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Rhode Island · 2026 Regular Session · Bill

HB 7562: AN ACT RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

Enacted Official data

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Enacted

Last official action: ·Record last updated:

Plain-language summary

HB 7562 is a bill introduced in the Rhode Island House on February 6, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: AN ACT RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- CRUELTY TO ANIMALS. Primary sponsor: Bill O'Brien (Democratic), Matthew Dawson (Democratic). Most recent recorded action (June 10, 2026): 06/10/2026 Signed by Governor.

Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

Allows animal control officers in the cities and towns to lawfully take charge of and provide adequate care to any animal found abandoned or neglected or hazardously accumulated and includes them as agents authorized to enforce the provisions of this law.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 2

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Bill O'BrienPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse54
Matthew DawsonPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse65

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

  1. 06/10/2026 Signed by Governor
  2. 06/04/2026 Transmitted to Governor
  3. 06/04/2026 Senate passed in concurrence
  4. 06/03/2026 Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar (06/04/2026)
  5. 05/28/2026 Committee recommends passage in concurrence
  6. 05/26/2026 Scheduled for consideration (05/28/2026)
  7. 05/01/2026 Referred to Senate Judiciary
  8. 04/30/2026 House read and passed
  9. 04/24/2026 Placed on House Calendar (04/30/2026)
  10. 04/15/2026 Committee recommends passage
  11. 04/10/2026 Scheduled for consideration (04/15/2026)
  12. 02/11/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study

Showing 12 most recent of 14 actions. Full history

Sources

  1. Open States / Plural (data from the official legislature website)
  2. Official legislature source