# Rhode Island S2401: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- GENERAL POWERS . Rhode Island S2401, AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- GENERAL POWERS ., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Hanna M. Gallo (Democratic); status became law, last action 2026-06-11 (Effective without Governor's signature — Chapter 069); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S2401-2026 - 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 S2401 - State: Rhode Island - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- GENERAL POWERS . - Status: became law - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-01-30 - Last action: 2026-06-11, Effective without Governor's signature — Chapter 069 - Sponsor: Hanna M. Gallo (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 2 - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 2 (69 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 5 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Fast appeals from local court decisions: benefit, low. If you are convicted of a non-housing city offense, you can appeal to superior court within 5 days and get a new trial. If you are convicted of a minimum housing violation, you can appeal to district court within 5 days and get a new trial. If the housing division issues a final order, you can appe… - Fines and jail for code violations: cost, medium. A conviction in Cranston municipal court can bring up to a $500 fine and up to 30 days in jail. Both can apply. The city council can allow the housing division to use the same maximum penalties. - City can set local court fees: cost, low. The city council can set fees and costs for the municipal court and the housing division. People who file or appear in these courts may have to pay these local fees. The law does not list the dollar amounts. - Court can order repairs or demolition: mixed, high. The housing division can be given strong tools to fix violations. It can stop violations, order repairs, make people leave unsafe homes, or order demolition. It can put a property into receivership and clear title problems. These steps can protect tenants and neighbors, and they can be costly for o… - Cranston creates municipal and housing court: mixed, medium. The law lets the Cranston city council set up a municipal court and a housing division. The council appoints the judge and clerk for both. The court can hear city ordinance cases, including minimum housing violations. The housing division can handle zoning, subdivision, housing standards, and state… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Hanna M. Gallo (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Matthew L. LaMountain (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Lammis J. Vargas (Democratic), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-03-31 | Senate | RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- GENERAL POWERS Passage as Amended | pass | 35 | 0 | | | 2026-03-31 | Senate | RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- GENERAL POWERS Approval of Amendment | pass | 34 | 0 | | ## Actions (15) - 2026-06-11: Effective without Governor's signature — Chapter 069 (Governor) - 2026-06-03: Transmitted to Governor (Governor) - 2026-06-03: House passed Sub A as amended in concurrence (House) - 2026-05-29: Placed on the House Consent Calendar (06/03/2026) (House) - 2026-04-07: Committee recommends passage of Sub A as amended in concurrence - 2026-04-03: Scheduled for consideration (04/07/2026) - 2026-04-01: Referred to House Municipal Government & Housing (House) - 2026-03-31: Senate passed Sub A as amended (floor amendment) (Senate) - 2026-03-27: Placed on Senate Calendar (03/31/2026) (Senate) - 2026-03-26: Committee recommends passage of Sub A - 2026-03-25: Proposed Substitute - 2026-03-24: Scheduled for consideration (03/26/2026) - 2026-03-12: Committee recommended measure be held for further study - 2026-03-06: Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/12/2026) - 2026-01-30: Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary (Senate) ## Bill text - S2401 - As Introduced, 2026-01-30: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2401.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2401.pdf) - S2401 - Substitute, 2026-01-30: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2401A.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2401A.pdf) - S2401 - Substitute As Amended, 2026-01-30: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2401Aaa.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2401Aaa.pdf) ## Related bills - S3047: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- DISTRICT COURT PRACTICE . (became law) - H8605: JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO PAY CERTAIN CLAIMS . (became law) - H8580: AN ACT RELATING TO THE NORTH TIVERTON FIRE DISTRICT . (became law) - H8586: AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHWAYS -- RHODE ISLAND TURNPIKE AND BRIDGE AUTHORITY . (became law) - H8525: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES . (became law) - H8506: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- RELATING TO CENTRAL FALLS PENSION PLAN . (became law) ## Sources - [S2401 - As Introduced (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2401.htm) - [S2401 - As Introduced (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2401.pdf) - [S2401 - Substitute (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2401A.htm) - [S2401 - Substitute (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2401A.pdf) - [S2401 - Substitute As Amended (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2401Aaa.htm) - [S2401 - Substitute As Amended (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2401Aaa.pdf) ## Related - [S3047: AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- PROCEDURE GENERALLY -- DISTRIC…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3047-2026) - [H8605: JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO PAY CERTAIN CLAIMS .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8605-2026) - [H8580: AN ACT RELATING TO THE NORTH TIVERTON FIRE DISTRICT .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8580-2026) - [H8586: AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHWAYS -- RHODE ISLAND TURNPIKE AND BRIDGE AUTHORITY .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8586-2026) - [H8525: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8525-2026) - [H8506: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- RELATING TO CENTRAL FALLS PENSION PLAN .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8506-2026) - [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-S2401-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).