Rhode Island
Rhode Island AI Laws and Regulation (2026)
Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited August 20, 2026). · Reviewed by the RecordingLaw editorial team. · Law checked current as of August 20, 2026. · 6 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content
Rhode Island regulates AI through two targeted deepfake laws signed in July 2025. H 5046/S 0136 extends the state's criminal nonconsensual intimate imagery statute to images created by a digital device or altered by digitization, while H 5872/S 0816 requires certain campaign actors to disclose synthetic media they distribute near elections. The broader Rhode Island Artificial Intelligence Act (S 627) died in committee in May 2025, leaving the state without comprehensive AI regulation.
Overview of Rhode Island AI Laws
Rhode Island has taken a targeted approach to artificial intelligence regulation, enacting specific deepfake laws while its broader AI governance proposals have stalled in committee. As of March 2026, the state has two enacted AI-related laws addressing synthetic media, an active executive-level AI task force, and several pending bills in the 2026 legislative session.
The state's most significant AI legislation came in July 2025, when Governor Daniel McKee signed two deepfake bills into law. One criminalizes AI-generated intimate imagery, while the other requires disclosure of synthetic media used near elections.
Meanwhile, attempts to pass comprehensive AI regulation, including the Rhode Island Artificial Intelligence Act (S 627), have not succeeded. The 2026 session has renewed efforts with bills targeting AI in the workplace and healthcare.
This article covers Rhode Island's enacted and pending AI legislation, executive actions, and the federal policy landscape. This information is current as of March 2026, but you should consult an attorney for advice specific to your situation.
Enacted Deepfake Laws (2025)
Rhode Island enacted two deepfake-related laws in July 2025, signed by Governor McKee on July 2. These represent the state's only enacted AI-specific legislation to date.
AI-Generated Intimate Imagery (H 5046 / S 0136)
Rhode Island updated its existing 2018 law banning nonconsensual sharing of explicit images. The enacted amendment inserted the words "including any image created by a digital device or altered by digitization" into R.I. Gen. Laws 11-64-3(a)(1). The statutory text never uses the term "artificial intelligence," so the clause reaches AI-generated deepfakes and conventional digital editing alike. The bill was championed by Rep. Jason Knight (D-Barrington, Warren) and sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Elaine J. Morgan (R-Hopkinton, Charlestown, Exeter, Richmond, West Greenwich).
Key provisions of the updated law include:
- Expanding the prohibited image definition to include any image "created by a digital device or altered by digitization," which covers deepfakes and other digital manipulation
- Reaching only images that depict "another identifiable person eighteen (18) years or older"
- Requiring more than a lack of consent: the dissemination must be made with knowledge of, or reckless disregard for, the likelihood that the depicted person will suffer harm, or with intent to harass, intimidate, threaten, or coerce that person
- Applying the existing criminal penalties, under which a first violation is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year and a $1,000 fine, and a second or subsequent violation is a felony punishable by up to three years and a $3,000 fine
- Exempting dissemination that is a matter of public concern or relates to a newsworthy event or public figure, along with public-interest, scientific, educational, medical, legal-proceeding and law-enforcement dissemination
- Taking effect immediately upon the Governor's signature on July 2, 2025
Rhode Island joined dozens of other states that have enacted similar protections against AI-generated intimate imagery.
Election Deepfake Disclosure (H 5872 / S 0816)
The second enacted law addresses the use of synthetic media in election communications. The Rhode Island House passed the bill for the second consecutive year before the Senate approved it in 2025.
The law establishes these requirements:
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Disclosure window | Within 90 days of any election at which a candidate for elective office will appear on a ballot |
| Who is bound | A candidate, authorized candidate campaign committee, political action committee, political party committee, or person or entity making an independent expenditure as defined in R.I. Gen. Laws 17-25-3 |
| Content covered | An image, audio recording, or video of an individual's appearance, speech, or conduct intentionally manipulated "with the use of generative adversarial network techniques or other digital technology" into a realistic but false depiction. The definition is not limited to AI, and not limited to media depicting a candidate. |
| Trigger | The distributor knows or should know the media is deceptive and fraudulent synthetic media. There is no intent-to-influence-voters element. |
| Required disclosure | A statement that the image has been manipulated or generated by artificial intelligence, meeting size, duration, or spoken-interval requirements |
| Enforcement | No criminal penalty. A depicted candidate may sue under 17-30-2 for an injunction and general or special damages, proving the violation by clear and convincing evidence |
Rhode Island joined New Hampshire in restricting undisclosed deepfakes near elections, reflecting growing concern about AI-manipulated political media across New England states.
