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H7332 • 2026

AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- DUTIES OF UTILITIES AND CARRIERS (Requires all public utilities to maintain a customer service facility within the state to perform services such as addressing customer inquiries and accepting bill payments.)

AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- DUTIES OF UTILITIES AND CARRIERS (Requires all public utilities to maintain a customer service facility within the state to perform services such as addressing customer inquiries and accepting bill payments.)

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Hull, Lombardi, Fogarty, DeSimone, Tanzi, Felix, Azzinaro, Alzate, Bennett, Slater
Last action
2026-06-24
Official status
Effective without Governor's signature
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- DUTIES OF UTILITIES AND CARRIERS (Requires all public utilities to maintain a customer service facility within the state to perform services such as addressing customer inquiries and accepting bill payments.)

AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- DUTIES OF UTILITIES AND CARRIERS (Requires all public utilities to maintain a customer service facility within the state to perform services such as addressing customer inquiries and accepting bill payments.)

What This Bill Does

  • AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- DUTIES OF UTILITIES AND CARRIERS (Requires all public utilities to maintain a customer service facility within the state to perform services such as addressing customer inquiries and accepting bill payments.)

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-06-24 Governor

    Effective without Governor's signature

  2. 2026-06-16 Governor

    Transmitted to Governor

  3. 2026-06-09 Senate

    Senate passed in concurrence

  4. 2026-06-05 Rhode Island General Assembly

    Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar (06/09/2026)

  5. 2026-05-26 House

    House read and passed

  6. 2026-05-22 Rhode Island General Assembly

    Placed on House Calendar (05/26/2026)

  7. 2026-05-21 Committee

    Committee recommends passage

  8. 2026-05-15 Rhode Island General Assembly

    Scheduled for consideration (05/21/2026)

  9. 2026-04-07 Committee

    Committee recommended measure be held for further study

  10. 2026-04-03 Rhode Island General Assembly

    Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (04/07/2026)

  11. 2026-01-28 Rhode Island General Assembly

    Introduced, referred to House Corporations

Official Summary Text

AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- DUTIES OF UTILITIES AND CARRIERS (Requires all public utilities to maintain a customer service facility within the state to perform services such as addressing customer inquiries and accepting bill payments.)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
H7332

2026 -- H 7332
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LC004618
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- DUTIES OF UTILITIES AND
CARRIERS

Introduced By:
Representatives Hull, J. Lombardi, Fogarty, DeSimone, Tanzi, Felix,
Azzinaro, Alzate, Bennett, and Slater

Date Introduced:
January 28, 2026

Referred To:
House Corporations
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1
SECTION 1. Chapter 39-2 of the General Laws entitled "Duties of Utilities and Carriers"
2
is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
3

39-2-29. Duty to maintain customer service operations within the state.

4

Every public utility operated and licensed to provide services to the residents and
5
businesses within the state under chapter 1 of title 39, shall maintain a customer service operation
6
physically located within the state which is reasonably staffed to meet the expectations of the
7
public. The customer service operation shall be available to answer customer inquiries, meet with
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customers, accept payment of bills, and perform any other services that the public utilities
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commission may direct from time to time.
10
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC004618
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- DUTIES OF UTILITIES AND
CARRIERS
***
1
This act would require all public utilities to maintain a customer service facility within the
2
state to perform services such as addressing customer inquiries and accepting bill payments.
3
This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC004618
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