Created a peer-to-peer car sharing program, which will prescribe insurance coverage and other related details while using a car sharing application.

Rhode Island Peer-to-Peer Car Sharing Program Bill

This bill would create an official legal framework in Rhode Island for peer-to-peer car sharing — a service where private car owners rent their personal vehicles to other people through smartphone apps or online platforms (similar to how companies like Turo operate). Right now, there are no specific state rules governing how these transactions work, so this bill would establish clear guidelines for how these programs must function in Rhode Island.

A major focus of the bill is insurance coverage. It would spell out who is responsible for providing insurance at different points during a car-sharing transaction — for example, whether the car owner's personal auto insurance, the car-sharing company's insurance, or some combination of both must cover any accidents or damages that occur while someone is borrowing a vehicle through the app. This is meant to eliminate confusion about who pays if something goes wrong during a rental.

The bill would affect three main groups: private car owners who want to earn money by renting out their vehicles, people who use apps to borrow those vehicles, and the technology companies that operate the car-sharing platforms. Each group would have defined rights and responsibilities under the new rules, giving everyone clearer protections than currently exist.

As of now, the bill is still in the early stages of the legislative process. It has been referred to the House Corporations Committee and is scheduled for a hearing in March 2026, though a previous meeting was postponed. No final vote has been taken yet.