AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (Require that routine childhood and adult immunization vaccine recommendations that are developed from evidence based, medically sound scientific research by the department of health.)

S2568

2026 -- S 2568
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LC004721
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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 HEALTH AND SAFETY -- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Introduced By:
Senators Lauria, Valverde, Murray, DiMario, Mack, Euer, Urso,
Kallman, Thompson, Gu, and Vargas

Date Introduced:
February 13, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Health & Human Services
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 23-1-44 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-1 entitled "Department
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of Health" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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23-1-44. Routine childhood and adult immunization vaccines.
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(a) The department of health shall include in the department’s immunization program those
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vaccines for routine childhood immunization as recommended by the Advisory Committee for
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Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and for routine adult
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immunization as recommended by the ACIP, to the extent permitted by available funds. The
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immunization program includes administrative and quality assurance services and the Rhode Island
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Child and Adult Immunization Registry (RICAIR), a confidential, computerized information
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system that is used to manage statewide immunizations, for all persons in Rhode Island.
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(b) The director of the department of health shall appoint an advisory committee that will
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be convened after the ACIP makes a recommendation regarding immunization. The committee will
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review the ACIP recommendations for the state;
as well as evidence-based, medically sound,
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scientific recommendations from the Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American Medical
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Association (AMA), American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP);
assess the vaccine cost
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and feasibility; and advise the director of health and the office of the health insurance commissioner
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regarding insurers and providers acting on the ACIP immunization recommendation. All
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recommendations will be posted on the department of health website. The advisory committee
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membership shall include, but not be limited to, a primary care provider, pharmacist,

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representatives of the nursing home industry, the home healthcare industry and major insurers.
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(c) For the purpose of protecting patients’ information, all personally-identifiable
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information obtained pursuant to this section shall be subject to the privacy protections of chapter
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37.3 of title 5 and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, Pub. L. No.
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104-191 (HIPAA), as amended.
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SECTION 2. Section 23-101-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-101 entitled "Healthcare
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Provider Shield" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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23-101-2. Definitions.
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As used in this chapter, the followings words shall have the following meanings unless the
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context clearly indicates otherwise:
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(1) “Aggrieved person” means:
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(i) A person against whom hostile litigation is filed or prosecuted or the legal representative
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of a person against whom hostile litigation is filed or prosecuted; or
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(ii) The employer of a person against whom hostile litigation is filed or prosecuted if the
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legally protected healthcare activity or aiding and assisting legally protected healthcare activity of
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the person that forms the basis of the hostile litigation was performed within the scope of the
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person’s employment.
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(2) “Aid and assist legally protected healthcare activity” and “aiding and assisting legally
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protected healthcare activity” mean:
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(i) Any act or omission of a person aiding or effectuating or attempting to aid or effectuate
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any other person in legally protected healthcare activity;
or
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(ii) The provision or administration of, or attempted provision or administration of,
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insurance coverage for gender-affirming healthcare services or reproductive healthcare services to
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a beneficiary or a dependent of a beneficiary by any insurer, payor, or employer
.
; or
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(iii) The prescription, administration, or dispensing of a vaccination pursuant to the routine
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childhood and adult immunization vaccine recommendations that are developed from evidence-
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based, medically sound scientific research by the department pursuant to § 23-1-44, as well as the
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Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American Medical Association (AMA), American Academy of
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Family Physicians (AAFP), and other such similar medical professional organizations;
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(iii)
(iv)
“Aiding and assisting legally protected healthcare activity” does not include any
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conduct that violates Rhode Island law or deviates from the applicable standard of care or that could
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form the basis of a civil, criminal, or administrative action under the laws of this state had the
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course of conduct that forms the basis for liability occurred entirely within this state.
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(3) “Foreign judgment” means any judgment or decree of a court of another state.

