Prohibits unauthorized placement of merchants on advertising platform order interfaces, and would prohibit third-party restaurant reservation services.

Rhode Island Bill Summary: Third-Party Delivery and Reservation Services

This bill addresses how third-party companies — like food delivery apps or online reservation platforms — can interact with local restaurants and other merchants in Rhode Island. Specifically, it would make it illegal for these outside platforms to list a restaurant or merchant on their ordering or advertising website without first getting permission from that business. In other words, a delivery or ordering app could not add a restaurant to its platform and take orders on the restaurant's behalf unless the restaurant has agreed to it.

The bill would also go a step further by prohibiting third-party restaurant reservation services from operating in Rhode Island entirely. These are services that allow customers to book a table at a restaurant through an outside company's website or app, rather than contacting the restaurant directly. Under this bill, those types of services would not be allowed to function in the state.

The businesses most directly affected would be restaurants and local merchants, along with the third-party technology companies that run delivery, ordering, and reservation platforms. Restaurant owners who have experienced being listed on apps without their knowledge — sometimes with incorrect menus or prices — could benefit from these protections. On the other hand, third-party platforms operating in Rhode Island would face new legal restrictions on how they do business.

As of now, the bill has been referred to the House Corporations Committee and has been held for further study, meaning it has not yet moved forward toward a vote.