# Rhode Island S3203: AN ACT RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- RETAIL LICENSES .

Rhode Island S3203, AN ACT RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- RETAIL LICENSES ., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Stefano V. Famiglietti (Democratic); status became law, last action 2026-06-11 (Effective without Governor's signature — Chapter 079) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3203-2026
- 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 S3203
- State: Rhode Island
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: AN ACT RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- RETAIL LICENSES .
- Status: became law
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-04-03
- Last action: 2026-06-11, Effective without Governor's signature — Chapter 079
- Sponsor: Stefano V. Famiglietti (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 2
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (97 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Older Class B/C licenses protected: benefit, medium. Any Class B or Class C license issued before January 1, 1978 is exempt from the distance and objection rules. For transfers, if the licensed location existed before the nearby school or place of worship, distance cannot be used to block the transfer. This preserves long‑standing businesses and thei…
- Distance limits on alcohol retail licenses: cost, medium. The law limits where retail alcohol licenses can be issued. If the owner of most land within 200 feet files an objection, no license is issued. For Class B, C, N, and I licenses, the building cannot be within 200 feet of a school or place of worship. In East Providence, Class A licenses are blocked…
- Cities can approve location exceptions: mixed, low. Local licensing boards named in the law can grant case‑by‑case exceptions to the distance rules for listed addresses and parcels. In Newport, an existing Class B holder can apply for a sidewalk cafe at a place of worship. In Cranston, a transferee must follow the May 13, 2003 MOU and be current on…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Stefano V. Famiglietti (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Thomas J. Paolino (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: David P. Tikoian (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-06-03 | House | ALCOHOLIC -- RETAIL LICENSES PASSAGE IN CONCURRENCE | pass | 63 | 0 |   |
| 2026-04-28 | Senate | RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- RETAIL LICENSES Passage | pass | 34 | 0 |   |

## Actions (12)

- 2026-06-11: Effective without Governor's signature — Chapter 079 (Governor)
- 2026-06-03: Transmitted to Governor (Governor)
- 2026-06-03: House passed in concurrence (House)
- 2026-05-29: Placed on the House Consent Calendar (06/03/2026) (House)
- 2026-05-26: Committee recommends passage in concurrence
- 2026-05-22: Scheduled for consideration (05/26/2026)
- 2026-04-29: Referred to House Municipal Government & Housing (House)
- 2026-04-28: Senate read and passed (Senate)
- 2026-04-16: Placed on Senate Calendar (04/28/2026) (Senate)
- 2026-04-15: Committee recommends passage
- 2026-04-10: Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (04/15/2026)
- 2026-04-03: Introduced, referred to Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs (Senate)

## Bill text

- S3203 - As Introduced, 2026-04-03: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S3203.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S3203.pdf)

## Related bills

- S3363: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION . (became law)
- S3353: JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO PAY CERTAIN CLAIMS . (became law)
- S3337: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION . (became law)
- S3333: AN ACT RELATING TO THE NORTH TIVERTON FIRE DISTRICT . (became law)
- S3315: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES . (became law)
- S3293: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION . (became law)

## Sources
- [S3203 - As Introduced (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S3203.htm)
- [S3203 - As Introduced (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S3203.pdf)

## Related
- [S3363: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3363-2026)
- [S3353: JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO PAY CERTAIN CLAIMS .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3353-2026)
- [S3337: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3337-2026)
- [S3333: AN ACT RELATING TO THE NORTH TIVERTON FIRE DISTRICT .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3333-2026)
- [S3315: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3315-2026)
- [S3293: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3293-2026)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3203-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).