# Rhode Island H8435: AN ACT RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- RETAIL LICENSES .

Rhode Island H8435, AN ACT RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- RETAIL LICENSES ., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Samuel A. Azzinaro (Democratic); status became law, last action 2026-06-26 (Effective without Governor's signature — Chapter 258) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8435-2026
- 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 H8435
- State: Rhode Island
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: AN ACT RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- RETAIL LICENSES .
- Status: became law
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-04-10
- Last action: 2026-06-26, Effective without Governor's signature — Chapter 258
- Sponsor: Samuel A. Azzinaro (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (106 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Local boards can grant exceptions: benefit, medium. Local licensing boards can grant exceptions to these distance and objection rules. You must apply to the city or town board named in the law. Exemptions apply only to listed districts, parcels, or addresses, often by plat/lot “as of” dates, and may be limited to certain license classes or renewals.…
- Protection for long-time license holders: benefit, medium. Class B or C licenses issued before January 1, 1978 are grandfathered. These distance and objection rules do not apply to them. A transfer also cannot be blocked when the licensed location existed before the nearby school or place of worship.
- Tighter location rules for liquor licenses: cost, medium. The law limits where many retail liquor licenses can be issued. No Class B, C, N, or I license is allowed within 200 feet of a school or a place of worship. A license is also denied if the owner of most land within 200 feet files an objection. In East Providence, Class A licenses face a 500-foot li…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Samuel A. Azzinaro (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Brian Patrick Kennedy (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-06-11 | Senate | RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- RETAIL LICENSES In Concurrence | pass | 38 | 0 |   |
| 2026-06-03 | House | ALCOHOLIC - RETAIL LICENSES PASSAGE | pass | 68 | 0 |   |

## Actions (11)

- 2026-06-26: Effective without Governor's signature — Chapter 258 (Governor)
- 2026-06-18: Transmitted to Governor (Governor)
- 2026-06-11: Senate passed in concurrence (Senate)
- 2026-06-09: Placed on Senate Calendar (06/11/2026) (Senate)
- 2026-06-03: House read and passed (House)
- 2026-05-29: Placed on House Calendar (06/03/2026) (House)
- 2026-05-26: Committee recommends passage
- 2026-05-22: Scheduled for consideration (05/26/2026)
- 2026-04-29: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
- 2026-04-24: Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (04/29/2026)
- 2026-04-10: Introduced, referred to House Municipal Government & Housing (House)

## Bill text

- H8435 - As Introduced, 2026-04-10: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8435.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8435.pdf)

## Related bills

- H8605: JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO PAY CERTAIN CLAIMS . (became law)
- H8586: AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHWAYS -- RHODE ISLAND TURNPIKE AND BRIDGE AUTHORITY . (became law)
- H8580: AN ACT RELATING TO THE NORTH TIVERTON FIRE DISTRICT . (became law)
- H8506: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- RELATING TO CENTRAL FALLS PENSION PLAN . (became law)
- H8525: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES . (became law)
- H8437: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION . (became law)

## Sources
- [H8435 - As Introduced (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8435.htm)
- [H8435 - As Introduced (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8435.pdf)

## Related
- [H8605: JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO PAY CERTAIN CLAIMS .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8605-2026)
- [H8586: AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHWAYS -- RHODE ISLAND TURNPIKE AND BRIDGE AUTHORITY .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8586-2026)
- [H8580: AN ACT RELATING TO THE NORTH TIVERTON FIRE DISTRICT .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8580-2026)
- [H8506: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- RELATING TO CENTRAL FALLS PENSION PLAN .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8506-2026)
- [H8525: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8525-2026)
- [H8437: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8437-2026)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8435-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).