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(4) “Gender-affirming healthcare services” means all supplies, care, and services of a
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medical, behavioral health, mental health, surgical, psychiatric, therapeutic, diagnostic, preventive,
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rehabilitative, or supportive nature, including medication, relating to the treatment of gender
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dysphoria and gender incongruence in accordance with the accepted standard of care as defined by
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major medical professional organizations and agencies with expertise in the field of gender-
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affirming health care, including the Standards of Care for the Health of Transgender and Gender
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Diverse People, Version 8, or subsequent version, published by the World Professional Association
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for Transgender Health. “Gender-affirming healthcare services” does not include conversion
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therapy as defined by § 23-94-2.
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(5) “Healthcare provider” means and shall apply to the following:
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(i) A qualified physician licensed pursuant to chapters 37 and 37.3 of title 5;
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(ii) A qualified osteopathic physician licensed pursuant to chapter 37 of title 5;
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(iii) A qualified physician assistant licensed pursuant to chapter 54 of title 5;
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(iv) A genetic counselor licensed pursuant to chapter 92 of title 5;
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(v) A qualified psychologist licensed pursuant to chapter 44 of title 5;
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(vi) A qualified social worker licensed pursuant to chapter 39.1 of title 5;
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(vii) An advanced practice registered nurse, and a certified nurse practitioner, licensed
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pursuant to chapter 34 of title 5, and a certified registered nurse anesthetist licensed pursuant to
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chapters 34 and 34.2 of title 5;
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(viii) A certified nurse midwife licensed pursuant to chapter 13 of this title;
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(ix) A licensed clinical mental health counselor or associate, and a licensed marriage and
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family therapist or associate, licensed pursuant to chapter 63.2 of title 5;
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(x) An electrologist licensed pursuant to chapter 32 of title 5;
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(xi) A speech-language pathologist licensed pursuant to chapter 48 of title 5;
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(xii) An occupational therapist licensed pursuant to chapter 40.1 of title 5;
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(xiii) A chiropractic physician licensed pursuant to chapter 30 of title 5; and
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(xiv) A pharmacist engaging in the practice of pharmacy and licensed pursuant to chapter
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19.1 of title 5.
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(6) “Hostile litigation” means any litigation or other legal action, including civil, criminal,
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or administrative action, to deter, prevent, sanction, or punish any person engaging in legally
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protected healthcare activity or aiding and assisting legally protected healthcare activity by:
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(i) Filing or prosecuting any litigation or other legal action in any other state where liability
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is based on legally protected healthcare activity or aiding and assisting legally protected healthcare
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activity that occurred in this state, including any action in which liability is based on any theory of

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vicarious, joint, or several liability; or
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(ii) Attempting to enforce any order or judgment issued in connection with any litigation
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or other legal action under subsection (6)(i) of this section by any party to the action or by any
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person acting on behalf of any party to the action.
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(iii) For purposes of this chapter, litigation or other legal action is based on legally protected
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healthcare activity or aiding and assisting legally protected healthcare activity that occurred in this
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state if any part of any act or omission involved in the course of conduct that forms the basis for
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liability in the action occurs or is initiated in this state, whether or not the act or omission is alleged
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or included in any pleading or other filing in the lawsuit.
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(7) “Law enforcement agency” means any police department in any city or town or the
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state police as defined in the general laws. For purposes of this act, a law enforcement agency may
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include any other non-federal entity in the state charged with the enforcement of laws relating to
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the custody of detained persons.
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(8) “Legally protected healthcare activity” means:
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(i) The exercise and enjoyment or attempted exercise and enjoyment by any person of the
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right secured by this state to gender-affirming healthcare services or reproductive healthcare
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services;
and
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(ii) The provision or attempted provision of gender-affirming healthcare services or
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reproductive healthcare services that are permitted under the laws and regulations of this state and
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that are provided in accordance with the applicable standard of care by a person properly licensed
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under the laws of this state and physically present in this state, regardless of whether the patient is
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located in this state or whether the person is licensed in the state where the patient is located at the
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time the services are rendered
.
; and
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(iii)
The provision or attempted provision of a vaccination pursuant to the routine childhood
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and adult immunization vaccine recommendations that are developed from evidence-based,
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medically sound scientific research by the department pursuant to § 23-1-44, as well as the
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Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American Medical Association (AMA), American Academy of
28
Family Physicians (AAFP), and other such similar medical professional organizations.
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(iv)
“Legally protected healthcare activity” does not include any conduct that could form
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the basis of a civil, criminal, or administrative action under the laws of this state had the course of
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conduct that forms the basis for liability occurred entirely within this state and/or in violation of
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Rhode Island law.
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(9) “Reproductive healthcare services” means all supplies, care, and services of a medical,
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behavioral health, mental health, surgical, psychiatric, therapeutic, diagnostic, preventive,

LC004721 - Page 4 of 6
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rehabilitative, or supportive nature, including medication, relating to pregnancy, contraception,
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assisted reproduction, pregnancy loss management, or the termination of a pregnancy in accordance
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with the applicable standard of care as defined by major medical professional organizations and
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agencies with expertise in the field of reproductive health care.
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(10)
“Routine childhood and adult immunization vaccine recommendations” means
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vaccine recommendations that are developed from evidence based, medically sound scientific
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research by the department pursuant to § 23-1-44, as well as the Academy of Pediatrics (AAP),
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American Medical Association (AMA), American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), and
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other such similar medical professional organizations.
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(11)
“State” means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the
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United States Virgin Islands or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the
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United States. The term “this state” refers to the state of Rhode Island.
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SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
***
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This act would require that routine childhood and adult immunization vaccine
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recommendations be based on, and developed from, evidence-based, medically sound scientific
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research by the department of health as well as the Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical
4
Association, American Academy of Family Physicians, and other such similar medical professional
5
organizations.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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