AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- SUICIDE PREVENTION--VOLUNTARY FIREARM RESTRICTIONS ACT (Creates process for individual to voluntarily be either temporarily or indefinitely added to a list restricting their rights to purchase or possess firearms. Adds civil fines and misdemeanor for violations.)

S2971

2026 -- S 2971
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LC004796
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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 -- SUICIDE PREVENTION--VOLUNTARY
FIREARM RESTRICTIONS ACT

Introduced By:
Senators Valverde, Lauria, Kallman, Acosta, Ujifusa, Euer, DiMario,
Urso, and Murray

Date Introduced:
March 04, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Judiciary
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Title 23 of the General Laws entitled "HEALTH AND SAFETY" is hereby
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amended by adding thereto the following chapter:
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CHAPTER 106
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SUICIDE PREVENTION--VOLUNTARY FIREARM RESTRICTIONS ACT
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23-106-1. Short title.

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This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Suicide Prevention--Voluntary
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Firearm Restrictions Act."
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23-106-2. Definitions.

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When used in this chapter, the following words and phrases are construed as follows:
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(1) "Cohabitant" means an individual who is twenty-one (21) years of age or older who
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resides in the same residence as one or more other individuals.
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(2) "Department" means the department of attorney general and its bureau of criminal
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identification (BCI).
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(3) "Firearm" shall have the same meaning as defined in § 11-47-2.
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(4) "Healthcare provider" means person who provides healthcare or professional services
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related to healthcare and who is acting within the scope of the person's license, certification,
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practice, education or training.
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(5) "Illegal firearm" means and includes, but is not limited to, any ghost gun, undetectable

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firearm, sawed-off shotgun, machine gun or any other firearm illegal to possess pursuant to chapter
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47 of title 11.
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(6) "Indefinite list" means the list established pursuant to the provisions of § 23-106-
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3(b)(2).
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(7) "Law enforcement agency" means any municipal or state police agency or any sworn
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law enforcement officer of that agency.
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(8) "Owner cohabitant" means a cohabitant who owns, in whole or in part, any firearm.
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(9) "Restricted list" means a list established pursuant to the provisions of § 23-106-3(b)(1)
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and 3(b)(2).
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(10) "Temporary list" means the list established pursuant to the provisions of § 23-106-
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3(b)(1).
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23-106-3. Voluntary restrictions on firearm purchase and possession.

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(a) An individual who is not otherwise prohibited from possessing a firearm pursuant to
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the provisions of chapter 47 of title 11 ("weapons") or any other provision of federal or state law,
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may voluntarily request to be placed on a restricted list, as set forth in this section, which would
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prohibit the individual from purchasing, possessing or having within that individual's custody or
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control, any firearm.
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(b) An individual requesting inclusion on a restricted list may request placement on one of
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the following lists:
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(1) A restricted list that restricts the individual from purchasing or possessing a firearm for
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one hundred eighty (180) days (temporary list) with automatic removal from the list at the end of
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that time period; provided, however, the individual may request removal from the list on or after
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thirty (30) days after the day on which the individual was added to the restricted list. No request by
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the individual to be removed shall be denied; or
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(2) A restricted list that restricts the individual from purchasing or possessing a firearm
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indefinitely and which allows the individual to request removal from the list on or after ninety (90)
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days after the day on which the individual was added to the restricted list. No request by the
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individual to be removed shall be denied.
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23-106-4. Forms -- Information to be provided by and to the department of attorney
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general.

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(a) The department shall develop a process and forms for inclusion on, and removal from,
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the restricted lists, as described in § 23-106-3. Forms developed shall be maintained by the
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department and shall be made available by download through the department's website and in paper
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form at its various locations throughout the state. The forms shall provide for the individual's

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personal information to include, but not be limited to, the following:
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(1) Name;
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(2) Address;
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(3) Date of birth;
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(4) Contact information, to include phone number(s) and email address(es);
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(5) A copy of the individual's drivers' license or other governmentally-issued identification
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card;
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(6) The individual's signature; and
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(7) An acknowledgement as provided in § 23-106-7.
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(b) Any individual requesting inclusion on either restricted list as set forth in § 23-106-3,
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shall:
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(1) Deliver the completed form, in person, to either the law enforcement agency for the
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city or town in which the individual resides, or to the Rhode Island state police. The law
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enforcement agency shall then transmit true copies of the information to the department; or
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(2) Direct the individual's healthcare provider to electronically deliver the individual's
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completed form to the department. The department, upon receiving a request from any healthcare
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provider for the individual, shall:
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(i) Verify the individual's identity by requiring the healthcare provider to transmit a copy
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of the individual's drivers' license or other governmentally issued identification card;
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(ii) Require the healthcare provider to provide a medical release form signed by the
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individual authorizing the healthcare provider to release the form and other pertinent information
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to the department; and
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(iii) In addition to the acknowledgement signed by the individual, the healthcare provider
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shall also sign an acknowledgement as provided in § 23-106-7.
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(3) The department shall not, except as provided in subsection (b)(2) of this section, accept
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a form from any other person other than the individual named on the form.
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23-106-5. Inclusion -- Removal from list.

