31, 2012) may be exempt. Renewals at Plat 45, Lot 042 are allowed if the license was issued on or before Dec. 31, 2011. If that license is not renewed, the exemption ends.
- South Kingstown and Westerly license waivers: benefit, low. South Kingstown can waive distance rules for a Class BV license at 357 Main St. (Plat 56-3, Lot 50). Westerly can waive distance rules for a Class B license at 163 Main St. (Map 66, Lot 11). You must apply. Each approval is discretionary and tied to those exact parcels.
- Tiverton restaurant license waiver: benefit, low. Tiverton’s board can exempt a restaurant’s Class BV license at Plat 181, Lot 1A, after you apply. Approval is case-by-case.
- Warren waivers in business zones: benefit, low. Warren’s board can waive the distance rule for Class B, C, or I licenses in areas zoned limited or general business, after you apply. The waiver only applies inside those business zones.
- Westerly waivers on Main and Granite: benefit, low. Westerly’s town council can waive the distance rule after you apply. It covers Class B licenses at 114 Granite St and at 169 and 177 Main St. Decisions are local and not automatic.
- Woonsocket waivers downtown and two sites: benefit, low. Woonsocket can grant exemptions after you apply. Any class of retailers’ license in the Downtown Overlay District can be exempt. Two addresses, 122 North Main and 43 Railroad, can also seek Class B exemptions. Decisions are local and not automatic.
- Distance limits and protections for alcohol licenses: mixed, medium. Rhode Island limits where new retail alcohol licenses can go. Licenses are blocked within 200 feet of a K–12 school or a place of worship. A license is also blocked if the owner of most land within 200 feet files an objection. In East Providence, Class A licenses are blocked within 500 feet of thos…
- Cranston waivers with tax and use rules: mixed, low. Cranston’s board can waive the distance rule at several named parcels after you apply. For Plat 11 Lot 3558 and Plat 1 Lot 2170 (as of Dec. 31, 2012), Class B licenses may be exempt. For Plat 159 Lot 160 and Plat 9 Lot 152, any transferee must follow a May 13, 2003 agreement and other transfer rule…
- Which private schools trigger distance rule: mixed, low. The law defines a private school as a nonpublic K–12 school recognized by the state education department or the local school committee. Only those schools count for the distance rule in this section. This can tighten limits near some schools and remove them near others.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- (none)

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-16 | House | ALCOHOLIC BEV -- RETAIL LICENSES PASSAGE | pass | 64 | 0 |   |

## Actions (14)

- 2026-06-11: Effective without Governor's signature — Chapter 076 (Governor)
- 2026-06-03: Transmitted to Governor (Governor)
- 2026-06-03: Senate passed in concurrence (Senate)
- 2026-05-29: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar (06/03/2026) (Senate)
- 2026-05-21: Committee recommends passage in concurrence
- 2026-05-15: Scheduled for consideration (05/21/2026)
- 2026-05-01: Referred to Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs (Senate)
- 2026-04-16: House read and passed (House)
- 2026-04-10: Placed on House Calendar (04/16/2026) (House)
- 2026-04-07: Committee recommends passage
- 2026-04-03: Scheduled for consideration (04/07/2026)
- 2026-03-24: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
- 2026-03-20: Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/24/2026)
- 2026-03-04: Introduced, referred to House Municipal Government & Housing (House)

## Bill text

- H8230 - As Introduced, 2026-03-04: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8230.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8230.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
- [H8230 - As Introduced (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8230.htm)
- [H8230 - As Introduced (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8230.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-H8230-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).