AN AFFILIATE OF MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA | 401-726-2285
Our policy priorities focus on ending waitlists and building a strong continuum of care for people with disabilities. We advocate for increased state investment in supportive housing, workforce development, and Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs), while holding insurers accountable to parity laws and eliminating barriers like prior authorization. We are also committed to reducing the criminalization of mental illness by addressing its root causes—including gaps in care and housing—so people can receive support in their communities rather than in the justice system. Additionally, we work to expand access to care for children, older adults, and underserved communities, and to ensure meaningful participation in the state’s Olmstead planning process.
Parity / Behavioral Health Advocacy Coalition
MHARI founded and facilitates a biweekly Parity / Behavioral Health Advocacy Coalition. The coalition uses participatory decision-making to identify each year’s priorities. Our members include people with mental health and substance use disorders, mental health professionals, advocates and community partners. To get involved, email info@mhari.org.
The Parity / Behavioral Health Advocacy Coalition’s 2026 Priorities
Funding & Access to Care
What It Does: This legislation creates a 3% surtax on taxable income over $640,000. This will raise approximately $200 million each year.
Why It Matters: Generates sustainable funding to strengthen Rhode Island’s healthcare system, including mental health services, so more people can get care when they need it.
Bill Numbers: H 7313 (Rep. Alzate); S 2238 (Sen. Murray).
Learn More: https://revenueforri.org/
Status: Did not pass out of committee.
What It Does: The Economic Progress Institute has spearheaded the RI Individual Market Affordability Act, which creates a state subsidy to replace the nearly $60 million in recently expired federal subsidies that help low- and moderate-income people purchase health insurance through HealthSourceRI.
Why It Matters: Prevents thousands of Rhode Islanders from losing affordable health insurance, ensuring continued access to mental health and substance use care.
Bill Numbers: H 7466 (Rep. Speakman); S 2255 (Sen. Lauria)
Status: Did not pass out of committee.
Insurance Parity & Provider Sustainability
Federal and state laws require insurance plans that cover mental health and substance use services to do so on par with medical and surgical care—without more restrictive limits. If insurance covers cancer or diabetes, it should cover mental health care thsame way. There are four parity bills:
What It Does: Eliminates prior authorization requirements for in-network behavioral healthcare. This bill passed the House Floor last year.
Why It Matters: Removes delays and administrative barriers so people can access mental health care when they need it—not weeks later.
Bill Numbers H 7943 (Rep.Tanzi) and S 2467 (Sen. Ujifusa)
Learn More: Prior Authorization
Status: Did not pass out of committee.
What It Does: Inseparable and RIPIN revised last year’s legislation. The bill requires insurers to adopt treatment guidelines based on nationally accepted clinical standards.
Why It Matters: Ensures insurance companies base coverage decisions on nationally recognized clinical standards—not cost-cutting measures.
Bill Numbers: H 7945 (Rep. Tanzi) and S 2564 (Sen.Ujifusa)
Learn More: Standards
Status: Did not pass out of committee.
What it Does: Inseparable drafted this legislation to codify 2024 federal regulations into Rhode Island’s parity laws. If federal party laws are repealed, Rhode Island’s parity consumer protections will remain in place.
Why It Matters: Safeguards Rhode Island’s mental health protections even if federal parity laws are weakened or repealed.
Bill Numbers: H 7946 and S 2687 (Sen. DiMario)
Learn More: MH Protection Act
Status: House Bill 7946 passed out of committee but did not receive a vote on the House floor. Senate Bill 2687 did not pass out of committee.
What It Does: A shortage of mental health professionals often forces people to wait weeks or months for care. This legislation helps stabilize Rhode Island’s mental health workforce by ensuring providers are paid fairly and can continue accepting insurance. It requires commercial insurance companies to reimburse mental health services at rates no lower than Medicaid, helping providers stay in business and expand access to care.
Why It Matters: Helps keep mental health providers in business and accepting insurance, so patients can actually find care in their communities.
Bill Numbers H 7346 (Rep. Hull) and S 2108 (Sen. Bissaillon)
Status: Senate Bill 2108 passed the Senate and was referred to the House. House Bill 7346 did not pass out of committee.
Crisis Response & 988
What It Does: Horizon Healthcare Partners, a coalition member who manages the state’s 988 call center, has drafted two different bills seeking to ensure long-term funding for 988.
Why It Matters:Ensures that anyone in crisis can reach help 24/7 through 988—and that the system is stable, reliable, and adequately funded for the long term.
Bill Numbers: H 8177 (Rep.Shallcross Smith) adds a small surcharge on phone bills to establish a steady stream of funding. Any surplus will be set aside in a restricted account dedicated to behavioral health resources. S 3058 (Sen. Murray) requires the state to fund 988 and BH Link. It also charges the General Assembly with choosing a vendor to manage them.
Status: Senate Bill 2108 passed the Senate and was referred to the House. House Bill 7346 did not pass out of committee.
Community-Based Care (CCBHCs)
What It Does. Funding in the proposed state budget for CCBHCs
What It Matters: Maintaining state funding for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) helps ensure Rhode Islanders can access comprehensive mental health and substance use services in their communities.
Bill Number: H-7127 (Rep. Abney)
Status: The state budget was passed and signed into law. CCBHCs were fully funded. Victory!
Disability Rights
What It Does: Amends the state’s open meetings so that members of public bodies can participate in meetings remotely under certain circumstances.
