AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DEPARTMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL (Establishes a bureau of public protection within the department of attorney general.)

S3104

2026 -- S 3104
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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 STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DEPARTMENT OF ATTORNEY
GENERAL

Introduced By:
Senators LaMountain, and McKenney

Date Introduced:
March 13, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Judiciary
(Attorney General)
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Chapter 42-9 of the General Laws entitled "Department of Attorney General"
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is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
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42-9-20. Authority as chief law enforcement officer.

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(a) There shall be within the department of the attorney general a bureau of public
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protection ("bureau"). The attorney general shall designate an assistant attorney general to lead said
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bureau. The attorney general shall appoint such special assistant attorneys general, assistant
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attorneys general, experts, consultants, clerical and other assistants as the work of the bureau may
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require.
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(1) The bureau shall be made up of at least four (4) units dedicated to consumer protection
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and antitrust enforcement, healthcare regulation and access, environmental protection and energy
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regulation, and the protection of civil rights. Additional units within the bureau may be established
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at the direction of the attorney general. The following statutory positions and authorities shall be
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assigned to the bureau:
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(i) Healthcare advocate, pursuant to chapter 9.1 of title 42;
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(ii) Insurance advocate, pursuant to chapter 36 of title 27;
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(iii) Civil rights advocate, pursuant to chapter 9.3 of title 42;
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(iv) Lead advocate, pursuant to § 23-24.6-23;
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(v) Environmental advocate, pursuant to § 10-20-3; and

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(vi) Antitrust division, pursuant to § 6-36-14.
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(2) In addition to other responsibilities, duties, and powers of the attorney general as set
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forth in the general laws and pursuant to the common law of the State of Rhode Island, and subject
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to the approval of the attorney general, any assistant attorney general or special assistant attorney
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general within the bureau is authorized to apply on behalf of the attorney general, and in the name
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of the people of the State of Rhode Island, for relief pursuant to this section, in accordance with
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applicable court rules, the general laws, and the constitution.
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(b) For the purposes of this section, the terms:
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(1) "Persistent illegality" means an ongoing or continuing course of illegal conduct.
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(2) "Repeated illegal acts" means more than one illegal act or an illegal act which affects
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more than one person.
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(3) "Illegal" means conduct that is prohibited by federal or state civil law, subject to the
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limitations set forth in this section
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(c) Whenever any person shall engage in repeated illegal acts, or otherwise demonstrates
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persistent illegality in the carrying on, conducting or transaction of business or governmental
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activity, the attorney general may apply, in the name of the people of the State of Rhode Island, to
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the superior court of the State of Rhode Island, for an order to protect the public through the
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enjoining of the continuance of such illegal acts, and directing restitution, damages, and penalties
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as set forth in § 6-13.1-8 and, in an appropriate case, cancelling any certificate filed with the
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secretary of state, and the court may award the relief applied for or so much thereof as it may deem
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proper. The authority provided for in this section shall not be used to enforce violations of or
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conduct investigations regarding any criminal laws.
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(d) In connection with any such application, the attorney general is authorized to take proof
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and make a determination of the relevant facts and to issue civil investigative demands to any
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person as defined in §§ 6-13.1-1 or 43-3-6, and in accordance with and subject to the limitations of
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the rules set forth in § 6-13.1-7. Such authorization may precede any application made pursuant to
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this section and shall not abate or terminate by reason of any action or proceeding brought by the
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attorney general under this section.
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(e) This section does not apply to entities or individuals subject to the exemptions set forth
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in §6-13.1-4.
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(f)(1) The department of the attorney general shall annually prepare and submit a report to
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the speaker of the house and the president of the senate on or before April 1 of each year.
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(2) The annual report shall contain the following categories:
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(i) The number of investigations conducted by the department of the attorney general

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pursuant to this section;
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(ii) The number of applications made by the department of the attorney general to the
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superior court pursuant to this section;
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(iii) The outcome of such applications to the superior court including, but not limited to,
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injunctions obtained, restitution granted, amount of damages awarded, amount of civil penalties
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imposed, and the number of denials of the applications submitted; and
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(iv) The usefulness of this section, recommendations and any other information the
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department of the attorney general deems noteworthy.
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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 STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- DEPARTMENT OF ATTORNEY
GENERAL
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This act would establish a bureau of public protection within the department of attorney
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general. The act would also allow the attorney general to investigate and bring an enforcement
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action against persistent illegality in the carrying on, conducting, or transaction of business or
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governmental activity.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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