Requires individuals who own firearms to obtain and continuously maintain a policy of liability insurance in an amount of not less than $1,000,000 dollars and exempts active duty law enforcement and military from this requirement.

Rhode Island Firearm Liability Insurance Bill

This bill would require anyone in Rhode Island who owns a firearm to purchase and keep active a liability insurance policy worth at least $1,000,000. Similar to how car owners are required to carry auto insurance, this would make firearm liability insurance a legal requirement for gun ownership in the state. The insurance would need to be maintained continuously — meaning if the policy lapses or is cancelled, the gun owner would be out of compliance with the law.

The requirement would apply to most private gun owners in Rhode Island. However, there are two groups who would be exempt from this rule: active duty law enforcement officers and active duty military personnel. The bill does not currently specify what penalties, if any, would apply to gun owners who fail to obtain the required insurance.

This bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process. It was introduced and referred to the House Judiciary Committee, which is scheduled to hold a hearing on it. The committee will review the bill and decide whether to move it forward for a broader vote, make changes to it, or let it stall without further action. At this stage, it has not been passed into law.