The restriction is narrower than the coverage of it suggests. Section 17-30-1 binds only the campaign actors listed above, so an ordinary voter, an unaffiliated advocacy group, or any other non-committee actor who distributes an undisclosed election deepfake is outside the statute entirely.
Section 17-30-3 then exempts several categories outright, including synthetic media that constitutes satire or parody; broadcasters, cable and satellite operators, mobile applications and streaming services that are not themselves acting as a PAC or independent-expenditure spender; news websites, newspapers, magazines and periodicals of general circulation that clearly state the media does not accurately represent the candidate; and interactive computer services as defined in 47 U.S.C. 230.
The chapter carries no criminal penalty, no fine, and no Attorney General enforcement. Section 17-30-2 creates a private civil action available only to a candidate whose appearance, actions, or speech were depicted. That candidate may seek injunctive relief and general or special damages, and the court may award a prevailing party attorneys' fees and costs, but 17-30-2(c) requires the plaintiff to prove the violation by clear and convincing evidence.
The Rhode Island Artificial Intelligence Act (S 627) - Failed
The most ambitious AI proposal in Rhode Island's history was Senate Bill 627, introduced on March 7, 2025. The bill would have created comprehensive regulations for high-risk AI systems but died in committee on May 12, 2025, when the committee recommended it be held for further study.
What S 627 Would Have Required
The bill targeted developers, integrators, and deployers of high-risk AI systems, particularly those influencing consequential decisions. Key requirements included:
For developers:
- Use reasonable care to prevent algorithmic discrimination
- Implement risk management policies
- Disclose known risks to the Attorney General and affected parties
- Ensure AI-generated synthetic digital content is clearly marked
For deployers:
- Conduct regular impact assessments
- Notify consumers when AI is used in decision-making
- Provide opportunities for individuals to appeal adverse decisions made by AI systems
Enforcement:
- The Attorney General would have held exclusive enforcement authority
- The act focused on encouraging compliance before pursuing legal action
- Intended effective date: October 1, 2025
The ACLU of Rhode Island tracked the bill and its progress through the legislative process. The bill's failure reflects the difficulty many states face in passing comprehensive AI regulation amid industry concerns and political complexity.
Executive Order 24-06: AI Task Force
Governor Dan McKee signed Executive Order 24-06 establishing two key AI governance structures: the Rhode Island AI Task Force and a Data Center of Excellence.
AI Task Force Structure
The AI Task Force was charged with assessing risks and opportunities presented by artificial intelligence and advising state policymakers. Former Congressman Jim Langevin was appointed as chair, and the inaugural meeting brought together 24 subject matter experts from various sectors.
Key task force goals include:
- Promoting responsible AI development and innovation
- Assessing economic, societal, and ethical implications of AI
- Advising on AI applications in business, education, healthcare, and government
- Recommending policy frameworks for AI governance in Rhode Island
Data Center of Excellence
The executive order also established a Center of Excellence for AI and Data under the Department of Administration. This center operates within the Division of Enterprise Technology Strategy and Services (ETSS) and focuses on building the state's data infrastructure and AI capabilities.
Workforce Development Component
EO 24-06 directed the Department of Labor and Training, the Rhode Island Department of Education, and the Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner to collaborate on AI training and education opportunities for state workers, municipal employees, quasi-public agency staff, and private-sector employees.
Healthcare AI Legislation
Healthcare AI has been a recurring focus for Rhode Island lawmakers, though no healthcare-specific AI bill has been enacted as of March 2026.
Health Insurance AI Transparency (S 0013 - Failed 2025)
Senate Bill 0013 would have established the Transparency and Accountability in Artificial Intelligence Use by Health Insurers Act. The bill reached the engrossed stage but died before becoming law.
The bill would have required:
- Health insurers to disclose AI models, decision-making processes, training datasets, and performance metrics to the Office of Health Insurance Commissioner (OHIC)
- Five-year documentation retention for AI-influenced decisions
- Qualified healthcare professional review of any adverse benefit determination made by AI before finalization
- Intended effective date: June 30, 2026
House Bill 5172 (Failed 2025)
House Bill 5172 similarly aimed to promote transparency and accountability in health insurer AI use. The bill proposed fines of up to $50,000 per violation, potential license revocation, and a private right of action for affected patients. The committee recommended the measure be held for further study on April 1, 2025.
