# Rhode Island S3259: AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- UNIFORM CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT . Rhode Island S3259, AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- UNIFORM CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT ., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Melissa A. Murray (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-06-23 (Signed by Governor — Chapter 313) (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3259-2026 - 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 S3259 - State: Rhode Island - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- UNIFORM CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT . - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-05-05 - Last action: 2026-06-23, Signed by Governor — Chapter 313 - Sponsor: Melissa A. Murray (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 2 (107 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 4 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Access to opioids for serious pain: benefit, medium. The law lets clinicians prescribe or give controlled substances for cancer, palliative care, or chronic intractable pain when they document the diagnosis and treatment. They must check PDMP data, verify methadone or buprenorphine use, refer to addiction specialists when needed, and use a written tr… - Clear definitions for opioids and addiction care: benefit, low. Beginning January 1, 2023, the law says treating pain and treating opioid use disorder count as a therapeutic purpose when shown in the medical record. It also defines opioid medicines to include FDA‑approved opioids and partial agonists like buprenorphine, and defines opioid antagonists to include… - Stronger prescription checks and naloxone guidance: benefit, low. Before starting or refilling opioids, clinicians must check the state Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, including for intrathecal pump therapy. They must review any methadone or buprenorphine history first. For patients on continuous opioids three months or more, they must recheck the PDMP at l… - Stricter rules for first opioid prescriptions: mixed, medium. The law requires clinicians to assess your pain and record why non‑opioid options failed or are not right before prescribing an opioid. They may start opioids for acute pain only when non‑opioid care did not work or when documented benefits outweigh risks. For adults, the first opioid prescription… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Melissa A. Murray (Democratic), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-06-11 | House | UNIFORM CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES AC PASSAGE IN CONCURRENCE | pass | 69 | 0 | | | 2026-06-10 | Senate | FOOD AND DRUGS -- UNIFORM CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT Passage | pass | 38 | 0 | | ## Actions (12) - 2026-06-23: Signed by Governor — Chapter 313 (Governor) - 2026-06-18: Transmitted to Governor (Governor) - 2026-06-11: House passed Sub A in concurrence (House) - 2026-06-11: Placed on House Calendar (06/11/2026) (House) - 2026-06-10: Senate passed Sub A (Senate) - 2026-06-09: Placed on Senate Calendar (06/10/2026) (Senate) - 2026-06-09: Committee recommends passage of Sub A - 2026-06-08: Proposed Substitute - 2026-06-05: Scheduled for consideration (06/09/2026) - 2026-05-21: Committee recommended measure be held for further study - 2026-05-15: Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (05/21/2026) - 2026-05-05: Introduced, referred to Senate Health and Human Services (Senate) ## Bill text - S3259 - As Introduced, 2026-05-05: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S3259.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S3259.pdf) - S3259 - Substitute, 2026-05-05: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S3259A.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S3259A.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 - [S3259 - As Introduced (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S3259.htm) - [S3259 - As Introduced (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S3259.pdf) - [S3259 - Substitute (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S3259A.htm) - [S3259 - Substitute (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S3259A.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) - [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-S3259-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).