Why It Matters: Making it easier for people with disabilities to participate in civic life fosters equitable policy-making and prevents discrimination in civic services.
Bill Numbers: H 7676 (Rep. Speakman) and S 2612 (Sen. Zurier).
Status: Partial progress. The House bill passed the House, but the legislation did not become law this session.
What It Does: Establishes an oversight commission to regulate the use of solitary confinement in Rhode Island prisons. MHARI, alongside community partners, supports amendments to ensure the commission includes representation from individuals with lived experience of severe mental illness, developmental disabilities, and traumatic brain injuries—three populations that are disproportionately subjected to solitary confinement, often due to challenges complying with institutional rules or under the justification of “protective custody.”
Why It Matters: Protects vulnerable individuals—especially those with mental illness and disabilities—from harmful and prolonged isolation, and ensures their voices are included in oversight decisions.
Bill Numbers: H 8275 (Rep. Felix) and S 2977 (Sen. Acosta).
Status: Did not pass out of committee.
Youth Mental Health
What It Does: Include the 988 Suicide Preventino and Crisis Line on junior high and high school students’ ID cards.
Why It Matters: Makes crisis support immediately visible and accessible to young people at the exact moment they may need it most.
Bill Numbers: H 7026 (Rep. Read) and S 2348 (Sen. Gu)
Status: Both bills passed the House and Senate and were transmitted to the Governor.
What It Does: Increase state funding for the hiring of additional school social workers workers
Why It Matters: Expands access to mental health support in schools, helping students get care early and reducing crises, absenteeism, and long-term challenges.
Bill Numbers: S 2245 (Sen. Sosnowski)
Status: Did not pass out of committee.
What It Does: State funding for PediPRN and MomsPRN. These are the Psychiatry Resource Network’s helplines, which provide free consultation services to physicians seeking guidance on matters related to youth mental health and pregnant and postpartum patients. The Governor’s proposed budget includes funding for MomsPRN. However, the budget proposal does not include funding for PediPRN. Without funding, PediPRN will run out of resources at the end of September 2026. Sustaining the program will require $630,000 in FY2027 (July 2026–June 2027). Legislation for RI MomsPRN and PediPRN funding has been introduced.
Why It Matters: Ensures pediatricians and providers can quickly access psychiatric expertise, so children, pregnant people, and new parents get timely, appropriate mental health care.
Bill Numbers: S 2562 by Sen. Euer and H 8268 (Rep. Shallcross Smith)
Status: The bills did not pass. However, funding for PRN was included in the state budget. Victory!
What It Does: State funding for mental health education in schools
Why It Matters: Builds awareness and reduces stigma, helping young people understand mental health and seek help sooner.
Bill Numbers: H 7116 (Rep. Lombardi)
Status: Did not pass out of committee.
Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
What It Does: Artificial Intelligence Accountability Act requires the RI Dept. of Administration to provide inventory of all state agencies using artificial intelligence (AI); establishes a 13 member permanent commission to monitor the use of AI in state government and makes recommendations for state government policy and other decisions.
Why it matters: Creates transparency and oversight so the public knows how AI is being used in government—and ensures it is used responsibly.
Bill Numbers: H 7119 (Rep. Lombardi)
Status: Did not pass out of committee.
What It Does: The Transparency and Accountability In Artificial Intelligence Use By Health Insurers To Manage Coverage And Claims Act promotes transparency and accountability in the use of artificial intelligence by health insurers to manage coverage and claims.
Why It Matters: Prevents insurance companies from using opaque algorithms to deny or limit care without accountability.
Bill Numbers: H 7190 (Rep. Donovan) and S 2010 (Sen. Ujifusa)
Status: Senate Bill 2010 passed the Senate. House Bill 7190 did not pass out of committee.
What It Does: Oversight Of Artificial Intelligence Technology In Mental Health Care Act establishes regulations regarding the use of artificial intelligence in mental health care treatments.)
Why It Matters: Establishes safeguards to ensure that emerging technologies are used safely, ethically, and in ways that protect patients.
Bill Numbers: H 7349 (Rep. Spears) and S 2197 (Sen. Urso)
Status: Both bills passed the House and Senate.
What It Does: Use Of Artificial Intelligence By Healthcare Providers Notification Act requires healthcare providers and healthcare facilities to inform patients of the use of artificial intelligence to memorialize patient visits.
Why it matters: Gives patients the right to know when AI is being used in their care, supporting informed consent and trust.
Bill Numbers: H 7538 (Rep. Tanzi) and S 2570 (Sen. Lauria)
Status: Both bills passed the House and Senate.
Take Action
Your voice makes a difference! Here’s how you can help:
📢 Share Your Story – Help us highlight real experiences by submitting your mental health care story. Submit Your Story to info@mhari.org.
📬 Contact Your Legislator – Use our easy tool to send an email or call your representative in support of these bills. (Have a Button that says “Find Your Legislators” https://vote.sos.ri.gov/Home/PollingPlaces?ActiveFlag=3
📝 Join an Advocacy Training – Learn how to be an effective advocate for mental health policy. Sign up for advocacy trainings, which are periodically posted on our calendar. Sign up for our newsletter as well.
💰 Donate – Support our advocacy efforts to improve mental health laws in Rhode Island. (use a Button that links to the Donate page: https://mhari.org/ways-to-give/
Your Voice Matters
Get involved and make a difference.
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