Plain English Breakdown
The plain English breakdown is still being put together. The official documents below are already here.
Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.
H7138 • 2026
AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- RHODE ISLAND PUBLIC TRANSIT AUTHORITY (Enables the Rhode Island public transit authority (RIPTA) to work with the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) to allow commuter rail passes to be used as dual passes for both RIPTA and MBTA.)
This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.
The plain English breakdown is still being put together. The official documents below are already here.
Committee recommended measure be held for further study
Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (04/07/2026)
Introduced, referred to House Corporations
AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- RHODE ISLAND PUBLIC TRANSIT AUTHORITY (Enables the Rhode Island public transit authority (RIPTA) to work with the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) to allow commuter rail passes to be used as dual passes for both RIPTA and MBTA.)
H7138 2026 -- H 7138 ======== LC003778 ======== STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026 ____________ A N A C T RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- RHODE ISLAND PUBLIC TRANSIT AUTHORITY Introduced By: Representatives J. Lombardi, Hull, Cruz, and Stewart Date Introduced: January 16, 2026 Referred To: House Corporations It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: 1 SECTION 1. Chapter 39-18 of the General Laws entitled "Rhode Island Public Transit 2 Authority" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 3 39-18-25. Creation of parity with MBTA commuter passes. 4 The authority shall consult with the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority on the feasibility 5 of allowing their commuter rail passes to be used on all Rhode Island public transit authority buses. 6 Both rail passes shall serve as dual Rhode Island public transit authority passes and Massachusetts 7 Bay Transit Authority passes. The consultation shall also include proposed methods to apportion 8 and share the costs of the passes between the two (2) authorities. 9 SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. ======== LC003778 ======== EXPLANATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF A N A C T RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- RHODE ISLAND PUBLIC TRANSIT AUTHORITY *** 1 This act would enable the Rhode Island public transit authority (RIPTA) to work with the 2 Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) to allow commuter rail passes to be used as dual 3 passes for both RIPTA and MBTA. 4 This act would take effect upon passage. ======== LC003778 ======== LC003778 - Page 2 of 2