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(a) Upon receipt of a verified form, as provided in this section, requesting that an individual
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be included on a restricted list, the department shall, within twenty-four (24) hours, add the
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individual to the restricted list as requested.
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(b) An individual added, at their request, to the temporary list, may not request removal
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from the list unless the individual has been restricted for at least thirty (30) days.
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(c) The department shall, absent a request by the individual to extend their inclusion on the
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temporary list, remove the individual's name and other identifying information from the list at the

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end of the one hundred eighty (180) days. The department shall not require any action on the part
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of the individual for this automatic removal from the temporary list.
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(d) The individual may request to remain on the temporary list in the same manner and on
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the same form as initially requested;
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(e) An individual added, at their request, to the indefinite list, may not request removal
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from the list unless the individual has been restricted for at least ninety (90) days. The individual's
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name and information shall not be removed from the indefinite list unless and until the individual,
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consistent with this section, requests that their name and information be removed from the
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indefinite list. Removal shall be automatic and take place twenty-one (21) days after receipt of the
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request.
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23-106-6. Concealed permit holders.

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If an individual restricted pursuant to the provisions of this chapter is a concealed firearm
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permit holder, the individual's permit shall be:
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(1) Suspended upon entry and inclusion on the restricted list;
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(2) Reinstated immediately upon removal from the restricted list, unless:
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(i) The permit has expired, been revoked or suspended for other reasons unrelated to the
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voluntary restrictions imposed pursuant to this chapter; or
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(ii) The individual has become a prohibited person pursuant to the provisions of chapter 47
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of title 11 or any other provision of federal or state law.
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23-106-7. Acknowledgement of individual requesting to be restricted.

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(a) An individual requesting to be temporarily restricted from purchasing or possessing any
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firearm shall complete and sign the form which shall include the following language:
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ACKNOWLEDGMENT
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By presenting this completed form to a law enforcement agency, I understand that I am
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requesting that my name be placed on a restricted list that prohibits my ability to purchase or
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possess firearms for a minimum of thirty (30) days, and up to six (6) months.
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I understand that by voluntarily making myself an indefinitely restricted person, I may not
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have any firearm in my possession, custody or control and may not attempt to purchase any firearm
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while I am on the restricted list. I also understand that any time after thirty (30) days, I may request
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removal from the list and all previous rights I possessed to purchase and possess firearms shall be
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restored.
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In addition, if I am in possession of a concealed carry permit, that permit shall be suspended
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during the time that I am on the restricted list; provided, however, that permit shall be reinstated
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unless the permit has expired, been suspended or revoked for reasons unrelated to the voluntary

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restrictions, or I have become prohibited from possessing a firearm pursuant to and in accordance
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with the provisions of chapter 47 of title 11 or any other provision of federal or state law.
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Additionally, I acknowledge that should I possess or attempt to purchase a firearm in any
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other state during the time in which I am restricted, that I shall be subject to any law of that
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jurisdiction regarding restricted or prohibited persons.
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(b) An individual requesting to be indefinitely restricted from purchasing or possessing any
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firearm shall, complete and sign the form which shall include the following language:
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ACKNOWLEDGMENT
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By presenting this completed form to a law enforcement agency, I understand that I am
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requesting that my name be placed on an indefinitely restricted list that prohibits my ability to
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purchase or possess firearms for a minimum of ninety (90) days, and for an indefinite time unless
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I request removal from the restricted list.
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I understand that by voluntarily making myself an indefinitely restricted person, I may not
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have any firearm in my possession, custody or control and may not attempt to purchase any firearm
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while I am on the restricted list. I also understand that any time after ninety (90) days, I may request
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removal from the list and all previous rights I possessed to purchase and possess firearms shall be
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restored.
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In addition, if I am in possession of a concealed carry permit, that permit shall be suspended
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during the time that I am on the restricted list; provided, however, that permit shall be reinstated
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unless the permit has expired, been suspended or revoked for reasons unrelated to the voluntary
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restrictions, or I have become prohibited from possessing a firearm pursuant to and in accordance
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with the provisions of chapter 47 of title 11 or any other provision of federal or state law.
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Additionally, I acknowledge that should I possess or attempt to purchase a firearm in any
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other state during the time in which I am restricted, that I shall be subject to any law of that
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jurisdiction regarding restricted or prohibited persons.
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(c) An individual requesting inclusion on a restricted list by and through a healthcare
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provider and the healthcare provider that completes and/or provides a voluntary restriction form on
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behalf of a patient shall complete and sign a form including the following language:
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
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By presenting this completed form to my healthcare provider, I understand that I am
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requesting that my healthcare provider present my name to the department of attorney general to
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be placed on a restricted list that prohibits my ability to purchase or possess a firearm. I have signed
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an acknowledgment, included herewith, and understand the restrictions to which I am voluntarily
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subjecting myself. I have discussed with my healthcare provider the following acknowledgment

