# Rhode Island S2525: AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- LIBRARY EBOOK CONTRACTS .

Rhode Island S2525, AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- LIBRARY EBOOK CONTRACTS ., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Mark P. McKenney (Democratic); status became law, last action 2026-06-24 (Effective without Governor's signature — Chapter 343) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S2525-2026
- 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 S2525
- State: Rhode Island
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- LIBRARY EBOOK CONTRACTS .
- Status: became law
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-02-13
- Last action: 2026-06-24, Effective without Governor's signature — Chapter 343
- Sponsor: Mark P. McKenney (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 5
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (74 yes, 1 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Libraries can keep lending ebooks: benefit, low. The law bars ebook and digital audiobook contracts that stop libraries from doing normal library work. Libraries can lend to borrowers, set the loan period, make preservation copies, and use interlibrary loan. Libraries cannot be forced to pay more than public prices or to break patron‑privacy laws…
- Enforcement starts after multi-state trigger: mixed, low. Offering a license with banned terms is an unfair or deceptive act under Rhode Island law. Libraries, library officers, borrowers, and the attorney general can ask a court to block or void those terms. Any waiver of these rights is void. The law takes effect now, but enforcement starts only after t…
- RI law governs new library licenses: mixed, low. Rhode Island law now governs contracts that libraries sign for ebooks and digital audiobooks. Existing contracts stay in force under their current terms. The new rules apply when libraries sign new agreements.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Mark P. McKenney (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Hanna M. Gallo (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Matthew L. LaMountain (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Melissa A. Murray (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Lori Urso (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Samuel D. Zurier (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-06-10 | Senate | RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW -- LIBRARY EBOOK CONTRACTS Passage as Amended Passage | pass | 37 | 1 |   |
| 2026-06-10 | Senate | RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW -- LIBRARY EBOOK CONTRACTS Approval of Amendment Passage | pass | 37 | 0 |   |

## Actions (12)

- 2026-06-24: Effective without Governor's signature — Chapter 343 (Governor)
- 2026-06-16: Transmitted to Governor (Governor)
- 2026-06-11: House passed Sub A as amended in concurrence (House)
- 2026-06-10: Placed on the House Consent Calendar (06/11/2026) (House)
- 2026-06-10: Senate passed Sub A as amended (floor amendment) (Senate)
- 2026-06-04: Placed on Senate Calendar (06/10/2026) (Senate)
- 2026-06-04: Committee recommends passage of Sub A
- 2026-06-03: Proposed Substitute
- 2026-06-02: Scheduled for consideration (06/04/2026)
- 2026-03-04: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
- 2026-02-27: Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/04/2026)
- 2026-02-13: Introduced, referred to Senate Education (Senate)

## Bill text

- S2525 - As Introduced, 2026-02-13: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2525.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2525.pdf)
- S2525 - Substitute, 2026-02-13: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2525A.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2525A.pdf)
- S2525 - Substitute As Amended, 2026-02-13: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2525Aaa.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2525Aaa.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)
- 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)

## Sources
- [S2525 - As Introduced (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2525.htm)
- [S2525 - As Introduced (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2525.pdf)
- [S2525 - Substitute (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2525A.htm)
- [S2525 - Substitute (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2525A.pdf)
- [S2525 - Substitute As Amended (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2525Aaa.htm)
- [S2525 - Substitute As Amended (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2525Aaa.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)
- [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)
- [Rhode Island bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/rhode-island/bills)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S2525-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).