# Rhode Island S2857: AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY AND AUDIOLOGY . Rhode Island S2857, AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY AND AUDIOLOGY ., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Hanna M. Gallo (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-06-10 (Signed by Governor — Chapter 041) (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S2857-2026 - 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 S2857 - State: Rhode Island - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY AND AUDIOLOGY . - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-03-04 - Last action: 2026-06-10, Signed by Governor — Chapter 041 - Sponsor: Hanna M. Gallo (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 4 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 3 (136 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 7 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Licenses for private and telehealth practice: cost, medium. If you do fee-for-service speech or audiology work in private practice, you must hold a Rhode Island license. Out-of-state providers who deliver telepractice to Rhode Island clients must also get a Rhode Island license. These rules add paperwork and fees to keep practicing across state lines or out… - Clear rules for speech and hearing care: mixed, medium. The law defines what audiologists and speech-language pathologists can do. It allows telepractice and says remote care must match in-person quality and follow ASHA ethics and practice rules. Only licensed people can use titles like “audiologist” or “speech-language pathologist,” and using terms lik… - Discipline rules and hearing rights: mixed, medium. The board can deny, suspend, or revoke a license for fraud, aiding unlicensed practice, negligent or illegal work, substance impairment, promoting ineffective devices, felony convictions, rule violations, or failure to keep up continuing education. It may act even without proof of client injury. Be… - How to get licensed in Rhode Island: mixed, medium. To be licensed as a speech-language pathologist, you must have a master’s or doctoral degree from an approved program, complete supervised practicum meeting national standards, pass the national exam, and show CCC or equivalent verification. For audiologists applying on or after January 1, 2008, yo… - Rules for speech and hearing assistants: mixed, medium. Speech-language pathology assistants must meet board-set education paths and complete 25 hours of observation and 100 supervised clinical hours. SLPAs may help with pass/fail screenings, score tests for later review, carry out therapy plans, provide telepractice as directed, coach caregivers, and h… - License renewal, lapses, and inactive status: mixed, low. Licenses are issued for two years and expire on July 1 two years after issue. Renewals occur every two years in even-numbered years. If you miss the June 30 renewal in an even year, you may reinstate by applying, paying the renewal plus a late fee, and showing the required continuing education. You… - New state board and oversight rules: mixed, low. The Department of Health runs a Board of Examiners for speech and hearing care with five Rhode Island members: two SLPs, one audiologist, one otolaryngologist, and one public member. Members are appointed for three-year terms, meet regularly, and serve without pay. The board investigates, holds hea… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Hanna M. Gallo (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: John P. Burke (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Louis P. DiPalma (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Walter S. Felag Jr. (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Matthew L. LaMountain (Democratic), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-06-04 | House | RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFE PASSAGE IN CONCURRENCE | pass | 62 | 0 | | | 2026-05-27 | Senate | BUSINESSES/PROFESSIONS--SPEECH- LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY & AUDIOLOGY Passage | pass | 37 | 0 | | | 2026-05-27 | Senate | BUSINESSES/PROFESSIONS--SPEECH- LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY & AUDIOLOGY Passage | pass | 37 | 0 | | ## Actions (11) - 2026-06-10: Signed by Governor — Chapter 041 (Governor) - 2026-06-04: Transmitted to Governor (Governor) - 2026-06-04: House passed in concurrence (House) - 2026-06-02: Placed on House Calendar (06/04/2026) (House) - 2026-05-27: Senate read and passed (Senate) - 2026-05-22: Placed on Senate Calendar (05/27/2026) (Senate) - 2026-05-21: Committee recommends passage - 2026-05-19: Scheduled for consideration (05/21/2026) - 2026-03-12: Committee recommended measure be held for further study - 2026-03-06: Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/12/2026) - 2026-03-04: Introduced, referred to Senate Health and Human Services (Senate) ## Bill text - S2857 - As Introduced, 2026-03-04: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2857.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2857.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 - [S2857 - As Introduced (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2857.htm) - [S2857 - As Introduced (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S2857.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-S2857-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).