# Rhode Island S2601: AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- FACILITATING BUSINESS RAPID RESPONSE TO STATE DECLARED DISASTER ACT OF 2024 . Rhode Island S2601, AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- FACILITATING BUSINESS RAPID RESPONSE TO STATE DECLARED DISASTER ACT OF 2024 ., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Matthew L. LaMountain (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-06-18 (Signed by Governor — Chapter 144) (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S2601-2026 - 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 S2601 - State: Rhode Island - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- FACILITATING BUSINESS RAPID RESPONSE TO STATE DECLARED DISASTER ACT OF 2024 . - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-02-13 - Last action: 2026-06-18, Signed by Governor — Chapter 144 - Sponsor: Matthew L. LaMountain (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 2 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 2 (106 yes, 1 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 3 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Stronger protections for internet and power gear: benefit, low. Beginning January 1, 2027, Rhode Island treats broadband and wireless equipment like other protected communications and electric gear. It is a crime to willfully damage broadband, Internet, or wireless apparatus, with penalties up to a $3,000 fine or up to two years in jail. Wireless equipment is a… - Cities can vary zoning to protect infrastructure: benefit, low. Beginning January 1, 2027, cities and towns may grant variances or other zoning relief to protect critical infrastructure. Boards can approve changes when the property has been hit by, or faces a clear risk of, vandalism, trespass, theft, or damage from extreme weather or climate change. Standard n… - Stricter scrap metal rules for recyclers: cost, medium. Beginning January 1, 2027, licensed secondary metals recyclers must follow tighter steps. Parts from wired and wireless communications gear now count as regulated metals. When they buy listed metals or items known to be from utilities or communications companies, they must keep them separate and un… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Matthew L. LaMountain (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: John P. Burke (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Walter S. Felag Jr. (Democratic), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-06-08 | House | STATE DECLARED DISASTER ACT 2024 PASSAGE IN CONCURRENCE | pass | 69 | 0 | | | 2026-06-03 | Senate | BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- STATE DECLARED DISASTER ACT 2024 Passage | pass | 37 | 1 | | ## Actions (13) - 2026-06-18: Signed by Governor — Chapter 144 (Governor) - 2026-06-16: Transmitted to Governor (Governor) - 2026-06-08: House passed Sub A in concurrence (House) - 2026-06-05: Placed on the House Consent Calendar (06/08/2026) (House) - 2026-06-03: Senate passed Sub A (Senate) - 2026-05-27: Placed on Senate Calendar (06/03/2026) (Senate) - 2026-05-26: Committee recommends passage of Sub A - 2026-05-22: Scheduled for consideration (05/26/2026) - 2026-04-02: Committee recommended Substitute A be held for further study - 2026-04-02: Committee recommended indefinite postponement - 2026-04-01: Proposed Substitute - 2026-03-27: Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (04/02/2026) - 2026-02-13: Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary (Senate) ## Bill text - S2601 - As Introduced, 2026-02-13: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2601.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2601.pdf) - S2601 - Substitute, 2026-02-13: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2601A.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2601A.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 - [S2601 - As Introduced (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2601.htm) - [S2601 - As Introduced (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2601.pdf) - [S2601 - Substitute (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2601A.htm) - [S2601 - Substitute (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2601A.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) - [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-S2601-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).