# Rhode Island H8579: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGERS ACT . Rhode Island H8579, AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGERS ACT ., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Tina L. Spears (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-06-22 (Signed by Governor — Chapter 366) (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8579-2026 - 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 H8579 - State: Rhode Island - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGERS ACT . - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-05-22 - Last action: 2026-06-22, Signed by Governor — Chapter 366 - Sponsor: Tina L. Spears (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 1 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 2 (138 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 4 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Funding oversight of pharmacy benefit managers: cost, low. PBM certificate holders must pay assessments that cover the regulator’s PBM oversight costs, including experts and contractors. All penalties collected under this law go into the Health Insurance Market Integrity Fund, a restricted state account. - Pharmacy benefit managers face stronger penalties: mixed, low. Beginning January 1, 2027, the Health Insurance Commissioner oversees PBMs and can enforce this law. Operating without a certificate can trigger restitution and damages to injured people and a civil penalty equal to the greater of $10,000 for a first violation and $15,000 for each later violation,… - Pharmacy benefit managers must be licensed by 2027: mixed, low. Starting January 1, 2027, any company that manages prescription drug benefits in Rhode Island must hold a certificate from the Health Insurance Commissioner. The certificate costs $10,000 per year, lasts 24 months, and renewal is $10,000; a replacement costs $2,000. If you file to renew at least tw… - Pharmacy benefit managers must reveal rebates: mixed, low. Every PBM must file a yearly report by July 1 that lists all price concessions, contract terms, total rebates and fees from drug makers, how much was passed to insurers and patients at the point of sale, and how much was kept. Reports must also state rebate percentages kept and other compensation t… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Tina L. Spears (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Susan R. Donovan (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-06-10 | House | PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGERS ACT PASSAGE PASSAGE OF AMENDMENT | pass | 68 | 0 | | | 2026-06-10 | House | PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGERS ACT PASSAGE AS AMENDED | pass | 70 | 0 | | ## Actions (12) - 2026-06-22: Signed by Governor — Chapter 366 (Governor) - 2026-06-18: Transmitted to Governor (Governor) - 2026-06-11: Senate passed Sub A as amended in concurrence (Senate) - 2026-06-10: Placed on Senate Calendar (06/11/2026) (Senate) - 2026-06-10: House passed Sub A as amended (floor amendment) (House) - 2026-06-09: Placed on House Calendar (06/10/2026) (House) - 2026-06-09: Committee recommends passage of Sub A - 2026-06-07: Proposed Substitute - 2026-06-07: Scheduled for consideration (06/09/2026) - 2026-05-28: Committee recommended measure be held for further study - 2026-05-22: Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (05/28/2026) - 2026-05-22: Introduced, referred to House Health & Human Services (House) ## Bill text - H8579 - As Introduced, 2026-05-22: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8579.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8579.pdf) - H8579 - Substitute, 2026-05-22: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8579A.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8579A.pdf) - H8579 - Substitute As Amended, 2026-05-22: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8579Aaa.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8579Aaa.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 - [H8579 - As Introduced (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8579.htm) - [H8579 - As Introduced (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8579.pdf) - [H8579 - Substitute (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8579A.htm) - [H8579 - Substitute (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8579A.pdf) - [H8579 - Substitute As Amended (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8579Aaa.htm) - [H8579 - Substitute As Amended (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8579Aaa.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) - [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-H8579-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).