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Rhode IslandS30262026 Regular SessionSenate

AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS -- MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS AND MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS .

Sponsored By: Melissa A. Murray (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

New training hours for family therapist licenses

For an associate license, you must complete a supervised internship in your degree program with at least 300 hours of direct client contact. Contact can be with individuals, couples, families, groups, or organizations under a board‑approved supervisor. For full licensure by the master’s path, you need two years post‑graduate experience and 1,500 direct client contact hours. At least 1,400 hours must be after the master’s; up to 100 may be during graduate study, and at least 300 must be with couples, families, or groups. The doctoral path needs a doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy, two years post‑graduate experience, and at least 1,000 direct client contact hours from an accredited program. Both paths also require at least 100 hours of supervised case work after the degree over two years under a board‑approved supervisor.

Faster licenses for out-of-state family therapists

Rhode Island can grant a marriage and family therapist license without an exam if you have been licensed in another state for at least one year. The board decides whether to grant the license.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Melissa A. Murray

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 104 • No: 0

House vote • 6/11/2026

MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS PASSAGE IN CONCURRENCE

Yes: 67 • No: 0

Senate vote • 6/10/2026

BUSINESS/PROF--MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS FAMILY THERAPISTS Passage

Yes: 37 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by Governor — Chapter 196

    6/22/2026Governor

  2. Transmitted to Governor

    6/18/2026Governor

  3. House passed in concurrence

    6/11/2026House

  4. Placed on the House Consent Calendar (06/11/2026)

    6/10/2026House

  5. Senate read and passed

    6/10/2026Senate

  6. Placed on Senate Calendar (06/10/2026)

    6/4/2026Senate

  7. Committee recommends passage

    6/2/2026

  8. Scheduled for consideration (06/02/2026)

    5/29/2026

  9. Committee recommended measure be held for further study

    4/2/2026

  10. Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (04/02/2026)

    3/27/2026

  11. Introduced, referred to Senate Health and Human Services

    3/5/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • S3026 - As Introduced

    3/5/2026

    HTMLPDF

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