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S2115 • 2026

AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- HEALTH CARE POWER OF ATTORNEY (Requires hospitals to have a notary on staff all hours of the day and week.)

AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- HEALTH CARE POWER OF ATTORNEY (Requires hospitals to have a notary on staff all hours of the day and week.)

Healthcare
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
LaMountain
Last action
2026-04-09
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 HEALTH AND SAFETY -- HEALTH CARE POWER OF ATTORNEY (Requires hospitals to have a notary on staff all hours of the day and week.)

AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- HEALTH CARE POWER OF ATTORNEY (Requires hospitals to have a notary on staff all hours of the day and week.)

What This Bill Does

  • AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- HEALTH CARE POWER OF ATTORNEY (Requires hospitals to have a notary on staff all hours of the day and week.)

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. 2026-04-09 Committee

    Committee recommended measure be held for further study

  2. 2026-04-03 Rhode Island General Assembly

    Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (04/09/2026)

  3. 2026-01-16 Rhode Island General Assembly

    Introduced, referred to Senate Health and Human Services

Official Summary Text

AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- HEALTH CARE POWER OF ATTORNEY (Requires hospitals to have a notary on staff all hours of the day and week.)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
S2115

2026 -- S 2115
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LC004009
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- HEALTH CARE POWER OF ATTORNEY

Introduced By:
Senator Matthew L. LaMountain

Date Introduced:
January 16, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Health & Human Services
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Chapter 23-4.10 of the General Laws entitled "Health Care Power of
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Attorney" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
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23-4.10-2.1. Notary public in hospitals.

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(a) All hospitals in Rhode Island shall have a notary public on staff and available twenty-
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four (24) hours a day and seven (7) days a week.
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(b) The notary shall be available through the patient services department to notarize
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important healthcare and legal documents including:
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(1) Advance directive to hospital personnel;
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(2) Powers of attorney; and
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(3) Wills.
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(c) Upon request the notary public shall visit the patient in their room during the
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hospitalization. A valid ID shall be required from the patient and documents shall be signed in the
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presence of the notary.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC004009
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- HEALTH CARE POWER OF ATTORNEY
***
1
This act would require hospitals to have a notary on staff all hours of the day and week.
2
This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC004009
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