Establishes the Rhode Island Regulations from the Executive In Need of Scrutiny Act which would require review and approval of rules with implementation and compliance costs of one million dollars ($1,000,000) or more over a two-year period.

Summary: Rhode Island REINS Act

This bill would create a new oversight process for government regulations in Rhode Island. Specifically, it would require that any new rule or regulation created by a state executive agency — one that would cost $1 million or more to implement and comply with over a two-year period — must go through a review and approval process before it can take effect. Currently, state agencies can issue regulations without needing the legislature to formally sign off on them.

The practical effect of this bill would be to give the Rhode Island General Assembly more direct control over costly regulations. Under this system, significant rules proposed by state agencies would need legislative approval, adding an extra step between when a regulation is proposed and when it becomes enforceable. This mirrors similar "REINS Act" legislation that has been introduced at the federal level and in other states.

This bill would affect a wide range of people and organizations. State agencies would face a more involved process before their rules could be put into place. Businesses, nonprofits, and others who must comply with state regulations could see changes in how quickly new rules are enacted. Supporters of similar laws often argue this adds accountability, while critics sometimes argue it could slow down important regulatory updates — but this summary takes no position on those arguments.

As of now, the bill has been referred to the House State Government & Elections Committee, which has recommended it be held for further study, meaning it has not yet advanced through the legislative process.