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which contains my healthcare provider's signature.
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____________________________
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To be signed by healthcare provider:
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By presenting this completed form to the department of attorney general, I understand that
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I am acknowledging that I have verified the identify of _____________________ seeking inclusion
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on a list restricting the patient's right to purchase and / or possess firearms.
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I affirm that ___________________ is currently my patient, and that I am a licensed
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healthcare provider acting within the scope of my license, certification, practice, education and/or
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training and that to the best of my knowledge, ____________________ is requesting inclusion on
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the restricted list freely and voluntarily.
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________________________________
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23-106-8. Removal from restricted list.

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(a) An individual requesting removal from either the temporary or indefinite restricted lists
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shall complete and deliver a removal form to the law enforcement agency and or department which
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processed the inclusion form.
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(b) The law enforcement agency:
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(1) Shall verify the individual's identity before accepting the removal form;
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(2) May not accept a removal form from someone other than the individual named on the
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form;
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(3) Shall transmit the removal form electronically to the department and BCI within
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twenty-four (24) hours of its receipt from the individual; and
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(4) Remove the individual and their information from its database within twenty-four (24)
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hours of receipt of the removal form from the individual.
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(c) The department/BCI shall remove the individual from the restricted list in its database
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and provide the information mandating the individual's removal from the list to the National Instant
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Criminal Background Check System.
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23-106-9. Maintenance -- Destruction of records.

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(a) The department and/or law enforcement agencies shall maintain all records relative to
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the voluntary restriction lists generated pursuant to this chapter. Any records generated relative to
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any request to be included on the lists or records requesting the removal from the restricted lists,
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shall not be open or available for access by the public pursuant to chapter 2 of title 38 ("access to
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public records").
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(b) Upon receipt of a request by the individual to be removed from the restricted lists, or
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upon expiration of the one hundred eighty (180) days for the temporary list, and upon completion

LC004796 - Page 6 of 8
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of the individual's removal from the list, the department/ BCI and law enforcement agencies shall
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destroy the entire file and all records associated with the individual's inclusion on the restricted list.
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For purposes of this subsection, the entire file and all records includes, but is not limited to, all
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electronic records, paper records or any other reference to the individual's inclusion and removal
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from the restricted list.
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(c) The individual's inclusion or removal from the lists shall not be used by the department
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or law enforcement agencies for purposes of any background checks for the purchase or possession
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of firearms by the individual and shall not be considered in any application for a concealed carry
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permit or the renewal of any such permit.
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23-106-10. Penalties.

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(a) There shall be a twenty-five dollar ($25.00) civil fine for firearm possession by a person
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on the indefinite list or temporary list assessed and collected by the department of the attorney
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general.
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(b) It shall be a misdemeanor for adding or attempting to add a person to a restricted list
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without their knowledge.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC004796
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- SUICIDE PREVENTION--VOLUNTARY
FIREARM RESTRICTIONS ACT
***
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This act would create a process for an individual to voluntarily be either temporarily or
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indefinitely added to a list restricting their rights to purchase or possess firearms as well as to
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request removal from the restricted list. The act would further require that all individual records
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related to the person's inclusion on the list would be destroyed and not subject to the access to
5
public records act. Additionally, the act would also impose a twenty-five dollar ($25.00) fine for
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firearm possession by a person on a restricted list and make it a misdemeanor for adding or
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attempting to add a person to either restricted list without their knowledge.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC004796
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