H8148 • 2026

AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHWAYS -- RHODE ISLAND TURNPIKE AND BRIDGE AUTHORITY (Directs the RITBA design a safety barrier or netting system on the several bridges within its authority. Any newly constructed bridges with a deck height of over one hundred feet (100 ft) would be required to have safety barriers of safety netting.)

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Solomon, Casey
Last action: 2026-05-12
Official status: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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 HIGHWAYS -- RHODE ISLAND TURNPIKE AND BRIDGE AUTHORITY (Directs the RITBA design a safety barrier or netting system on the several bridges within its authority. Any newly constructed bridges with a deck height of over one hundred feet (100 ft) would be required to have safety barriers of safety netting.)

AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHWAYS -- RHODE ISLAND TURNPIKE AND BRIDGE AUTHORITY (Directs the RITBA design a safety barrier or netting system on the several bridges within its authority.

What This Bill Does

AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHWAYS -- RHODE ISLAND TURNPIKE AND BRIDGE AUTHORITY (Directs the RITBA design a safety barrier or netting system on the several bridges within its authority.
Any newly constructed bridges with a deck height of over one hundred feet (100 ft) would be required to have safety barriers of safety netting.)

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

2026-05-12 Committee
Committee recommended measure be held for further study
2026-05-08 Rhode Island General Assembly
Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (05/12/2026)
2026-02-27 Rhode Island General Assembly
Introduced, referred to House Finance

Official Summary Text

AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHWAYS -- RHODE ISLAND TURNPIKE AND BRIDGE AUTHORITY (Directs the RITBA design a safety barrier or netting system on the several bridges within its authority. Any newly constructed bridges with a deck height of over one hundred feet (100 ft) would be required to have safety barriers of safety netting.)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

H8148

2026 -- H 8148
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LC003354
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO HIGHWAYS -- RHODE ISLAND TURNPIKE AND BRIDGE AUTHORITY

Introduced By:
Representatives Solomon, and Casey

Date Introduced:
February 27, 2026

Referred To:
House Finance
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Chapter 24-12 of the General Laws entitled "Rhode Island Turnpike and
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Bridge Authority" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
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24-12-60. Safety barrier on bridges.
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(a) The Rhode Island turnpike and bridge authority (RITBA) is hereby directed to design
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a safety barrier and/or safety netting on the Mount Hope Bridge, the Claiborne Pell Bridge, the
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Staff Sergeant Christopher Potts Sakonnet River Bridge, and the Jamestown Verrazzano Bridge
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(the “bridges”). The process shall be implemented as follows:
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(1) RITBA shall submit the design of the safety barrier and/or safety netting for the bridges
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to the house finance committee and the senate finance committee on or before January 1, 2027.
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(2) RITBA shall issue a request for proposals for the safety barrier and/or safety netting on
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or before April 30, 2027.
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(3) Proposals shall be reviewed and accepted by RITBA, and construction and installation
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of the safety barrier and/or safety netting shall commence on the bridges, no later than August 1,
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2027.
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(b) Any newly constructed bridges within the state with a deck height of over one hundred
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feet (100′) shall be required to have safety barriers or safety netting.

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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO HIGHWAYS -- RHODE ISLAND TURNPIKE AND BRIDGE AUTHORITY
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This act would direct the Rhode Island turnpike and bridge authority (RITBA) to design a
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safety barrier or netting system on the Mount Hope Bridge, the Claiborne Pell Bridge, the Staff
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Sergeant Christopher Potts Sakonnet River Bridge, and the Jamestown Verrazzano Bridge. The act
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would include several deadlines to ensure construction commences no later than August 1, 2027.
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Any newly constructed bridges with a deck height of over one hundred feet (100′) would be
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required to have safety barriers or safety netting.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC003354
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