2026 Healthcare AI Bills
The 2026 session has revived healthcare AI concerns:
S 2570 (Use of AI by Healthcare Providers Notification Act): This bill would require healthcare providers and facilities to inform patients when artificial intelligence is used to memorialize patient visits. A group of 10 Democratic senators introduced the measure, but the committee recommended it be held for further study on March 3, 2026.
S 2010: This 2026 bill addresses AI models used in healthcare claims and coverage decisions, requiring documentation of AI's role in the decision-making process.
AI in Employment and the Workplace
Rhode Island has not enacted specific AI employment legislation, but the topic has received increasing legislative attention.
2026 Workplace AI Bill (H 7767)
House Bill 7767, introduced on February 12, 2026, would create a comprehensive statutory framework for AI in the workplace. The bill was referred to the House Labor Committee and considers the interests of both employers and employees.
Attorney General's Regulatory Guidance
Rhode Island's Attorney General has issued guidelines to prevent deceptive trade practices in AI decision-making that affects rights, opportunities, or access to resources and services. These guidelines fall under the state's Deceptive Trade Practices Act and address discrimination based on protected categories including race, gender, age, and disability.
Until specific legislation is enacted, employers in Rhode Island using AI in hiring and employment decisions must comply with existing federal and state anti-discrimination laws. AI systems that produce biased or discriminatory outcomes could create liability under these existing protections.
Other Pending 2026 AI Bills
Beyond workplace and healthcare bills, the 2026 Rhode Island legislative session includes several other AI-related proposals:
H 7764 (Algorithmic Rent Pricing): This bill would prohibit landlords from using algorithmic pricing to determine residential rent amounts, addressing concerns about AI-driven rent optimization tools.
HB 7849 (Surveillance Pricing): A surveillance pricing bill that targets the use of AI and personal data to set individualized prices for consumers. The bill was set for a committee hearing in March 2026.
S 0358 (AI Civil Cause of Action): This bill would provide a civil cause of action for individuals injured by artificial intelligence, potentially creating new legal liability for AI developers and deployers in Rhode Island.
Federal AI Policy and Rhode Island
Executive Order 14365
President Trump's Executive Order 14365, signed December 11, 2025, establishes mechanisms to challenge state AI laws and conditions certain federal funding on states' regulatory approaches.
Impact on Rhode Island's Laws
Rhode Island's enacted and pending AI legislation intersects with the federal framework in several ways:
Enacted deepfake laws (likely protected): Both the intimate imagery law and election deepfake disclosure law likely fall within EO 14365's protected carve-outs for public safety and election integrity, making them less vulnerable to federal preemption.
Comprehensive AI regulation (higher risk): If Rhode Island revives S 627 or similar comprehensive AI legislation, it could face scrutiny under the executive order's provisions challenging state regulations deemed to obstruct AI development.
Healthcare AI bills: Proposed healthcare AI transparency requirements could be affected if they are deemed to create compliance burdens that conflict with federal policy objectives.
Broadband funding considerations: Rhode Island, like other states, faces potential consequences from EO 14365's conditioning of federal broadband funding (BEAD program) on states' AI regulatory approaches.
More Rhode Island Laws
Explore other Rhode Island law topics on Recording Law:
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Rhode Island have an AI law?
Rhode Island has two enacted AI-related laws, both signed in July 2025. One expands the state's existing criminal nonconsensual intimate imagery statute to images created by a digital device or altered by digitization. The other requires candidates, campaign committees, PACs, party committees, and independent-expenditure spenders to disclose synthetic media they distribute within 90 days of an election. However, Rhode Island does not have a comprehensive AI regulation law. The Rhode Island Artificial Intelligence Act (S 627), which would have regulated high-risk AI systems, died in committee in May 2025.
Are deepfakes illegal in Rhode Island?
Some uses are, but both laws are narrower than they sound. Disseminating, publishing, or selling a sexually explicit image of an identifiable person eighteen years or older without that person's consent is a criminal offense under R.I. Gen. Laws 11-64-3, and the 2025 amendment extended it to images created by a digital device or altered by digitization. That offense also requires that the sender acted with knowledge of, or reckless disregard for, the likelihood of harm, or with intent to harass, intimidate, threaten, or coerce, so a lack of consent alone is not enough. The election law is not a general prohibition at all. R.I. Gen. Laws 17-30-1 binds only candidates, campaign committees, PACs, party committees, and independent-expenditure spenders, it expressly exempts satire and parody, and it is enforced solely through a private civil suit brought by a depicted candidate rather than by criminal prosecution.
Does Rhode Island regulate AI in healthcare?
