Changes the term of drug court to recovery court.

Rhode Island Bill Summary: Renaming "Drug Court" to "Recovery Court"

This bill makes a straightforward change to Rhode Island law by replacing the term "drug court" with "recovery court" throughout the state's legal code related to the Superior Court. The change is purely about language and naming — it does not alter how the court operates, who is eligible to participate, or what the court's programs involve.

The people most directly affected are individuals who participate in this specialized court program, which is designed to help people with substance use issues address the root causes of their legal troubles through treatment and supervision rather than traditional incarceration. Judges, attorneys, court staff, and others who work within or interact with this court system would also see the terminology change in official documents and communications.

Supporters of renaming these courts often argue that the word "recovery" better reflects the purpose and goals of the program — focusing on healing and rehabilitation — and may help reduce the stigma that can come with the label "drug court." However, this bill simply changes the name in the law and does not create new programs, change funding, or modify eligibility rules in any way. It is a largely administrative update to how Rhode Island officially refers to this existing court.