# Rhode Island S3288: AN ACT RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- RETAIL LICENSES . Rhode Island S3288, AN ACT RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- RETAIL LICENSES ., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Lammis J. Vargas (Democratic); status became law, last action 2026-06-26 (Effective without Governor's signature — Chapter 264) (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-S3288-2026 - 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 S3288 - State: Rhode Island - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: AN ACT RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- RETAIL LICENSES . - Status: became law - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-05-15 - Last action: 2026-06-26, Effective without Governor's signature — Chapter 264 - Sponsor: Lammis J. Vargas (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 2 (107 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 8 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Bay and South County license exemptions: benefit, low. Town boards can exempt state distance limits for listed parcels in Jamestown, Barrington, Warren, Bristol, and South Kingstown. Examples: Jamestown (53 Narragansett Ave, Class BVL), Barrington (305 Sowams Rd, Class B), Warren (4 Market St, Class B), Bristol (499 Hope St, Class B or BV), and South K… - Easier alcohol licenses at listed addresses: benefit, low. The law lets local boards approve retailer alcohol licenses at a few named sites, even near schools or places of worship. You must apply to the city or town licensing authority. Covered sites include: Providence — 1230 Elmwood Ave (Plat 089, Lot 210); 865 Westminster St (Plat 029, Lot 136); 94 Carp… - East Greenwich Main Street exemptions: benefit, low. East Greenwich’s board of licenses can exempt state distance limits for Class B licenses at 219 Main St and several other listed parcels. Examples include 137 Main St and 59 Main St. Apply to the town board. Approvals are case by case and only for the listed properties. - East Providence location-based license exemptions: benefit, low. East Providence officials can exempt state distance limits for Class B licenses at 130 and 136 Taunton Ave and 332 Bullock Point Ave. Apply to the local licensing board or city council, as listed. Approvals are discretionary and apply only to these properties. - Northern Rhode Island parcel exemptions: benefit, low. Several northern Rhode Island towns can exempt state distance rules for named parcels. Lincoln (Plat 10, Lot 108 as of December 31, 2015), Cumberland (88 Broad St, Lots 32, 51, 52 as of December 31, 2016), Central Falls (Plat 1, Lot 171), Pawtucket (listed Plat/Lots as of March 1, 2021), and North… - Providence case-by-case alcohol licenses: benefit, low. Providence’s board of licenses can exempt state distance limits for alcohol sales at many named parcels. It covers Class B, BV, BL, BX, C, and P licenses, as listed. Examples include 777 Elmwood Ave, 225 Waterman St, 94 Carpenter St, 464–468 Wickenden St, 371 and 375 Smith St, and 79 Ives St. You m… - Westerly Main Street license exemptions: benefit, low. Westerly’s town council can exempt state distance rules for Class B licenses at 114 Granite St and at 163, 169, and 177 Main St. You must apply to the town council. Decisions are case by case and limited to these addresses. - Woonsocket downtown and parcel exemptions: benefit, low. Woonsocket can exempt state distance limits for alcohol licenses at 122 North Main St and 43 Railroad St. The city can also exempt any class of retail license inside the Downtown Overlay District. Apply to the city council or the local licensing board as specified. Approvals are case by case and on… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Lammis J. Vargas (Democratic), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-06-11 | House | ALCOHOLIC -- RETAIL LICENSES PASSAGE IN CONCURRENCE | pass | 69 | 0 | | | 2026-06-10 | Senate | RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES -- RETAIL LICENSES Passage | pass | 38 | 0 | | ## Actions (9) - 2026-06-26: Effective without Governor's signature — Chapter 264 (Governor) - 2026-06-18: Transmitted to Governor (Governor) - 2026-06-11: House passed in concurrence (House) - 2026-06-11: Placed on House Calendar (06/11/2026) (House) - 2026-06-10: Senate read and passed (Senate) - 2026-05-22: Placed on Senate Calendar (06/10/2026) (Senate) - 2026-05-21: Committee recommends passage - 2026-05-15: Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (05/21/2026) - 2026-05-15: Introduced, referred to Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs (Senate) ## Bill text - S3288 - As Introduced, 2026-05-15: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S3288.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S3288.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 - [S3288 - As Introduced (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S3288.htm) - [S3288 - As Introduced (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/SenateText26/S3288.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-S3288-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).