Not yet through enacted law. Rhode Island has introduced multiple healthcare AI bills across the 2025 and 2026 sessions, including S 0013 (health insurer AI transparency), H 5172 (health insurer accountability), S 2570 (patient notification for AI use), and S 2010 (AI in claims decisions). All of these bills have either died in committee or remain pending. No healthcare-specific AI legislation has been enacted as of March 2026.
What is the Rhode Island AI Task Force?
The Rhode Island AI Task Force was established by Governor Dan McKee through Executive Order 24-06. Chaired by former Congressman Jim Langevin, the task force brings together 24 subject matter experts to assess AI risks and opportunities, advise policymakers, and recommend governance frameworks. The executive order also created a Data Center of Excellence and directed state agencies to develop AI training programs for public and private sector workers.
Does Rhode Island regulate AI in hiring and employment?
Rhode Island has not enacted specific AI employment legislation, but House Bill 7767, introduced in February 2026, would create a comprehensive framework for AI in the workplace. The Attorney General has also issued guidelines under the Deceptive Trade Practices Act addressing AI decision-making that affects rights and opportunities, including protections against discrimination based on protected categories.
Updates
Corrected our summary of Rhode Island's two 2025 deepfake laws against the enacted statutory text: the election disclosure requirement binds only campaign actors rather than the public and is enforced by a candidate's civil suit rather than criminal penalty, it exempts satire and parody, and the intimate-imagery amendment covers images created by a digital device or altered by digitization and requires proof of intent or recklessness as to harm, not merely lack of consent.
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources; governing law re-checked for recent changes
Reviewed and approved by an editor
The Law Behind This Article
This article rests on the statutory provisions below, held in our own legal record and retrieved from the official source. Tap a section to read the operative text.
Rhode Island General Laws, Title 17: Elections, Chapter 17-30: Deceptive and Fraudulent Synthetic Media in Election Communications
§ 17-30-1Deceptive synthetic mediaIn forcecited in 3 of our articles
(a) For purposes of this chapter, “candidate” means and includes an incumbent or current office holder. (b) For purposes of this chapter, “synthetic media” means an image, an audio recording, or a video recording of an individual’s appearance, speech, or conduct that has been intentionally manipulated with the use of generative adversarial network techniques or other digital technology to create a realistic but false image, audio, or video that produces: (1) A depiction that, to a reasonable individual, appears to be a real individual in terms of appearance, action, or speech, but that did not occur in reality; and (2) A fundamentally different understanding or impression of the appearance, action, or speech than a reasonable person would have from the unaltered, original version of the image, audio recording, or video recording.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-09-03 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at webserver.rilegislature.gov
Also relied on in: Rhode Island Recording Laws (2026): One-Party Consent Rules, Rhode Island Deepfake Laws: AI Images, Voice Cloning & Penalties (2026)
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Sources and References
- Rhode Island deepfake intimate imagery law (H 5046/S 0136)(rhodeislandcurrent.com)
- Rhode Island election deepfake disclosure law signed July 2025(bostonglobe.com)
- Rhode Island Artificial Intelligence Act (S 627) bill text(webserver.rilegislature.gov).gov
- Rhode Island Executive Order 24-06 establishing AI Task Force(governor.ri.gov).gov
- Rhode Island AI Task Force official page(etss.ri.gov).gov
- Governor McKee signs AI Task Force executive order(governor.ri.gov).gov
- Rhode Island S 0013 healthcare AI transparency bill(legiscan.com)
- Rhode Island H 5172 health insurer AI bill(legiscan.com)
- Rhode Island H 7767 workplace AI bill(legiscan.com)
- Rhode Island S 2570 healthcare provider AI notification bill(fastdemocracy.com)
- Executive Order 14365 on AI state preemption(whitehouse.gov).gov
- Rhode Island Attorney General rules and regulations(riag.ri.gov).gov
- ACLU of Rhode Island on S 627 AI regulations(riaclu.org)
- Election deepfakes bill passes Rhode Island House(rhodeislandcurrent.com)
- Rhode Island deepfake porn law update(thenewportbuzz.com)
- R.I. Gen. Laws 17-30-1, Deceptive synthetic media (election deepfake disclosure)(webserver.rilegislature.gov)
- R.I. Gen. Laws 17-30-2, Right of action (candidate civil remedy, clear and convincing evidence)(webserver.rilegislature.gov)
- R.I. Gen. Laws 17-30-3, Application (satire and parody, broadcaster, news and Section 230 exemptions)(webserver.rilegislature.gov)
- R.I. Gen. Laws 11-64-3, Unauthorized dissemination of indecent material (2025 digitization amendment)(webserver.rilegislature.gov)